By Robert Griffin

Sports Writer

It was a tale of two games Friday for the Callaway Cavaliers as they hosted Union County in the first round of the Class AA state playoffs.

The Cavaliers were able to take the first game 2-1 in eight innings, with an outstanding effort on the mound from freshman Kane Keith, who went seven innings and allowed only one run.

Game 2 was all Union County, though, which romped to a 12-2 victory in five innings.

The third and deciding game will be at 1 p.m. today at Callaway.

In Friday’s opener, Keith was on top of his game.

“I was a little nervous at first,” Keith said. “I just wanted to get out there and throw strikes and let my defense back me up, and it was a successful strategy.”

The Cavaliers stuck first when Josh Alise hit an RBI single to give the Cavs the lead.

The lead would hold until the top of the sixth inning when the Panthers pushed a runner across on a sharply hit double to even the score.

Tanner Thompson then came in in relief for Keith and held the Panthers at bay.

Thompson, Dominique Smedley, and Kyle Williams each walked to lead off the eighth inning.

Senior Chris Laye followed the walks by reaching on a fielder’s choice, and Thompson was thrown out at the plate.

Brandon Bowen followed with a ground ball to the first baseman, and Smedley slide into home with the winning run.

“We just got great pitching all the way around,” Cavs head coach Dusty Hubbard said. “Kane did a great job out there, and Tanner did a great job coming in in relief. We made some nice plays defensively. We had some more chances to score, and should have expanded the lead, but didn’t. It was a good win. We did a good job of battling back and taking the game.”

The second game of the series was a different story for the Cavs.

After opening up the scoring with a home run from Dominique Smedley in the top of the first inning, the Cavaliers found themselves outmatched and outscored

“We just didn’t play very well and the game got away from us,” Hubbard said. “Brew (Parker) didn’t pitch bad, it was just those guys put the bat on the ball.”

The Cavaliers tried to mount a small rally in the fifth inning when Kyle Williams led off the inning with a single.

Chaz Bowles drove Williams home with and RBI double, making the score 12-2.

Bowen came in to pinch run for Bowles, and was making a race toward home plate after Caleb Shelnutt laced a single to right field.

Unfortunately for the Cavs Bowen was called out at the plate, ending the game.

“We squandered opportunity after opportunity after opportunity out there offensively,” Hubbard said.” It’s disappointing. They came right at us with fastballs and we couldn’t handle it. As it stands for tomorrow we have to get better. If we don’t do better tomorrow offensively it’s going to be tough. You can’t pitch but so good, and you have to stir up some offense.”

Brew Parker started and pitched two innings to take the loss.