On a gorgeous Saturday afternoon at Austin High School, the Bulldogs repeated the formula that got them a victory over Clements earlier in the year – excellent starting pitching, sharp defense, and timely hitting – winning 4-1, earning the season sweep over the Rangers, and keeping their playoff hopes fueled in the tight District 23-5A race. Even though the Bulldogs started the day short-handed (as CF Daniel Rockett and catcher J.J. Jones were joined on the DL by 3B Ryan Dalton with a sprained wrist received in a collision Tuesday night at Dulles), the boys stayed focus, played well, and can now look to make a bigger move in the standings with 3 district games this-coming week.

Bulldog Starting Pitcher Caleb McKinney logged his second district win of the year over the Rangers, pitching 6-2/3 innings, giving up 7 hits and 1 walk while notching 4 strikeouts; the only run McKinney allowed was a first-pitch lead-off homer to left by Ranger 1B Chase Stifflemire in the top of the second. Other than that, McKinney was in control the whole afternoon, as the Rangers had only three other runners reach third base, all with two out.

On the offensive side of the ledger, things started quietly for the Bulldogs, not getting a ball out of the infield through two innings. That changed in a big way in the bottom of the third when 1B “Big Benn” Fairbanks launched the first pitch he saw from Ranger Pitcher John Neely over the centerfield fence to tie the game at 1. The Bulldogs weren’t done that inning, though, as CF Tony Gigliotti worked a walk and advanced the next three bases to score courtesy of SS Barrett Barnes (sac bunt and reached on an error), 3B Scott Viktorin (fielder’s choice to second), and LF Adam Shank (another fielder’s choice to second). That made it 2-1 Bulldogs after three.

Gigliotti would start another rally in the fifth, reaching safely when the first baseman was ruled off the bag on a close play. The Bulldogs kept the pressure on and took advantage of that favorable call on the next pitch, when Barnes put down a great bunt up the first base line – when the throw was airmailed into the right field corner, Gigliotti motored around to score, and Barnes cruised into third. With the infield playing in, Barnes came home on Viktorin’s misplayed ground ball to short, which made the score 4-1.

And that would be it for the scoring, but not without a little more drama in the top of the seventh. After two quick outs, McKinney gave up three consecutive singles to load the bases (two with two strikes). As much as Coach Ursery wanted to see #4 log a complete game victory, he went to Fairbanks to close it out, who got the Rangers’ #3 hitter Taylor Overbey to bounce into a 4-3 putout to seal the win for McKinney and earn himself a save in the process.

Next up this week for the Bulldogs will be a road game at neighboring Travis next Tuesday night, a Friday night home game against Marshall, and a road trip Saturday afternoon to Hightower for the Bulldogs’ only 2008 meeting with the Hurricanes.

Bulldog Offensive Highlights:

· 4 hits for the Bulldogs, 2 for extra bases: Home Run #1 for 1B Benn Fairbanks; a double for DH Blake Doerr; and singles by 2B Andrew Keplinger and C Drew Miller.

· 3 RBIs on the game: one each for Fairbanks, LF Adam Shank, and 3B Scott Viktorin.

Bulldog Pitching Highlights:

· Caleb McKinney (4-1, 3-1), 6 2/3 innings, 4 K’s, 1 BB, 7 hits, 1 earned run.

· Benn Fairbanks, 1/3 inning, save.

Bulldog Defensive Highlights:

· Talk about spreading the ball around, 12 of 21 outs on ground balls – 3 to P McKinney, 3 to 2B Keplinger, 3 to 3B Viktorin, and 3 to SS Barnes – all handled flawlessly.

· C Drew Miller got into the action on half of McKinney’s 4 strikeouts, going 2-3 for the putout on the third strike in the dirt in the third, and snagging a foul tip for Strike Three to end the top of the fifth.

Miscellaneous Notes:

· Tony Gigliotti has reached and scored 3 straight times (over two games), which is the longest streak this year in district for the Bulldogs.

· Special note to BK: Socks? Black.

Winning Pitcher: Caleb McKinney (4-1, 3-1)

Save: Benn Fairbanks (1)

Losing Pitcher: John Neely

HR, Clements: Chase Stifflemire

HR, FB Austin: Benn Fairbanks (1)

Extra Base Hits, FB Austin: Blake Doerr, double