The Bulldogs ran their District 23-5A record to 6-1 tonight with a convincing win over visiting Elkins, 12-5. Starting Pitcher Ryan Dalton had a big night against the Knights both on the mound and at the plate, recording a dozen strikeouts and going 2-for-3 with a HR and 4 RBIs.

Elkins got on the scoreboard in the top of the first, courtesy of a hit batter and a one-out run-scoring double by Knights’ 2B Darren Hooks. The Bulldogs responded in quick fashion, though, when Dalton followed a one-out single by CF Daniel Rockett with a hit-and-run two-run homer to right field. Elkins starter Kyle Rogers had trouble finding the strike zone after that, walking 3B Erik Schweiger and LF Blake Doerr, then hitting C Matt Hills to load the bases. Schweiger and Doerr would come home on passed balls to make the score 4-1 after one.

The Bulldogs would tack on a pair in the second. SS Barrett Barnes and Rockett started the inning with back-to-back singles. Dalton then drove one deep to center that was dropped by the center fielder for a two-base error, allowing Barnes to score. Rockett came home on Doerr’s groundout to second, making the score 6-1.

After giving up a run in the top of the fourth, the Bulldogs scored another pair in the bottom. Rockett led off with a walk, stole second, and went to third when the throw slipped into the outfield. Dalton followed with a walk, and pinch runner Eric Hughes stole second. A passed ball plated Rockett with his third run of the night, and Hughes came home on Doerr’s RBI single up the middle.

Elkins scratched out another run in the top of the fifth on a single and two stolen bases by Jordan Jolly and an RBI groundout by Darren Hooks. The Bulldogs answered with another 4-spot in the home half of the inning. 2B Luke Mulcahey started things off with a grounder between the second baseman’s legs, then moved to second on RF Tony Gigliotti’s groundout. Mulcahey came around to score on 1B Drew Miller’s one-out single to right, and Miller moved up to second on Rockett’s two-out walk. With the runners moving on the full-count pitch, Dalton drove a single to left to score Miller, and Rockett rocketed home with his fourth run of the night when the throw to the plate got by the catcher. Dalton would then score on Schweiger’s single to make the score 12-3.

Dalton went six tough innings, having only one 1-2-3 inning in the second, in which he struck out the side. He finished up his night by striking out the side again in the sixth, to run his strikeout total to 12 on the evening, besting his 11-strikeout performance over Seven Lakes in the second game of the season. Dalton turned the ball over to A.J. Glasshof to pitch the seventh. After giving up a couple of unearned runs, Glasshof recorded two strikeouts to end the game, giving the Bulldog pitching staff 14 K’s on the night.

Next up for the Bulldogs – on the road for a Friday night game at Frankie Field against Clements to wrap up the first half of district play. The second half starts Saturday at Marshall.

Bulldog Offensive Highlights:

· 9 hits for the Bulldogs, 1 for extra bases: HR and a single for P Ryan Dalton; two singles for CF Daniel Rockett; and a single each for SS Barrett Barnes, 3B Erik Schweiger, LF Blake Doerr, 2B Luke Mulcahey, and 1B Drew Miller.

· 8 RBIs on the game: 4 for Dalton; 2 for Doerr; and 1 each for Schweiger and Miller.

· 4 runs scored by CF Daniel Rockett, most by a Bulldog this season, and most by a Bulldog since Drew Miller scored 4 against Mayde Creek in last year’s Alvin Tournament.

· 4 RBIs by P Ryan Dalton is the second time he has reached that total in a game this season; also accomplished this season by Barnes, Doerr, and Schweiger.

Bulldog Pitching Highlights:

· Ryan Dalton (5-0, 3-0), 6 innings, 12 K’s, 4 BB, 1 HPB, 3 hits, 3 runs

· A.J. Glasshof, 1 inning, 2 K’s, 2 hits, 2 unearned runs

· Dalton’s 12 K’s is one better than his 11 against Seven Lakes and Glasshof’s 11 against Travis.

· 14 total K’s is two better than the 12 total K’s against both Seven Lakes and Marshall earlier this season.

· Coincidence: the last time the Bulldogs notched 14 K’s was when Elkins visited FB Austin last season (McKinney 9, Dalton 4, Psenka 1).

Bulldog Defensive Highlights:

· With 14 K’s, only 7 outs needed by the defense: two pop-ups to 2B Mulcahey, a liner to 1B Miller, fly ball to CF Rockett, a nifty play on a high-bouncing 6-3 groundout SS Barnes to 1B Miller, a 5-3 groundout 3B Schweiger to 1B Miller, and a caught stealing at third base C Hills to 3B Schweiger.

· Out of 14 K’s, only one third strike in the dirt - C Hills to 1B Miller for the putout for the second out in the seventh.

Winning Pitcher: Ryan Dalton (5-0, 3-0)

Losing Pitcher: Kyle Rogers

Extra Base Hits, ELK: 2B – Hooks

Extra Base Hits, FBA: HR – Dalton

Score by inning:

Submitted by: Tom Miller