The Wildcat baseball team traveled to Killeen on Thursday to take on the Eagles from Killeen Ellison High School in Game 1 of the Area round of the state baseball playoffs.

While the ‘Cats put on an offensive show and won the game 11-8, the win came at a hefty price.

Senior lead-off hitter, Cameron Bodell, got things going early for the ‘Cats when he smashed a double to right center field.

A perfectly executed drag bunt by senior Byron Burns advanced Bodell to third, allowing junior Blake Woodson to bring Bodell home with an RBI single.

Byron Burns would score to give the ‘Cats a 2-0 lead in the top of the 1st inning, but the Eagles also got a quick start to the game and would tie the score in the bottom of the 1st with two runs of their own.

The Wildcats scored two runs in the 2nd inning and took a 4-2 lead into the top of the fourth inning where they broke the game open, scoring three runs to take a commanding 7-2 lead.

However, the bottom of the 4th inning was costly for the ‘Cats.

With two men on for the Eagles, junior James Mulheron ripped a shot to left center field where a full speed collision occurred between ‘Cats left fielder Taylor Stell and center fielder Cameron Bodell.

The collision was a scary one, resulting in both teams' coaching staffs rushing to center field to check on a motionless Bodell.

After a few minutes, Bodell ended up leaving the field under his own power but would later head to the hospital in an ambulance. While likely bruised a bit, Stell was uninjured and remained in the game.

At the game's conclusion, we got word that Bodell suffered no broken bones but will likely not play the rest of the series due to a concussion.

The collision and between Bodell and Stell allowed the Eagles to score two runs off Mulheron’s hit.

With a 7-4 lead and one of their key players out, it would have been easy for the ‘Cats to be a bit distracted and lose focus on the game.

However, the Higgins squad responded well, scoring four runs in the top of the 5th inning to take an 11-4 lead.