Jasper sweeps away Bellville
Dawgs advance to face off with Lufkin Hudson
By GEORGIA PURDY Newsboy Correspondent

Newsboy photo/Georgia Purdy JASPER CATCHER BLAKE WELLER-ALEXANDER reminds his teammates that they need one more win to advance after winning game two against Bellville Saturday in the Woodlands.

The Jasper Bulldogs posted back-to-back victories over the Bellville Brahmas Saturday to win the Class 3A regional quarterfinal round at College Park High School in The Woodlands.

They will play Hudson in the regional semifinal round beginning Thursday at 7 p.m. at Lufkin's Morris Frank Park. Jasper will host game two at 4 p.m. Friday and if a third game is needed, the teams will play at Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches at 1 p.m. Saturday.

After a 4-3 loss on Thursday night, the 'Dogs had 15 hits in an 11-4 victory in game two; then followed up with a 3-0 win in game three which began 30 minutes later.

Aaron Stephenson did a good job on the mound in game one, but the Bulldogs were flat at the plate. Their three runs came on only four hits. Defensively, Jasper did what they usually do, played an error-free game.

Newsboy photo/Georgia Purdy JASPER'S MALCOLM BRONSON, above, is safe at first as the throw sails high over the head of the Bellville first baseman. Pictured right, Tyler Hart scores a run during the Bulldogs 11-4 victory in game two of the series. Jasper finished off the Brahmas in game three 3-0 to advance in the Class 3A playoffs.

Ryan Ellis threw the entire second game plus the first three innings of the third.

"We would have left Ellis in, but UIL rules only allow a pitcher to throw a total of 10 innings in two back-toback games," Head Coach Shawn Mixon said. "Ryan had been throwing real well the last couple of weeks in practice so we knew he would probably start in one game of the series. He did a very good job."

Ellis' side-arm throw is difficult to hit. In game two, the Brahmas scored a single run in the fourth inning and finally picked up three in the seventh.

"His delivery creates movement on the ball, so he is hard to hit," Mixon said. "We had a big lead by the seventh inning and knew we had the game won, so then Ellis just piped in some fastballs. He gave up a total of six hits and walked two."

The Bulldogs scored two runs in the first inning, one in the second and third, three in the fifth and four in the seventh."

"We hit the ball real well," Mixon said.

Left hander Justin Parsons threw the last four innings of game three and struck out six.

"When Justin came in, it was all over," Mixon said. "He had two baser unners in four innings and picked off one of those. Justin was good- very sharp."

Despite Jasper's sluggish performance at the plate in game one, defense was excellent in all three games.

"We had no errors," Mixon said. "We played good clean baseball and great defense, and even though we didn't swing the bats in game one, we made up for it in the next two games. Everybody played well. Blake Weller- Alexander had a real good series and also Taylor Hart. Malcolm Bronson and John Bradley had good at bats the whole series- and Parsons as well. They were all very good in all three games."

One distinguishing trait of this team is their relaxed attitudes in the dugout. No one seems to be down or overly stressed no matter how a game is progressing.

Newsboy photo/Georgia Purdy JASPER'S JOHN BRADLEY singles and is congratulated by Coach Steve Smith at first base.

"They never get down or uptight," Mixon said. "They handled Thursday's loss very well. They were upset that they didn't play better, but that didn't affect the later games. They tease each other in the dugout and act crazy between games. They are really a fun group of guys to coach. I am very proud of them."

When Jasper meets Hudson, it will be a contest of evenly matched teams.

"They are a solid team in every area," Mixon said. "They have two good pitchers and they are good on defense. In the last two weeks, they have been knocking the cover off the ball, but I think our pitching is better than what they've been facing these last two weeks. Still, they are a solid team and we are so evenly matched that whoever plays best will win. It will come down to execution."

Bridge City is also still in the race.

They face Carthage Thursday night in Woodville at 7 p.m. Game two is Saturday at Lufkin's Morris Frank Park at noon. If a third game is needed, it will follow thirty minutes later.

If Jasper defeats Hudson, they will play the winner of the Bridge City-Carthage series.