10-1 Bulldogs win 1st in Hartville Tourney

The Gainesville High School baseball Bulldogs are one of the hottest teams in the state, winning another first place tournament trophy, the second in as many weeks.

The 10-1 Bulldogs beat Hartville 12-2 to win the Hartville Tournament, after beating Willow Springs 9-2 and Norwood 4-1 earlier in the tournament.

The weather Friday was brutally cold, but the Bulldog bats were smoking as Gainesville outscored their tournament opponents 25-5.

“The boys are playing well, and we are not relying on one player to do it all,” said Gainesville Coach Blake Hobbs.

Hobbs said in the championship game against Hartville, the Bulldogs were a little sluggish at the start. “It took us one trip around the lineup before we really got in a groove.”

After finding a rhythm, the Bulldog bats went to work.

“Our offense showed (positions) 1-9 we are a threat. Sometimes 1-5 is hot and doing all the offense. They were 5-12 against Hartville. (Positions) 6-9 stepped up this game and went 7-10, with 3 of them having multi hit games. Individual offensive stats for the Bulldogs were:

Andrew Hambelton was 2-3, with 2 RBIs.

Jake Leeker was 1-3, with 4 RBIs, and hit the go-ahead grand slam.

Hunter Luna was 2-3, with 3 RBIs and a 2-run home run.

Aden Yarger was 2-3 with 1 RBI.

Briar Walrath was 2-2 with 1 RBI.

In the opening game of the tourney against Willow Springs, Jake Leeker went 3-4 with 2 RBIs and 3 runs scored as the Bulldogs beat up on the Bears 9-2.

Landry Jenkins was 1-2 with 3 RBIs.

“We played team baseball to beat Willow,” said Hobbs. “A lot of bunts and moving runners.”

Bryce Hambelton pitched the whole game, allowing only 4 hits and 2 earned runs with 9 strikeouts in 7 innings of work.

In the second round of the tourney against Norwood, the Bulldogs held the Pirates to one run, beating them 4-1.

Offensively in that game:

- Landry Jenkins was 3-4

- Bryce Hambelton was 2-2, with an RBI

- Briar Walrath was 1-2, with 3 RBIs

Aden Yarger pitched 5 innings and got the win, giving up 4 hits, 1 run, and fanning 6. Jake Leeker came in and got the 2-inning save, giving up nothing and striking out 4.

“We hit the ball pretty well, but it was just right at people,” Hobbs said. “I thought our team did really well and there are just some games, we gotta fight extra hard to win. We also handled a pitcher that has given us a lot of fits in the past, much better this game.”

Ozark County Times

504 Third Steet
PO Box 188
Gainesville, MO 65655

Phone: (417) 679-4641
Fax: (417) 679-3423