The Bulldogs began their 2009 campaign against the Stratford Spartans and one of the area’s top pitchers, Rice signee Kevin Hahn. The Bulldogs made a game of it, but came up just short in their opening game of the Katy Tournament, losing 4-3.
Junior starter A.J. Glasshof pitched a great game for Austin, giving up only 6 hits and a walk while recording 9 strikeouts. Unfortunately for A.J., 4 of those hits were solo homers, which accounted for all of Stratford’s scoring on a blustery afternoon at Seven Lakes HS.
After finding themselves down 3-0 after two innings, the Bulldogs got on the scoreboard in the top of the third. 2B Scott Duncan had a 4-pitch walk to open the frame, but was forced out by 1B Drew Miller’s fielder’s choice grounder to second. Miller came around to score on CF Daniel Rockett’s triple to left center, and Rockett then scored on a passed ball to close the gap to 3-2.
Stratford countered with their fourth and final run in the bottom of the third on a leadoff homer. Glasshof then settled into a groove, retiring 12 of the next 13 batters, the only baserunner being a two-out walk in the fifth. Over those last four frames, A.J. notched 7 strikeouts, including striking out the side in the sixth.
The Bulldogs made it interesting in the top of the seventh against Stratford reliever Jake Miller. A one-out double to center field by Drew Miller was followed by consecutive walks to Rockett and SS Barrett Barnes. A wild pitch made the score 4-3, but the Bulldogs stranded their other two mates at second and third to end the game.
Bulldog Offensive Highlights:
· 5 hits for the Bulldogs: 2 singles for RF Tony Gigliotti, an RBI triple for CF Daniel Rockett, a double for 1B Drew Miller, and a single for C Matt Hills.
· 1 RBI on the game, Rockett scoring Miller; the other two runs scored on a passed ball (Rockett) and a wild pitch (Miller).
Bulldog Pitching Highlights:
· Starting Pitcher A.J. Glasshof (0-1), 6 innings, 9 K’s, 1 BB, 6 hits, 4 earned runs.
Bulldog Defensive Highlights:
· C Hills to SS Barnes for a caught-stealing to end the first inning.
· An error-free game for the Bulldogs
Winning Pitcher: Kevin Hahn
Losing Pitcher: A.J. Glasshof (0-1)
HR, Stratford: – Brown, Musgrove, Hahn, Reed
Extra Base Hits, FBA: 3B Rockett, 2B Miller
Score by inning:
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
| FB Austin | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 0 |
Seven Lakes |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
x | 4 | 6 | 0 |