The Uwharrie Bobcats, sponsored by the Bank of Stanly, opened their 2011 Slow Pitch Softball season Wednesday at Rock Creek Park with two wins over a strong Asheboro team. The Bobcats consist of men over the age of 65 and is a participant in the North Carolina Senior Games. The Bobcats are part of a group of teams from Salisbury, Asheboro, Pinehurst, Winston-Salem, High-Point and others that compete for the right to go to the State Senior Games to be held in Raleigh this coming September.
The first game started slow for the Bobcats. Asheboro put 4 runs across in the top of the first inning and added one more in the top of the 2nd inning. Oscar Shelton and Bob Gifford scored for the Bobcats in the bottom of the 2nd inning in front of back to back hits by Robert Huneycutt and Don “Dirt” Barnhardt. In the 3rd inning, the Bobcats bats went to work with hitting and scoring by John Smith, Ron Crawley, Martin Efird, and a grand-slam from Roger Faulkner. Defense then set in for both teams. The Bobcats did not score in the 4th and 5th innings. Asheboro did not score in the 3rd, 4th, 5th, or 6th innings. In the top of the 6th inning, the Bobcats again unleashed their bats as Ron Crawley, Roger Faulkner, Oscar Shelton, Jack Weddle, and Don Wait scored the maximum allowed 5 runs per inning. Asheboro came back in the top of the 7th inning to score 4 runs but could not overcome an 11 to 9 victory by the Bobcats.
In the second game, Ron Crawley and John Smith scored in the first inning in front of a double by Roger Faulkner. Asheboro scored one run in the first. The Bobcats did not score in the second inning, however, Asheboro added four runs to go ahead of the Bobcats 5 to 2. In the 3rd inning, Jerry Barrier, Ron Crawley, Martin Efird, and Roger Faulkner scored in front of hits by Oscar Shelton, and Bob Gifford to take a 6 to 5 lead. Asheboro scored one in the bottom of the inning to tie the game at 6 all. John Smith scored for the Bobcats in the top of the 5th in front of back to back hits by Ron Crawley and Roger Faulkner. Bob Gifford, Jack Weddle, Ken Barbee scored for the Bobcats in the top of the 6th inning in front of solid hits by Don Wait, Don “Dirt” Barnhardt, Chesley Greene, and Don Morrison to give the Bobcats a 10 to 6 victory.
The Bobcats will travel to Asheboro for a return match April 23rd.
