The race to the playoffs is tightening up, as the host Kempner Cougars came from behind to beat the visiting Austin Bulldogs 10-7, and even their District 23-5A records at 10-4. That’s good enough for a third-place tie, as Travis and Dulles lead the way at 11-3.

The Bulldogs jumped out to an early lead against Kempner Starter Scott Grist, putting up a 3-spot in the top of the first. A lead-off walk to CF Daniel Rockett and a hit-and-run infield single to short by RF Tony Gigliotti got things going. P Ryan Dalton moved the runners to second and third with a groundout to short, and 1B Drew Miller came through with a two-out line drive to right center to score Rockett and Gigliotti. LF Blake Doerr brought in Miller with a misplayed smash past the first baseman to make it 3-0.

Kempner countered with single runs in the first and second off Bulldog Starter Ryan Dalton, courtesy of an RBI single by LF Fuller and a solo HR by CF Carr. After a scoreless third, the Bulldogs staged a two-out rally in the fourth, getting another 3 runs on a single to left by Rockett, a tightrope double to left by Gigliotti, and a 3-run bomb by Dalton. That made the score 6-2.

Dalton ran into trouble in the bottom of the fourth, as Kempner struck for 5 runs to take a 7-6 lead. A bases-loaded throwing error on Carr’s ground ball allowed 2 runs to score, and a 2-run double by DH VonTungeln tied the game at 6. A groundout and passed ball plated VonTungeln to give the Cougars their first lead of the night, 7-6.

That lead didn’t last long, as LF Blake Doerr blasted a one-out HR to left to tie things up at 7 in the top of the fifth, and put an end to Grist’s night, who was relieved by VonTungeln. Unfortunately for Austin, that tie didn’t last long, as the baseball fates conspired against the Bulldogs in the bottom of the inning. A lead-off walk spelled the end of the night on the hill for Dalton, who was relieved by Rockett. A 10-pitch walk, an infield hit, a wild pitch, a passed ball, and a full-count double put three more runs on the board to make the score 10-7. Travis Lutze came on to relieve Rockett and held the Cougars in check the rest of the way. The Bulldogs couldn’t push any runs across the plate in the sixth or seventh, leaving the final score 10-7.

Next up for the Bulldogs – on the road at Dulles on Wednesday for a 4:30 game, then at Elkins on Friday at 7 p.m.

Bulldog Offensive Highlights:

· 9 hits for the Bulldogs, 3 for extra bases: a double and single for RF Tony Gigliotti (second night in a row); HRs for P Ryan Dalton and LF Blake Doerr; and a single each for CF Daniel Rockett, 1B Drew Miller, 3B Erik Schweiger, C Matt Hills, and 2B Luke Mulcahey.

· 7 RBIs on the game: 3 for Dalton, 2 for Miller, and 2 for Doerr.

Bulldog Pitching Highlights:

· Ryan Dalton (6-2, 4-2), 4 innings, 6 K’s, 6 BBs, 3 HPB, 4 hits, 8 runs, 5 earned runs

· Daniel Rockett, 1 BB, 2 hits, 2 runs

· Travis Lutze, 2 innings, 1 K, 3 hits, 0 runs

Bulldog Defensive Highlights:

· 3-1 groundout for the first out in the first, Miller-to-Dalton

· 1-3 pick-off for the second out in the second, Dalton-to-Miller

· Great catch on a pop-up in shallow right by 2B Luke Mulcahey for the third out in the fifth.

· Diving stop and throw for the 5-2 groundout, Dalton-to-Miller for the first out in the sixth.

· Great catch in deep center field by CF Daniel Rockett for the second out in the sixth.

Winning Pitcher: Kyle VonTungeln

Losing Pitcher: Ryan Dalton (6-2, 4-2)

Extra Base Hits, FBA: HR – Dalton, Doerr; 2B – Gigliotti

Extra Base Hits, KEM: HR – Carr; 2B – Carr, VonTungeln, Lammers

Score by inning:

Submitted by: Tom Miller