BC rallies past Jasper 7-6
Cardinals take two-game lead in District 21-3A
By GEORGIA PURDY Newsboy Correspondent

Newsboy photo/Georgia Purdy THE PICTURE TELLS THE WHOLE STORY. Jasper's catcher Ty Parker watches as Bridge City celebrates scoring their seventh run in Friday's victory.

After a rain delay of over an hour and with mist still falling, the Jasper Bulldogs jumped out to a 5-0 lead against Bridge City in the first inning Friday night, only to see their hopes of tying the district race dashed in the fifth inning when the Cardinals pulled ahead to win 7-6.

It is Jasper's second district loss to the Cards. Bridge City leads District 21-3A at 9- 0. The Bulldogs remain in second place at 7-2.

In the first inning, Taylor Hart singled off Cardinal pitcher Matt Hicks, Tyler Ernest walked, and Malcolm Bronson hit the first homerun of the inning. John Bradley grounded out, Justin Parsons beat the throw to first on a dropped third strike, and then Ty Parker stepped to the plate and hit the second home run to give the 'Dogs a 5-0 lead.

With two outs, Hicks walked Cord Yates, giving the Bulldogs a potential sixth run but then struck out Hart to end the inning.

JASPER'S JOHN BRADLEY, left photo, is tagged out by a Bridge City defender in a rundown between third base and home. Pictured right, Jasper's Parker Phillips reaches for a throw as a Bridge City baserunner closes in on the third base bag. Bridge City defeated Jasper to move to two games ahead of the Bulldogs in the District 21-3A race.

In the top of the second inning, Jasper pitcher Justin Parsons struck out the first batter but then allowed a singled, followed by a line drive across third base that Parker Phillips could not get and Bridge City scored their first run. When the side retired, the Cardinals had picked up three runs.

Bronson and Bradley hit in the bottom of the second. Parsons hit again to score Bronson, but Bradley was tagged out on a run-down between third and home, denying the potential seventh run. It would be the last run the 'Dogs could produce.

In the fourth inning, Bridge City tied the game at 6-6 when Casey Jackson hit a three-run home run with two outs. In the top of the fifth, they picked up their gamewinning run on a home run by Blake Snyder.

Newsboy photos/Georgia Purdy

"We just didn't pitch and didn't play defense good enough to win," Coach Shawn Mixon said.

Left-hander Justin Parsons struck out seven, walked two and gave up seven runs. Hicks struck out nine. Bridge City's seven runs came on 10 hits with three errors. Jasper had six runs on six hits and three errors.

The Bulldogs' three errors are uncharacteristic. This is a team known for solid defense, but first baseman Cord Yates put the loss in perspective.

"It was a tough loss, but we have to put it behind us," he said. "We can't let this one game be our season."

Tyler Ernest also said that the team has to move on.

"When you have two good teams like us and Bridge City, someone is going to lose," he said. "We have to move on. It is not the end of our season."

Earlier in the week, the Bulldogs defeated Orangefield 10-1with Cord Yates on the mound.

Yates stuck out five in six innings and gave up four hits. Parsons pitched the seventh and stuck out two.

JASPER'S TYLER ERNEST (above) dives back to first base ahead of the tag of the Bridge City first baseman. Pictured right, Jasper's loss to Bridge City doesn't keep eight- year old Colt Webb from honoring his baseball buddy after the game. Colt with his father, Tom, presented Phillips with a card and a photograph of Colt and Parker together.

Jasper picked up four runs in the first inning, one in the second and fourth, two in the sixth, and two in the seventh.

At the plate, Ty Parker hit a home run. Taylor Hart had two triples. Justin Parsons hit a stand-up double. Bradley, Ernest, Stephenson, Phillips, and Yates also added hits.

Jasper played Hamshire- Fannett Tuesday, April 8 on the road and will be at home Friday, April 11, against West Orange-Stark.

Newsboy photos/Georgia Purdy