Paxton punishes Graceville in region quarters (with VIDEO, PHOTOS)

By TRAVIS DOWNEY

Northwest Florida Daily News
315-4476 | travisd@nwfdailynews.com

PAXTON - As Colby Cook dug into the batter's box in the bottom of the fourth inning, the only suspense left in Paxton's Class A regional quarterfinal rested on the outcome of the junior's at-bat.

Having already clubbed a single, a double and a three-run home run on Wednesday, Cook stood a triple away from hitting for the cycle, a feat that wasn't at all lost on the Bobcats' third baseman.

PHOTOS: Click here to view more photos.

"I told everyone in the dugout after the home run that I only needed a triple," Cook said.

So when Cook struck Graceville reliever Nick Paprzycki's 1-0 offering and stroked it to the gap in left center field, the Bobcats' dugout rose to its feet in anticipation.

Cook settled for a run-scoring double - his seventh RBI on the day - to stake Paxton to a 15-0 lead that it would keep intact for a five-inning win over the Tigers at Paxton Field.

As it turned out, even Cook knew better than to expect a triple.

"Not with my speed," Cook, who finished the day 4-for-4, joked.

Paxton pounded Graceville pitching for 10 hits while Bobcats' starter Colby Forehand allowed just two hits and struck out two in three innings before giving way to Dan Geoghagan, who pitched the final two innings of a game that was never in doubt.

Brandon Garrett, Marcus Bradley, Ryan Lewellen, Geoghagan, Zach Forehand and Michael Smith each finished the night with an RBI.

"This is probably the best team that's ever been on this field since I've been here," Paxton coach Jeff Bradley said.

Paxton now advances to the regional semifinals at Malone on Friday.

One day after rain forced its postponement, Wednesday's regional quarterfinal served as a microcosm of the Bobcats' regular season. After outscoring its district opponents by a 106-10 margin, Paxton (27-3) poured on the offense against the Tigers (13-10), none more than in a nine-run third that was highlighted by Cook's three-run blast.

Already leading 5-0, Jesse Crawford started the deluge with a one-out single before moving to third on a double by Garrett. Smith walked to load the bases before Bradley pulled a two-run double into the left field corner to make it 7-0.

A balk by Graceville reliever J.R. Miles scored Smith to make it 8-0 before Geoghagan singled off the top of the right-field fence to push Paxton ahead 9-0.

Zach Forehand followed with an RBI double. It was then that Cook cranked Paprzycki's 2-0 pitch well over the fence in left center to stake Paxton to a 13-0 lead.

Graceville  000 00  - 0 2 0

Paxton       419 1x  - 15 10 1

WP: Colby Forehand; LP: Chris Willis