Dawgs ready to defend Class 3A title
Jasper starts playoff run with Horns
By GEORGIA PURDY Newsboy Correspondent

JASPER'S MALCOLM BRONSON slides safely into third base before scoring on a triple during Friday's practice game with Buna. Pictured left, Aaron Stephenson comes off the mound to field a grounder to first base. Stephenson, was recently given a medical release after weeks of treatment for a bone spur in his shoulder. He pitched against both Kirbyville and Buna.

Having secured the third place spot in District 21-3A, the Jasper Bulldogs head to the playoffs Friday night at 7 p.m. at Morris Frank Park in Lufkin. They will meet Tarkington,the second place team from District 22.

"I don't know yet if we will play the one game Friday night or a threegame series," Coach Shawn Mixon said. "If we play three games, the second game will be at 2 pm Saturday."

Mixon said that he and his staff would know nothing about them until they scouted the district playoff game between Tarkington and Kingwood Park. They were tied for first place; however, Kingwood Park won that contest Saturday night 12-4.

Jasper finished the regular season Tuesday, April 22 with a 17-0 win over Kirbyville. Hardin-Jefferson defeated district leader Bridge City, to sit alone in second place.

Newsboy photos/Georgia Purdy

Derrick Sowell started on the mound against the Wildcats. In three innings, he struck out five, walked two and gave up two hits. Aaron Stephenson, who has been unable to pitch since early in the season due to a bone spur in his shoulder, pitched the fourth and final fifth inning. Stephenson struck out three, gave up a walk but no hits.

"We had two good pitching performances against Kirbyville," Mixon said. "Both threw the ball well."

The 'Dogs were scoreless in the first inning but exploded in the second with eight runs after the Wildcat pitcher allowed five walks and 12 at-bats.

Kirbyville brought in three pitchers but still struggled to keep the 'Dogs off the bases. Jasper picked up another four runs in the fourth and five in the final fifth inning.

Tyler Ernest led Jasper's hitting with a single, a double, a triple, and five RBIs. Justin Parsons had two hits and doubled in three runs. Malcolm Bronson drove in three runs on a home run over the right field fence and another run on a sacrifice fly.

JASPER JUSTIN PARSONS, far left, heads for third base on a stand-up triple during Friday's game with Buna. Pictured left, Tyler Ernest singles against Buna. He later followed up with a double and a triple for five RBIs.

Jasper played a warm-up game against 2A-district champion Buna Friday night, winning that one 8-0 on 11 hits.

Bronson scored the only run in the first inning on a triple by Parsons.

The 'Dogs returned in the second with five runs and picked up another in the fifth and sixth innings. Buna had four hits. Each committed one error.

Cord Yeates threw three innings, Stephenson came in to pitch in the top of the fourth, and Sowell closed.

If Jasper gets past the first playoff round, they will go up against Bellville, the team they defeated in the regional quarterfinals last year.

"Bellville is the winner of District 24 and they are very good," Mixon said. "We haven't seen them this year, but they pushed us to three games last year, and they have most of their team back. They have a good coach and are a good team. That game would be sometime during the week of May 10."

Newsboy photos/Georgia Purdy