On a chilly Tuesday evening (March 16) at Jackson State University, the Lanier bulldogs found themselves trailing Jim Hill by 3 runs after 3 innings. However, the bulldogs stayed confident. A triple by shortstop Larry Bingham ignited a bulldog rally. Bingham would later score to pull the dogs within 2 runs. With runners on first and second, Jim Hill brought in one of their pitching aces, Carl Brice, who was also the football team’s quarterback this past season.
Brice entered the game throwing heat. Unfortunately for Jim Hill, the bulldog’s rally wasn’t going to end just yet. After a nice diving attempt to catch a fly ball by Jim Hill’s Jarrod Johnson, the bulldogs were able to score 2 runs. Devaughn Jackson scored from second base and Antonio Morris scored from first after some nifty base running. Brice got the next two batters out and the 5th inning ends tied at 4.
On the mound for Lanier was senior Ollie Jackson. Jackson, a left handed pitcher, and also plays first base, settled down after allowing 4 runs in 3 innings. The defense behind Jackson also settled down while allowing 2 errors in those first 3 innings. Jackson got through the final inning of regulation and 1 out into the extra innning before the bulldogs switched pitchers. Larry Bingham, their normal shortstop, moved to the mound for the last inning. The tigers had an opportunity to take the lead, but Dominic Fears was caught in a rundown between first and second. Brice flied out to end the top of the extra inning.
Senior Douglas Jones started off the bottom of 8th inning by drawing a walk. Sophomore Gabriel Gordon, laid down a bunt to advance Jones. However, this play would fuel a little controversy. Gordon’s bunt is fielded by pitcher Carl Brice who slipped as he was fielding the ball, but he is able to make a strong throw to second base. Jones and the ball arrived simultaneously. The umpire said safe and Jim Hill’s coaching staff and players do not agree. For about 3 minutes they argue back and forth with the umpires to no avail. No outs, Douglas Jones on second base and Gabriel Gordon on first base.
A few batters later, with one out and the bases loaded, Sophomore Andre Funches comes to the plate.He digs in, Brice stared him down and fired the heat. Funches hit a chopper back towards the mound. Douglas sprinted in from 3rd base and the bulldog dugout erupted! They win 5 to 4 and will face Callaway for the JPS classic championship.
Callaway advanced earlier in the day by beating Forest Hill 13 to 2. The bulldogs are also undefeated on the season with 7 wins.
Be the first to comment