After what looked like a very promising start, the Bulldogs let a prime opportunity to grab back first place in District 23-5A slip through their fingers (and gloves) Tuesday night at Kempner. Even though the Cougars got off to a shaky start, their potent and opportunistic offense beat up the Bulldog pitching staff and defense for a dozen runs, putting up a crooked number in 4 out of 6 frames.

So, what does a very promising start look like? Something like this: first pitch homer by 2B Barrett Barnes, a double in the left-center gap by SS Scott Viktorin on a 2-1 pitch, and a first pitch homer sliced down the left field line by 1B Adam Shank, all against one of Kempner’s tough lefties, Kyle Von Tungeln. If you’re scoring at home, that’s 3 runs for the Bulldogs six pitches into the game. Von Tungeln followed with a 4-pitch walk to 3B Ryan Dalton, who then moved up to second on a passed ball. Unfortunately, the ‘Dogs were unable to bring Dalton around, the first of 9 baserunners stranded on the evening.

Well, the baseball gods giveth & the baseball gods taketh away, as Bulldog Starting Pitcher Benn Fairbanks found out in the bottom of the first. A lead-off walk to Von Tungeln was followed by a hit-and-run grounder by Josh Charlez that Fairbanks was able to bat down and make a play on for the first out. Kyle Winkler appeared to be Out #2 on a foul pop up the right field line that eluded the Bulldog defense. That would prove to be a costly error, as given a second chance, Winkler found a hole between first & second for an RBI single. One out later, Jordan Fuller snuck a grounder just past second base for another RBI single, and he came around to score on Chance Williams grounder that tight-rope walked down the third base line for a double. And just like that, we’re tied at 3.

The Bulldogs looked to be back in business in the top of the second, getting the first two batters on with RF Aaron Marcynuk’s slippery pop-up to right and C Drew Miller’s full-count walk. Add two more to the “stranded” count, though, as Von Tungeln looked to have found his groove by then and set down the next three Austin batters. The Cougars would not go quietly in their half of the inning, putting up a 4-spot on Fairbanks via an infield error, a groundout, a four-pitch walk, a single, and a 3-run homer from Winkler. That would spell the end of the night for Fairbanks; Dalton relieved a got into a bit of jam before getting the last two outs via strikeout.

The Bulldogs got their leadoff man on in the third, as Shank was hit with the first pitch. A fielder’s choice by Dalton and a walk to LF Blake Doerr had 2 on and 1 out for DH Kyle Garoni, who smoked a ball up the middle that bounced off of Von Tungeln’s leg and into the hole at shortstop for an RBI double. Once again, Von Tungeln bore down and snuffed out the third Bulldog rally in as many innings. Kempner then added a pair in the third off of Dalton, loading the bases with one out on an infield hit, another outfield error, and a single – Winkler (again) delivered with a 2-run single to make the score 9-4.

The Bulldogs would trim that lead by 1 in the fifth on a lead-off homer by Dalton, but the Cougars would respond again with 3 more runs in the bottom of the frame off of Reliever Caleb McKinney. After pitching a scoreless fourth, McKinney was victimized by a double, plus two errors sandwiched around a bunt single, and a run-scoring double play that made the score 12-5. After Reliever Robert Psenka retired the Cougars in order in the sixth (the only time that happened all night), the Bulldogs mounted one more rally in the seventh, getting a run on LF Tony Gigliotti’s two-out single and Garoni’s croquet shot up the third base line right through the third baseman’s legs that scored Gigliotti from first. RF Travis Goodrich followed with a single to left, but he and Garoni would be the last men stranded, as Miller lined out hard to a very deep (and very tall) third baseman to end the game, 12-6.

Next up for the Bulldogs is a weekend doubleheader – Friday night at home against Willowridge @ 7 p.m., and Saturday afternoon at Bush @ 2 p.m.

Bulldog Offensive Highlights:

· 8 hits for the Bulldogs, 5 for extra bases: Homer #2 and a single for 2B Barrett Barnes; Homer #3 for 1B Adam Shank; Homer #4 for 3B Ryan Dalton; a double each for SS Scott Viktorin and DH Kyle Garoni; and a single each for RF Travis Goodrich and LF Tony Gigliotti.

· 6 RBIs on the game: 2 each for Shank and Garoni; 1 each for Barnes and Dalton.

Bulldog Pitching Highlights:

· Benn Fairbanks (2-1, 1-1), 1 1/3 innings, 1 K, 2 BB’s, 5 hits, 7 runs, 3 earned runs.

· Ryan Dalton, 1 2/3 innings, 3 K’s, 1 BB, 3 hits, 2 runs, 1 earned run.

· Caleb McKinney, 2 innings, 3 K’s, 1 BB, 2 hits, 3 runs, 1 earned run.

· Robert Psenka, 1 inning, 1 K, 0 runs.

Bulldog Defensive Highlights:

· Pitcher Benn Fairbanks turning a hit into a 1-3 putout on Josh Charlez’ smash up the middle in the first.

· C Drew Miller gunning down Charlez steal attempt of third on a dropped pitch.

· Barnes to Dalton to Shank for a 6-4-3 double play in the fifth.

· 1B Adam Shank going up against the fence to catch a tough foul pop-up to end the sixth.

From the “tough luck” department:

· C Drew Miller couldn’t buy a hit tonight, hitting a rope right at the center fielder to end the third, driving a shot into the left-center gap caught just short of the wall on a great play by Cougar LF Jordan Fuller, and smoking what looked like a sure double up the line into the glove of the Cougar third baseman. Keep hitting them, Drew; they’re bound to fall in!

Two items from the “silver lining” department:

· The two teams ahead of the Bulldogs in the standings, Kempner and Elkins, play each other Friday night. Provided the boys take care of business on Friday and Saturday against Willowridge and Bush, at worst they will be in a tie for second and only one game out of first.

· Take away the unearned runs allowed the last two games, and the Bulldogs would be undefeated: 5-3 over Elkins and 6-5 over Kempner.

Winning Pitcher: Kyle Von Tungeln

Save: Porter Nelson

Losing Pitcher: Benn Fairbanks

HR, FB Austin: Barnes, Shank, Dalton

Extra Base Hits, FB Austin: Viktorin, Garoni