When the moment called for a hero, Cale Thompson answered loud and clear.
Thompson powered Checotah (8-2) with a monster performance, driving in four runs on five hits, including a game-changing triple in the seventh, to lift the Wildcats to a thrilling 8-7 comeback win over Bridge Creek on Tuesday.
Bridge Creek struck first with a two-run blast from Kaden Aber in the opening inning, setting the tone for a back-and-forth battle. Checotah chipped away and evened things up in the fourth behind an RBI single from Thompson and a patient walk by Zane Walker.
The Bobcats regained control in the fifth, but the Wildcats never flinched.
Trailing late, Checotah saved its best for last.
In the bottom of the seventh, Mason Rainbolt sparked the rally with an RBI single before Thompson delivered the knockout blow, a clutch triple that cleared the bases and ignited the Wildcats’ dugout as they surged ahead 8-6.
Eli Patterson went the distance on the mound to earn the win, battling through seven innings while striking out four.
Checotah’s offense stayed aggressive all game, racking up 11 hits and drawing eight walks. Taten Ferguson added two hits, while the Wildcats’ discipline at the plate proved crucial in the tight contest.
Bridge Creek threatened with nine hits of their own, led by AJ De-Busk’s three-hit performance, but Checotah’s late-game magic sealed the deal.
Rainbolt leads Wildcats over Rejoice Christian
Mason Rainbolt was nearly untouchable on the mound, and the Wildcats backed him with a first-inning explosion to power Checotah to a commanding 6-3 win over Rejoice Christian on Monday.
Rainbolt put on a clinic, striking out 13 batters across six strong innings while allowing just four hits and one run. From the first inning on, he set the tone, attacking hitters and shutting down any momentum the Eagles tried to build.
After Rejoice Christian scratched across a run on a wild pitch in the top of the first, Checotah answered immediately and emphatically.
The Wildcats erupted for five runs in the bottom half of the inning, flipping the game in an instant. Traegan Duvall delivered the biggest blow with a clutch tworun single, igniting a rally that put Checotah firmly in control at 5-1.
From there, it was Rainbolt’s show.
Mixing power and precision, he kept the Eagles off balance all night, while the Wildcats added pressure on the bases with four steals and timely hitting throughout the lineup.
Duvall led the charge with two RBIs, while Cale Thompson, Camden Ferguson, Taten Ferguson, Rainbolt, and Ace Wilhite each added hits in a balanced offensive effort.
Rejoice Christian made noise at the plate with Kai Buntin and Callen Duncan each collecting two hits, but couldn’t break through against Rainbolt’s dominance.
When the dust settled, it was a complete performance — explosive offense early and overpowering pitching late — as the Wildcats took control and never looked back.
Wildcats drop tight pitchers’ duel to Kingston
In a game dominated by strong pitching, Checotah came up just short in a 3-1 loss to Kingston.
The Wildcats struck first in the second inning when Camden Ferguson delivered an RBI single, but Kingston answered in the third with a two-run hit from Lander Burkhalter to take the lead for good.
Ty Guthrie turned in a solid performance for Checotah, tossing six innings with seven strikeouts and allowing just four hits, but the Wildcats couldn’t generate enough offense to rally.
Ferguson led the way with the lone RBI, while Cale Thompson, Ferguson, and Taten Ferguson each added a hit in the hard-fought contest.
Checotah defeated Sallisaw 12-4 and 11-0 prior to Spring Break.
