Next!
Jasper dispatches Tarkington, faces rematch with Bellville in next round
By GEORGIA PURDY Newsboy Correspondent

Shawn Mixon

The Jasper Bulldogs defeated the Tarkington Longhorns 13-3 Friday night in the first playoff round at Morris Frank Park in Lufkin. They will face Bellville this week in the Class 3A Area round.

The place nor the number of games had been determined by press time. Jasper defeated Bellville last year in a three-game series in the regional quarterfinals.

"We can't come to an agreement so we will have to meet with the Bellville coaches and flip," Coach Shawn Mixon said. "We want three-game series, but they want to play only one game."

After three scoreless innings against Tarkington, the 'Dogs exploded with six runs on six hits and two walks in the fourth. Tyler Ernest led off with a single, followed by Malcolm Bronson and John Bradley. After Justin Parsons struck out, Ty Parker doubled, Aaron Stephenson and Parker Phillips walked; and Cord Yates and Taylor Hart both hit.

The Longhorns picked up one run in the bottom of the inning on a Jasper error.

The Bulldogs brought in three more runs in the fifth on hits by Stephenson, Phillips and Yates.

JASPER'S RYAN BRONSON dives back to first base ahead of the throw from the Tarkington pitcher. Jasper defeated Tarkington 13-3 in the first round of the Class 3A playoffs Friday, May 2. Pictured left, Taylor Hart congratulates Aaron Stephenson and courtesy runner Marx Marcantel after they both scored runs. Marcantel was running for Ty Parker. Home plate was a busy place as the Bulldogs brought in 13 runs against Tarkington in the bi-district play-off Friday night.

In the sixth Tyler Ernest led off with a triple. Bronson hit to the wall and scored Ernest, but was thrown out at third base. Parsons walked;

Parker hit and Stephenson drove in Parsons. Phillips also had a base hit but was left on base.

The 'Dogs scored their final two runs in the seventh after Taylor Hart walked, Ernest got an infield hit and John Bradley doubled in both runs.

Pitcher Justin Parsons got the win. He pitched five innings, struck out six, walked two, and gave up two hits. Aaron Stephenson came in to throw the last two innings.

Newsboy photos/Georgia Purdy

The Longhorns picked up two additional runs in the sixth inning. They finished the game with three runs on four hits and four errors.

"I'm pleased with the way we played," Mixon said. "We made a couple of mistakes but nothing we can't fix in practice. We are looking forward to getting in a few days of good practice this week and playing Bellville."

Newsboy photo/Georgia Purdy JASPER'S CORD YATES chases down a Tarkington baserunner during last Friday's playoff game in Lufkin.