PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT
New district offers challenge to Dawgs
By GEORGIA PURDY Newsboy Correspondent

JASPER JUNIOR AARON STEPHENSON fires a pitch home during the Region III Championship series with Bridge City. Stephenson played an instrumenal role for the Bulldogs as he filled in during the state series when senior Travis Reagan had to rest a sore shoulder. Stephenson was the winning pitcher in the state-clinching victory over Texarkana Liberty Elyau. Enterprise photo/Tamara McKinley

With two victories in Round Rock last week, the Jasper Bulldogs completed a magical season and showed the entire state what we in East Texas already know - these Dawgs are the best when it comes to baseball.

Led by strong pitching and stronger hitting, the Bulldogs made easy work of their state opponents.

But little did they know that the road that was started in January would lead them on a path to Round Rock in June.

Pre-season

hopes unknown

As practices kicked off, Jasper Head Baseball Coach Shawn Mixon made no predictions about the Bulldogs' prospects in the new realigned District 21-3A.

Newsboy photos/Georgia Purdy JASPER SENIOR CHANTZ PRYOR puts on a little dance after reaching third during a pre-district contest with Lufkin Hudson.The Dawgs had to rally late in the contest to defeat their future playoff opponent on a Malcolm Bronson hit. Pictured right, Bronson is congratulated after plating the winning run.

"Six of the eight teams in the district made the playoffs last year," Mixon said. "Of those six, five won- Bridge City, Hardin-Jefferson, Kirbyville, Hamshire-Fannett, and Jasper."

Jasper advanced to the Area round last year before losing to Huffman in a three-game series.

"Five or six teams in our district will be tough," Mixon said. "Bridge City and Silsbee's strength is pitching. Both have a real good pair of pitchers. Hardin-Jefferson, Hamshire- Fannett, and Kirbyville are all well coached and fundamentally sound along with the other two."

Mixon said that in the old days it was easy to predict whom to beat, but in this district, everyone is capable of winning.

"This is one of the strongest districts in the state if not the strongest," he said. "Nobody will 10-run rule another team. Every game will be like a playoff and at the end of district play, there will be very good teams who stay home. If you don't show up to play, you're going to get beat."

One advantage Golden Triangle teams have is the number of high caliber select teams in the area, and many of their athletes take advantage. Playing with these clubs gives them extra playing time and an opportunity to go up against good teams before they ever get to UIL competition in the spring.

Still, Jasper has a good chance of success because this is a seasoned team of juniors and seniors most of whom already have two and three years of varsity experience.

Pre-district play rocky at times

The Jasper Bulldog baseball team opened regular season with an 8-4 loss to Lufkin Central and three wins in the Hudson tournament over the weekend.

"We didn't play well against Central," Mixon said. "We struck out too much and left 14 on base. Our hits were few and far between. Hudson had three pitchers who threw well but that doesn't hide the fact that we didn't play well."

SOME OF THE BULLDOG Buddies get a chance to meet their heroes after an early contest. Pictured left, Jasper pitcher Justin Parsons (4) congratulates infielder Ryan Ellis after making an out during a pre-district game. Jasper used its pre-district schedule to get ready for the tough District 21-3A schedule that was awaiting them.

Reagan started for the 'Dogs against Central. He gave up four runs in four innings. Aaron Stephenson pitched two innings and Ryan Ellis threw the last inning.

Taylor Hart had two hits. Malcolm Bronson, Blake Weller-Alexander, and Reagan had one hit each.

In the Hudson tournament play, Jasper defeated Diboll 10-1 in game one. Cord Yates threw a complete game, giving up four hits, one run and struck out five.

Justin Parsons was four-for-four, driving in five runs. Hart also had two more hits. "We played pretty well on defense in that game," Mixon said.

The 'Dogs won 8-7 over Livingston in the second game, using the same three pitchers. Reagan started and pitched two innings. Stephenson pitched three and Ellis came in to finish.

Newsboy photos/Georgia Purdy

"Our pitchers threw a lot of strikes," Mixon said. "We have more pitchers this year than we've ever had."

At the plate, Bronson was four-for-four; Reagan doubled, hit a home run and drove in three runs.

In their third straight tournament win, Jasper bested Hemphill 12-0 with freshman pitcher Parker

Phillips starting and throwing four innings. He gave up only one hit and struck out seven.

Weller-Alexander, Chantz Pryor and Ty Parker had one home run each.

"We planned to use Justin Parsons and Robert Shellhammer on the mound Saturday, but the tournament was rained out," Mixon said. "The tournament was good for us because a lot of people got to play and pitch. We're making it."

The next week, the Bulldogs picked up four wins including a 2-1 decision over Lufkin Hudson Feb. 27.

Jasper also played three games in Woodville's roundrobin style tournament, the only team to take all three games played.

Hudson jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning and held that lead until the seventh inning when Jasper mounted a comeback.

Chantz Pryor started the comeback by reaching first. Robert Shellhammer attempted to sacrifice Pryor into scoring position and reached back himself on a Hudson throwing error. Pryor scampered all the way to third on the error.

Taylor Hart drove in Pryor on a fielder's choice and promptly set the tone for the season by stealing second. Malcolm Bronson then sealed the comeback win with a single to score Hart and a 2-1 victory.

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 collected two hits. The 'Dogs stole a total of 12 bases during the Coldsprings' contest.

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," 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.

Tourney sets stage for district

Jasper finished 2-2 in the Field of Dreams Tournament held in Jasper.

The Dogs defeated Little Cypress- Mauriceville 4-3 in the first tournament game. Justin Parsons threw a complete game, struck out 13 and walked one. Parsons also had two hits and one RBI.

Ryan Ellis, Clotiaux and Reagan had one hit each. Reagan and Clotiaux had one RBI each.

In game two, freshman pitcher Parker Phillips got the 14-2 win over Hemphill.

"They all threw the ball well," Mixon said. "Fermin Gonzales really helped us out. He hit a two-run home run in the fifth inning."

Jasper lost game three against Vidor 8-4 in the ninth inning.

"This was a real good game and we played well," Mixon said. "They tied it up in the top of the sixth, then hit real good in the ninth. I'm not disappointed. It was a good game. Ryan Ellis pitched a good game. He struck out eight and walked two. John Bradley and Clotiaux had two hits each. They both had a good tournament."

The Bulldogs lost the final game 12- 10 to Huntsville.

"We had a bad inning where we committed mental errors and got behind 11-3," Mixon said. "This is the first time in 14 games that we've done that, but the guys didn't let it get to them. They came back and loaded the bases in the seventh inning."

Aaron Stephenson got the loss. Reagan, Phillips, and Batson also pitched.

"I'm pleased with the tournament," Mixon said. "All of our pitchers got to work. We also saw some good pitching. We played good defensively and everyone had a chance to get some playing time. It was good. I'm just happy to be going to only two games a week."