NEW BLOOMFIELD--The New Bloomfield Wildcats remain the only unbeaten team in Callaway County after finishing their first full week of games Friday at Rod Haley Field.
"Proud of how my guys have attacked the first week of the season," New Bloomfield baseball coach Justin Forsythe said. "We are doing a lot of good things but still have some things we need to clean up and get better at."
New Bloomfield beat the Salisbury Panthers, the Class 2 state runner-up last season, 18-10.
Even though Salisbury (1-2), ranked fifth in Class 2, outhit the Wildcats 11-7, New Bloomfield (5-0) played a cleaner game in chilly, windy and wet weather, committing just two errors to the Panthers' nine.
After a scoreless first inning, Salisbury went in front 1-0 on Hayden Ramsey's two-out line drive RBI single to left field in the top of the second.
In the bottom of the second, New Bloomfield took the lead at 2-1 when Chase Bailey sent one runner home on a bases-loaded walk. The Wildcats scored four runs in the second inning and held a 4-1 advantage.
A frame later, the Panthers tied it at 4 when Austin Cravens scored as Emerson Gutz reached first base on a drop third strike, which could've ended the top of the third.
Early on, that mistake bit the Wildcats since the Panthers went ahead 5-4 when Cravens cranked a two-out RBI double to left field in the top of the fourth. Salisbury tacked on two runs, on top 7-4 through 3½ innings.
Winning an MSHSAA record seven state championships in baseball, New Bloomfield put together the type of at-bats those teams likely did when it scored seven runs in its two-out rally in the bottom of the fourth.
To knot it at 7, the Wildcats' Ryan Webb skied a three-RBI single to center field, advancing to second base on an error. Brayden Carroll followed with the game-deciding play, launching an RBI double to left, scoring courtesy runner Chase Trainor.
Keeping it up, New Bloomfield kept the Panthers off the scoreboard for the first time since the first inning in the fifth.
The Wildcats added three runs to their lead in the fifth inning and furthered their cushion by a run when they plated four in the sixth after Salisbury scored three in the top half.
Lucas Smith shut the door for New Bloomfield in the seventh inning, striking out two and allowing just two hits, both singles, including a leadoff base hit.
Carroll led the Wildcats' offense, finishing 1-4 with a double, walk and two RBI. Matthew Killian scored a game-high four runs, and Gavin Stumpf received a game-high three walks for New Bloomfield.
"We did a great job taking what was given to us at the plate and came up with some big hits with runners in scoring position," Forsythe said.
Gavin Thomas (2-0) earned the win for New Bloomfield, throwing the first four innings. He gave up seven runs (five earned) on six hits, three walks and hit a batter while punching out five.
"Gavin Thomas pitched four solid innings, battling the weather and a solid Salisbury lineup," Forsythe said. "Matthew Killian threw two good innings, and Eli Bailey pitched the last inning."
Starter Brady Graskewicz took the loss for the Panthers, allowing nine runs (one earned) on five walks, four hits and hit a batter while striking out four.
While he didn't do well on the bump, Graskewicz did go 1-3 with a double, three RBI (game-high), one RBI and one run. Cravens hit two doubles for Salisbury, while Gutz had one.
For the second time this season, the Wildcats take on a future Central State 8 Conference foe when they face Tipton (4-1), receiving votes in the Class 2 state rankings, at 5 p.m. Monday at Tipton High School.
Last year, New Bloomfield split its two games against the Cardinals, winning the most recent 11-3 in the first round of the New Bloomfield Baseball Tournament on April 14.