Baseball Bulldogs win big on senior night
The Gainesville Bulldogs Baseball team was in action Thursday, April 25, against the conference rival Hartville Eagles. The Eagles had been ranked second in the state at one point in the year. The Eagles came into the game having an undefeated record in the Summit conference and had already defeated the Bulldogs earlier in the year 10-0. The Bulldogs were not going to allow that to happen again. Kyle Clayton got the start and pitched a complete game allowing four runs on seven hits, but did not allow an earned run. The Eagles scored on Bulldog errors and escaped with a 4-1 victory. Brad Hamm, Harley Taylor and Mason Morpeth all had hits for the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs' JV team lost 12-7.
The Bulldogs faced another conference foe in the Conway Bears Monday, April 29. The Bears were ranked 7th in the state in Class 3 going into the game. Kyle Clayton got the start for the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning on a base hit by Aaron Swanson, then Harley Taylor had a base hit to move Swanson into scoring position and finally Alex Lane’s base hit scored Swanson. That would be the only run the Bulldogs could muster. The Bears took the lead for good in the bottom of the second inning on two errors by Gainesville, and never looked back, eventually defeating the Bulldogs 11-1. The Bulldogs JV won 5-4.
The Gainesville Bulldogs faced the Ava Bears Tuesday night up in Douglas County. The Bulldogs again took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a double by Aaron Swanson and a double steal of home and second base by Swanson and Dallas DeWeese. The Bulldogs were then held in check by the Bears eventually losing 3-1.
Gainesville had a double-header last Thursday night in rough baseball conditions. In the first game the Bulldogs faced the Lutie Indians. The Bulldogs only allowed one unearned run in the game and defeated the Indians 11-1. The Bulldogs then faced the Bakersfield Lions in the late game. The Bulldogs had defeated the Lions earlier in the year 4-3, but the inability to get hits doomed the Bulldogs in this matchup. Neither team was able to score many runs with a pitching duel going on, but the Lions were able to plate two runs and defeat the Bulldogs 2-1.
The Bulldogs faced their final Summit Conference foe in the Seymour Tigers Monday night. The Tigers defeated the Bulldogs 8-2 earlier in the year due to 11 errors by the Bulldogs. This match-up was not going to have the same outcome. It was senior night, and the Bulldogs had senior Kyle Clayton on the mound. Clayton pitched a complete game allowing two runs on four hits. The Bulldogs were able to get some run support this time around. Senior Kase Wilson, senior Dallas DeWeese, Brad Hamm, Harley Taylor and Alex Lane all scored runs for the Bulldogs. Hitting for the Bulldogs was led by Zach McKinzie, who went 3-3 with two RBIs. Dallas DeWeese, Mason Morpeth, each added a hit. Harley Taylor and Alex Lane each had a double on the night. The Bulldogs claimed victory in the top of the seventh inning 6-2.
Gainesville will play Cabool at 4 p.m. May 11 in the opening round of the Class 2, District 10 tournament.