By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

 

McDERMOTT — Evidently, how you start does matter.

The Green Bobcats jumped out to a 6-0 lead and coasted to a 10-3 win over the Northwest Mohawks on Thursday.

“We came out of the gates swinging the bats well. After everything settled down, we got our gloves and did the job,” said Green coach Dan McDavid.

Cody Bruce went six innings for the win. He struck out eight, walked one and hit a batter. Clay Applegate finished up.

“We got another strong outing from Cody Bruce. When he got in trouble in the seventh, Clay Applegate came on and shut them down,” said McDavid.

The Bobcats (12-5) pounded out 14 hits with Bruce going 3-4 with a triple and two runs batted in. Mike Avery was 3-5 with two RBI and Steve Ratcliff 2-4 and an RBI.

Clay Applegate and Rob Applegate doubled for a run to start the first inning. Colton Brammer singled in a run, Bruce tripled home a run, Ratcliff singled in a run and stole second, Adam Riffitt had an RBI double and Matt Howard singled in a run.

Northwest got single runs in the first and second and Green got a run back in the fifth when Ratcliff singled, stole second, took third on a throwing error and scored on Howard’s squeeze bunt.

The Mohawks answered with a run in the bottom of the inning, but Green got the run back in the sixth when Rob Applegate walked, stole second and Bruce singled.

Two runs scored seventh when Howard walked, Caleb Johnson had a pinch-hit double and Avery singled in both runners.

Green hosts Eastern on Friday.

Green 600 011 2 = 10 14 1

Northwest 110 010 0 = 3 7 2

Cody Bruce, Clay Applegate (7) and Matt Howard. Logan Kongos, Jordan Adkins (1) and Phillip Cassidy. W-Bruce (K-8, BB-1, HBP-1). Applegate K-1, BB-0. L-Kongos. 2B-Green: Clay Applegate, Rob Applegate, Adam Riffitt, Caleb Johnson; NW: Simon. Hitting-Green: Mike Avery 3-5 2-rbi, Clay Applegate 1-5, Rob Applegate 1-3, Colton Brammer 1-4, Cody Bruce 3-4 2-rbi, Steve Ratcliff 2-4 rbi, Adam Riffitt 1-4 rbi, Matt Howard 1-2 2-rbi, Caleb Johnson 1-1; Northwest: Matt Penix 2-3, Kyle Simon 2-4 2-rbi, Blain Honaker 1-4, Logan Kongos 1-4, Justin Tackett 1-1.