Jasper wears the crown
Dawgs capture district title with 10-8 win over BC
By GEORGIA PURDY Newsboy Correspondent

Newsboy photo/Georgia Purdy JASPER SENIOR JAYLON CLOTIAUX is but a blur as he sails into home plate, denying the Wildcat catcher the tag before his foot hit the plate.

The showdown to see who would walk away with the District 21-3A title ended Friday night when the Jasper Bulldogs defeated the Bridge City Cardinals 10-8 in seven innings.

It also means a first round bye for the 'Dogs. They will play two warm up games this week before meeting the winner of the Sweeney vs. LaGrange game.

Head Coach Shawn Mixon said they know nothing about either team and will have this week to scout. Sweeney and LaGrange have a three-game series Thursday, Friday and Saturday. No date, place, nor time can be scheduled until after the winner is determined.

Hamshire-Fannett defeated Silsbee Friday night, throwing Silsbee and Hardin-Jefferson into a playoff for third place and a chance to advance to the post-season games.

"We will be watching that one," Mixon said. "It is certainly possible that we could meet one of these teams again."

Jasper turned 10 hits and three Cardinal errors into victory with winning pitcher Travis Reagan throwing four innings and relief pitcher Aaron Stephenson, three.

Newsboy photos/Georgia Purdy JASPER DH Fermin Gonzalez gets a good lead off third base. Gonzalez was three for-three for the night, including one triple. He scored two runs and had one RBI. Pictured right, freshman Parker Phillips stretches for the throw and tag-out at third base.

Reagan gave up two home runs and the 'Dogs found themselves down 4-0 after the second inning. Jasper committed one error on an infield hit, one hitter was stuck by a pitch and Cardinal center fielder Johnny Dishon hit a two-run home run.

In the top of the third, Blake Weller-Alexander led off with a base hit. John Bradley followed with a double, bringing in courtesy runner Malcolm Bronson. Jaylon Clotiaux got on base on a third strike when the catcher missed the ball.

Ryan Ellis came up with an infield hit, scoring Bradley. Reagan walked, and Chantz Pryor was hit by a pitch, which loaded the bases. Cardinal pitcher Phillip Meeks balked on the next hitter, producing Jasper's third run. With two outs, the next batter struck out leaving three runs on base.

In the top of the fifth, Jasper exploded.

Taylor Hart, Ellis, Reagan, Justin Parsons, and Pryor hit and the score was 6-4. Bronson came to the plate to bunt and Bridge City picked up another error when interference was called on the catcher, sending Bronson to first.

Weller-Alexander came to plate and hit a hard line drive to the right centerfield gap, scoring three runs. When the side was retired, Jasper was up 9-4 and Bridge City had brought in pitcher Jeff Stringer.

But the Cardinals weren't through yet, and in the bottom on the inning they put another four runs on the board, including a three-run home run by Casey Jackson.

Aaron Stephenson came in to pitch for the Bulldogs. He struck out two and one grounded out to end the inning with the 'Dogs leading by a single run, 9-8.

Jasper put another run on the scoreboard in the sixth. Bridge City committed their third throwing error, and Parsons drove in one RBI to up the score 10-8.

The combination of Jasper's defense and relief pitcher Aaron Stephenson on the mound kept the Cardinals scoreless through the seventh inning.

"Aaron did a good job. He's been throwing well all year," Mixon said. " He has a good change-up that we thought would be effective. His three strike-outs were in big situations and he also popped up several batters."

Jasper's defense, always strong, made the difference in the end.

"We made our plays," Mixon said. "Parker Phillips made two good plays in the seventh inning. I think he had four balls for the game and fielded all of them."

Tuesday night, Jasper defeated Kirbyville 13-2 on 11 hits in five innings. Justin Parsons was the winning pitcher. He threw four innings, gave up four hits and struck out six. Ryan Ellis came in relief in the fifth inning and gave up one hit.

The Bulldogs had one error early in the game when a pick-off play went array.

Senior Fermin Gonzalez, in the DH position, was three-for-three, scored two runs and 1RBI. Hart and Ellis were two-for-three.

Jasper is 22-5 on the season and 12-2 in district.

The Bulldogs played a warm-up game with Trinity last night and will play another with Texarkana Friday night in Carthage before heading to the first round playoff. Friday night's game begins at 7 p.m.

"We're proud of our kids," Mixon said. "We're all happy we won district but we just want to keep winning and keep playing. If we keep playing defense the way we have, we've got a good chance to play awhile."