Dawgs claim vital victory over Hudson
By GEORGIA PURDY Newsboy Correspondent

Newsboy photo/Georgia Purdy JASPER'S CHANTZ PRYOR dances a little dance after reaching third after a basehit by a fellow Bulldog. Jasper defeated Hudson 2-1 in a crucial non-district contest as the Bulldogs prepare for their tournament this weekend.

The Jasper Bulldog baseball team picked up four wins last week, a 2-1 decision over Hudson Tuesday, Feb. 27 and three games in Woodville's round-robin style tournament, the only team to take all three games played.

Hudson scored in the bottom of the fifth inning to take a 1-0 lead. In the top of the seventh, Ryan Ellis made the third out to retire the side, leaving Hudson with a runner on base.

In the bottom of the seventh, Chantz Pryor got on first and Robert Shellhammer bunted. Hudson made an error at first that allowed Shellhammer to get on and sent Pryor to third. Taylor Hart hit and then stole second base. Malcolm Bronson came to the plate and scored Hart for the 2-1 win.

Travis Reagan pitched four and a third innings, struck out seven and gave up two hits. Justin Parsons came in to close. He gave up one hit and struck out three.

Reagan and Bronson had two hits each.

At the Woodville tournament, Jasper took Vidor 10-4 in game one.

Justin Parsons pitched a complete game; he gave up five hits and walked 11.

Travis Reagan had three hits, followed by Parsons and Ryan Ellis with two each.

In game two, the Bulldogs defeated Coldsprings 11-4. Aaron Stephenson got the win with five innings. He struck out seven and gave up five hits.

At the plate, Ellis had three hits and Malcolm Bronson, two. The 'Dogs stole a total of 12 bases.

Ryan Ellis made his debut on the mound against Kelly High School in game three and pitched all 11 innings. The Bulldogs won 2-1.

"Ellis was really the story," coach Shawn Mixon said. "We found a hero. He threw really good. We had planned to use him as a closer but we begin district this week, so we put him in. He did a great job. He's good no matter where you put him. He's a real competitor."

Ellis stuck out 12 and gave up four hits.

"We also played good defense," Mixon said. "We didn't hit well though. We got runners in scoring position and couldn't get them in. We also saw some good pitching. Both teams played well. Vidor and Kelly are good teams."

Kelly led 1-0 until the sixth inning when Taylor Hart drove in John Bradley to tie the game. In the 11th inning, Robert Shellhammer squeezed in Aaron Stephenson in a suicide squeeze to win the game.

Jasper opened district last night against Orangefield and will host their own tournament March 8-10.

The Bulldogs play Little Cypress-Mauriceville Thursday at 6 p.m. On Friday they have two games: Hemphill at 4 p.m. and Vidor at 7 p.m. Saturday, they play Huntsville at 6 p.m.

The tournament begins Thursday at noon, Friday at 10 a.m. and Saturday at noon.

It is a round-robin tournament where each of the five teams gets four games.

Jasper will play their second district game against Hamshire- Fannett at home, March 13. Game time is 7 p.m.