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The Wildcats’ playoff dream came to an end in the first round after being mercy-ruled twice by Lowndes Academy in a doubleheader on Tuesday.

Game 1: Springwood 0, Lowndes 12

The Wildcats were trounced by Lowndes Academy in the first round of the AISA playoffs. The first game ended by mercy rule, Springwood losing 12-0 in four innings.

Most of the scoring happened in the second inning when Lowndes got seven runs. Starter Russell Lauderdale only gave up three singles in the inning but was hurt by walks and defensive errors.

It was a stop-and-go game, with action happening in spurts. The final nail was the bottom of the fourth. Lowndes started the inning off with a one-run home run. A couple of singles and a pair of walks ballooned the score to 12-0, triggering the mercy rule.

Game 2: Springwood 3, Lowndes 15

The Rebels carried the momentum to the second game. 

Lowndes ran away with it early with a five-run first. Five walks made it easy for runners. Lowndes capitalized on a steal of second to sneak a runner home, then stole home for the first two runs of the game. An error brought home the third. The Rebels’ first hit of the game, a single, made it 5-0 going into the bottom of the first. 

They would get their sixth run on a fielder’s choice in the second. 

Springwood had some life breathed into them in the bottom of the inning. A lead-off double and single put runners on base. A fielder’s choice scored Tucker Sides, the lead runner. C– King then scored on a wild pitch. Jax Chenny would score later in the inning on an error. 

Unfortunately for the Wildcats, Lowndes’ offense did not slow down. Three singles and a wild pitch all contributed to a high-scoring third inning, ending 10-3. The Rebels put it away in the fourth, pushing the score to 15-3. 

Lowdes moves on to the next round and knocks Springwood out of the tournament. The Wildcats ended their season 5-12.