Bats come alive on eve of district play
Dawgs cruise to Woodville tourney victories, title
By GEORGIA PURDY Newsboy Correspondent

Newsboy photo/Georgia Purdy JASPER'S CORD YATES tags out a Lufkin Hudson baserunner during last week's home contest.

Jasper Bulldog bats sang against Hudson last Tuesday, earning Jasper a 15-5 win in five innings before they headed to the Woodville tournament Thursday, Friday and Saturday. With three wins there, the team racked up five victories last week.

"Overall, we are pitching well, playing good defense and swinging the bat well at times," Coach Shawn Mixon said. "Hudson has a good team. We just did a good job hitting."

Justin Parsons got the win. He pitched all five innings, gave up five hits and struck out seven.

Jasper got three runs in the first inning, seven in the second and five in the fourth. Taylor Hart was two for two with a home run; Malcolm Bronson was three for three and also had a home run. Parsons and John Bradley had two hits each. Eight of nine starters had at least one hit.

The 'Dogs won three out of three games at the Woodville tournament. First up was Buna, a 4-0 win from pitcher Cord Yates who threw a complete game. Yates gave up three hits, struck out eight and had no walks.

TWO KEY COMPONENTS in last week's victory over Lufkin Hudson were Taylor Hart, left, and Justin Parsons. Senior Hart was two-for-two against Lufkin Hudson with a home run while Parson posted the victory as he limited Hudson to finve runs on five hits and struck out seven.The Bulldogs opened up District 21-3A play last night when they hosted Orangefield.

Jasper scored the four runs on seven hits and no errors. Parsons had two hits.

In game two against Kelly, the Bulldogs won 4-3 in what Mixon described as a very good game.

In the sixth inning Tyler Ernest drove in Aaron Stephenson for the go-ahead run.

Marx Marcantel pitched three innings; Taylor Hart came in for two and a third. Parsons came in to get the last two outs.

"Saturday, the Bulldogs beat Coldspring 2-0 but did not hit well.

"We pitched well but we didn't hit well," Mixon said. "Aaron Stephenson pitched his first game this season. He threw four innings, gave up one hit and struck out six. Parker Phillips pitched four innings, gave up one hit and also struck out six."

Newsboy photos/Georgia Purdy

Tied 0-0 at the end of the seventh, the 'Dogs produced the two winning runs in the eighth inning. Phillips walked, Sam Alvis hit a bunt single, Yates bunted them over, and the runners scored on a fielder's choice by both Bronson and and Bradley.

"All in all it was a good week," Mixon said. "We just have to get better every week."

Jasper opened district last night against Orangefield. They host their own tournament Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and will play Bridge City on the road March 11. The next district home game is March 14 against Hamshire-Fannett.