Road to state starts in Humble
Dawgs open playoffs with best of three series with LaGrange
By GEORGIA PURDY Newsboy Correspondent

Newsboy photo/Georgia Purdy JASPER'S RYAN ELLIS fires a pitch home during last Tuesday's warmup game with Class 2A Trinity. Jasper will travel to Humble to take on LaGrange in the first round of the Class 3A basebal playoffs this week.

The Jasper Bulldogs take on La Grange in a best two-out-of-three series this week in the Region III Class 3A Area finals at Humble High School. Thursday and Friday nights' games begin at 7:30 p.m.; game three, if needed begins at noon Saturday.

This is the second time in three years these two teams have met in post-season play. The Leopards knocked Jasper out of state contention in 2004 in the regional finals.

"They're pretty good because they don't beat themselves," Head Coach Shawn Mixon said. "They pitch and they play defense."

Mixon said that when they scouted last week, they got a look at four different pitchers.

"We saw four good pitchers and all of them threw strikes," he said. "They just don't walk anyone and their defense was good."

Jasper won the District 21-3A title and is 24-5 on the season. La Grange is runner up in District 24- 3A with a record of 7-3 in district and 19-9 on the season.

Newsboy photos/Georgia Purdy JASPER SENIOR TRAVIS REAGAN recently signed a letter of intent to play baseball at Panola Junior College where he was offered a full scholarship. Reagan is pictured with Jasper baseball coach Shawn Mixon, left, and Reagan's mother, Brenda Reagan."I selected Panola because they have a good baseball program," Reagan said. The right-handed pitcher, who was out most of last season due to an injury, is seven and two on the season and is hitting .420 with 31 RBIs."Travis is having a real good senior year," Coach Shawn Mixon said."We will miss him, but we know he will do well at Panola." Pictured right, Blake Weller-Alexander (#10) congratulates Reagan after Reagan's hit in the seventh inning.

"It's hard to know a lot about teams from other districts because they are so far away," Mixon said. "We can find out about their record but still not really know how they play."

But that cuts both ways. The 'Dogs also have pitching depth with Travis Reagan, Justin Parsons, Aaron Stephenson, and Ryan Ellis.

"All of our pitchers threw last week in the warm-up games with Trinity and Buna," Mixon said. "They threw real well. Against Trinity, we walked one and gave up two hits and against Buna, we walked one and gave up a single hit."

Mixon said that the Leopards' primary defense has been their excellent pitching and that most of their games have been low scoring.

"We need to throw strikes and play defense. Offensively, we need to put the ball in play."

Jasper's hitting has been pretty consistent and defense has been key to their success so far. This is a team that makes few errors and can run the bases.

The 'Dogs have also hit against some excellent pitchers. In last week's 7-1 win over Trinity, Mixon said they faced one of the best pitchers they've seen all year.

"Trinity is the number one 2A team in the state," he said. "Dallas Gallant is very good. This is the best pitching we've seen all year, better than anything we've seen in 3A."

Jasper will play without outfielder Jaylon Clotiaux who was injured during practice when he made a dive for a ball and hit his head on the wall around the field.

"Jaylon is home and seems to be doing well," Mixon said. "He wore a helmet and sat in the dugout with us Friday night. We are really relieved to see him up and about."

Bridge City and Hardin- Jefferson are also still alive. The Cardinals go up against Wharton this week while the Hawks take on District 24 Champion Bellville. If Jasper gets by La Grange, they could be facing Hardin-Jefferson again as the winners of these two series play each other in the next round.

"I wouldn't be surprised if the teams in our district keep playing," Mixon said. "If we can put some pressure on La Grange, we have a chance," Mixon said. "We have to make them earn their runs and we can't walk anyone nor can we make errors."