Dawgs keep pace in district with two wins
First round ends Friday against Kirbyville
By GEORGIA PURDY Newsboy Correspondent

Newsboy photo/Georgia Purdy JASPER'S MALCOLM BRONSON and Hardin-Jefferson's catcher look at the umpire for the call during a play at the plate last week. Bronson was called out at the close play at home but Jasper defeated Hardin-Jefferson 2-1 to move to 4-1 in district play.

The Jasper Bulldogs posted two wins last week defeating West Orange- Stark 17-6 on the road Monday and Hardin- Jefferson, 2-1 at home Thursday night.

Outstanding pitching on both sides was the highlight of the Hardin- Jefferson game. Justin Parsons threw 10 strikouts, gave up four hits and one intentional walk. Hawks pitcher Josh Rogers threw six innings.

"Justin threw a great game. The tougher the game, the better he does," Coach Shawn Mixon said. "We also played good defense."

The 'Dogs scored their two runs in the bottom of the second inning. Lead-off hitter John Bradley singled, Ty Parker followed with another single and Parker Phillips hit an RBI single to score Bradley. Tyler Ernest was out on a fielder's choice to score Xavier Mays running for Parker.

Newsboy photo/Georgia Purdy JASPER'S JUSTIN PARSONS accepts congratulations from catcher Ty Parker after his 10 strikeout performance against Hardin-Jefferson.

Hardin-Jefferson got their single run in the top of the third inning. Jasper had another opportunity in the bottom of the third, but stranded two runners on base and Malcolm Bronson was thrown out at home plate.

The Hawks threatened again in the top of the fourth with a potential run on third, but Parsons fielded a bunt to first base for the final out. In the sixth, they put another runner on third base, but the next batter hit toward first base for the final out.

In the top of the seventh, Parsons struck out the side to earn the 2-1 win.

At game's end, Jasper had stranded seven on base.

The Bulldogs had 18 hits in the 17-6 win over West Orange-Stark. Cord Yates threw four and a third innings with seven strikeouts. Parsons came in relief in the bottom of the fifth.

"Cord did a good job for us," Mixon said. "He came out because we weren't playing good defense. (Yates also plays first base.) Defensively, we weren't very good. We were in Spring Break mode, but we swung the bats well."

Newsboy photo/Georgia Purdy JASPER'S CORD YATES accepts a throw as a Hardin-Jefferson baserunner dives back into first base safely.

Jasper's first run came in the second inning when Parsons hit a homerun, the first of three in the game. Malcolm Bronson and Ty Parker hit the other two. Parsons was four for four, Bronson, four for four with a double and a triple; Parker had three hits.

Jasper played Silsbee last night on the road and will be at home Friday night against Kirbyville.

"We can help ourselves by winning both games this week," Mixon said. "We're in good shape right now."

The Bulldogs are 4-1 in district play and 15-3 on the season. The first district round ends with the Kirbyville game.

Newsboy photo/Georgia Purdy JASPER'S TYLER ERNEST fires the ball to first to retire a Hardin-Jefferson player during last week's 2-1 victory.