Needing a win to keep pace in the playoff race, the Bulldogs did just that with a convincing victory over the host Willowridge Eagles. With the win, the Bulldogs move to 10-6 in district play, putting themselves into an amazing four-way tie for second place with Kempner, Clements, and Dulles, with one regular season game remaining for all four on Friday night.

The Bulldogs looked like they were going to get on the board early in this one, starting with a lead-off single by 3B Scott Viktorin and consecutive one-out walks to SS Barrett Barnes and LF Ryan Dalton to load the bases; but, all three were stranded. That wouldn’t happen in the second inning, though, as 2B Andrew Keplinger and 1B Benn Fairbanks started the inning with back-to-back singles, and 3B Scott Viktorin loaded the bases with a one-out single. C Drew Miller knocked in the first two runs with a double over the left fielder’s head, and Barnes and Dalton followed with run-scoring singles. DH Blake Doerr pushed across the last two of the inning with a triple to right center to make the score 6-0.

Meanwhile, Bulldog Starting Pitcher Robert Psenka was in command early. He faced the minimum three batters in the first, thanks to a 6-3 double play to erase a one-out single. In the second, Willowridge CF Clint Barnes jumped on the first pitch he saw and hit a one-out homer to left to make the score 6-1 after two innings. The Bulldogs would get that run back in the top of the third with a lead-off single by RF Tony Gigliotti, who took second on the RF’s error; he would come around to score on Miller’s grounder to shortstop when the ball got past the first baseman, making the score 7-1.

Trouble started brewing for Psenka in the bottom of the third. Lead-off man Chris Wolfe reached on an error, who moved to third on Garner’s hot shot grounder up the middle. Those two both scored in a hurry, along with one more, when C Evan Richard launched a 3-run homer to left center. A fly ball out and a single to right would be the end of Psenka’s night; not wanting Willowridge to build any more momentum, the call went to LF to bring on Ryan Dalton in relief, replaced in LF by Aaron Marcynuk. Dalton got the next two batters to stop the rally with the Bulldogs in front, 7-4.

The Bulldogs responded with another big inning in the top of the fourth. Doerr got things started with a lead-off homer to left, and he was followed by five more Bulldogs reaching base – a double by Keplinger, an infield error on Fairbanks’ shot to second, a run-scoring single by Gigliotti, a walk to Viktorin, and a run-scoring single by Miller to the opposite field. Dalton and CF Daniel Rockett would follow later in the inning with RBI walks. Willowridge would add a run in the bottom of the fourth. It was a quiet fifth inning, as the only baserunner for the Bulldogs was a two-out walk to Viktorin. Willowridge looked ready to add on to their score in their half of the frame with a lead-off double by Dominiq Harris, but Dalton buckled down and struck out the side to end the fifth with the Bulldogs on top, 12-5.

The Bulldogs kept the bats going in the sixth, starting with a lead-off double by Barnes. Willowridge SS Chris Wolfe then made a great play on Dalton’s pop-up, racing over and down the left field line to make a great catch and steal a hit. After Rockett reached on an infield error, Doerr collected his fourth RBI of the night with a single to left. After a walk to Keplinger, Fairbanks added to the Bulldog total with an RBI groundout to shortstop. Willowridge would counter with three two-out runs in the bottom of the sixth, including the second home run of the game by Richard, to make the score 14-8.

Like every other time the Eagles scored tonight, the Bulldogs would answer again in the seventh. Viktorin and Miller led off with consecutive singles, and they were brought home on a 3-run homer by Barnes. That would close out the scoring at 17-8. Andrew Keplinger, who relieved Dalton to finish the sixth, started the seventh with a couple of free passes, but ended the game with a strikeout and a 4-6-3 double play.

Next up for the Bulldogs is the final regular season game, “Senior Night” at home with the Bush Broncos on Friday, 7 p.m. We will be doing senior Bulldog & parent introductions before the game, and be sure to be on hand for a special tribute to our “Angel in the Outfield”, John Keplinger, during the 4th-Inning Stretch.

Keep those weekend plans on hold…

· End-of-season tiebreaker games will likely be required to determine the playoff teams from District 23-5A. Those games are likely to be played this-coming Saturday, April 26. Watch the website for dates, times, locations, and more information.

Bulldog Offensive Highlights:

· 18 hits for the Bulldogs, 6 for extra bases: HR #4, a double, and a single for SS Barrett Barnes; HR #2, a triple, and a single for DH Blake Doerr; a double and 2 singles for C Drew Miller; 3 singles for 3B Scott Viktorin; a double and a single for 2B Andrew Keplinger; two singles for RF Tony Gigliotti; and a single each for LF/P Ryan Dalton and 1B Benn Fairbanks.

· 16 RBIs on the game: 4 each for Barnes and Doerr; 3 for Miller; 2 for Dalton; 1 each for Fairbanks, Gigliotti, and CF Daniel Rockett.

Bulldog Pitching Highlights:

· Robert Psenka, 2 1/3 innings, 0 K, 1 BB, 6 hits, 4 runs, 3 earned runs.

· Ryan Dalton (4-4, 2-2), 3 1/3 innings, 7 K’s, 0 BB, 4 hits, 4 runs, 0 earned runs.

· Andrew Keplinger, 1 1/3 innings, 1 K, 2 BB’s, 0 hits, 0 runs.

Bulldog Defensive Highlights:

· A 6-3 double play to end the first inning, SS Barnes to 1B Fairbanks.

· A 4-6-3 double play to end the game, 2B Dalton to SS Barnes to 1B Fairbanks.

Winning Pitcher: Ryan Dalton (4-4, 2-2)

Losing Pitcher: Ron Garner

HR, FB Austin: Barrett Barnes, Blake Doerr

Extra Base Hits, FB Austin: 3B – Blake Doerr; 2B – Drew Miller, Andrew Keplinger, Barrett Barnes

HR, Willowridge: Clint Barnes, Evan Richard (2)

Extra Base Hits, Willowridge: 2B – Ron Garner, Dominiq Harris

Score by inning: