Dawgs hold onto second in district
Showdown looms with Bridge City once again
By GEORGIA PURDY Newsboy Correspondent

Newsboy photo/Georgia Purdy JASPER'S JOHN BRADLEY tried to elude the tag of Kirbyville's first baseman by diving into first base.The Bulldogs defeated the Wildcats 9-1 to finish the first round of district play at 6-1, one game behind district leader Bridge City.

After two wins over Silsbee and Kirbyville last week, the Bulldogs completed the first round of district play, sitting solidly in second place at 6-1 with Bridge City still in first at 7- 0. Round two began last night with Jasper facing Orangefield on the road. They play Bridge City at home Friday night.

Jasper opened up with an eight-run lead in the first inning against Silsbee last Tuesday, including a grand slam by Aaron Stephenson.

Justin Parsons struck out six, gave up one hit in the fourth inning and had no walks in the 15-0 victory.

In addition to eight runs in the first inning, Jasper scored a run in the second, four in the fourth, and one in the fifth.

At the plate, Stephenson was two for two with two homeruns and seven RBIs. Ty Parker had three hits and drove in two runs. Parsons, Malcolm Bronson and Tyler Ernest were two for three, and Parker Phillips, two for four.

JASPER'S XAVIER MAYS almost beats the throw home, but the Kirbyville catcher makes a spectacular dive for the out.The Bulldogs defeated Kirbyville 9-1 in district action last week. Newsboy photo/Georgia Purdy

Silsbee is now 5-2 in district play.

"We started to hit the ball a little better last week," Coach Shawn Mixon said. "We had good at-bats and fouled off a lot of pitches. We didn't get sloppy and our defense was also solid."

Kirbyville was looking for their first district win but it didn't happen. The 'Dogs swung the bats again, defeating the Wildcats 9-1 Friday night in Jasper with Cord Yates on the mound. Yates threw four innings with eight strikouts, gave up one run and retired the side in the second and fourth innings. Parker Phillips came in to close the game.

Phillips was three for four and Stephenson three for three with on triple. John Bradley, Parker, Bronson, and Ernest were two for four.

Newsboy photo/Georgia Purdy JASPER CATCHER TY PARKER attempts to tag a Kirbyville runner at home plate during the Bulldogs 9-1 victory.

Friday night's game with Bridge City should be a nailbiter with Jasper hoping to ruffle the Cardinals' feathers and end up in a two-way tie for first place in the district. Of course, both will have to have won Tuesday in order to set up that situation.