By Staff
IN THE DIRT-Clarkdale's Justin Brewer is tagged out at 3rd by Loyd Star's David Cuevas while he attempted to steal.PHOTO BY PAULA MERRITT / THE MERIDIAN STAR.
By Jamie Sullivan/staff writer
April 20, 2002
If the Clarkdale Bulldogs want to continue in the Class 2A State Playoffs, they will have to take the rubber match at Loyd Star today. The Bulldogs dropped the second game of the series 8-6.
Wheatley made some line-up changes that has helped his team for the better over the past couple of days.
Wheatley told his Hornets that they have to come to our place and take it now.
The Bulldogs came into the game after a big win over Loyd Star on Thursday and Bulldog head coach Charles King felt that had something to with the loss.
The visitors jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first inning after the Bulldogs walked the first three batters to open the game.
Loyd Star struck again in the third inning, when Seth Britt hit a solo home run to make the score 2-0. David Cuevas later scored to make it 3-0.
The Hornets picked up two more runs in the fourth inning, on one hit and one Bulldog error.
Jared Britt got a lead-off double in the fifth inning for the Hornets and later crossed the plate on a RBI single by Blake Wall to pad the lead to 6-0.
Clarkdale cut the lead to three runs in the sixth inning, as the Bulldogs rallied for three runs on two hits.
Calvin Eastman and Alex Taylor received walks in the sixth inning, to set up a RBI double by Justin Brewer to make the score 6-2. Dusty Webb later dropped a single in right field that scored Brewer to make the score 6-3.
The Hornets were not fazed by the Bulldog rally, as they scored a pair of runs in the seventh inning to make the score 8-3.
The ever fighting Bulldogs came into the bottom of the seventh inning with a chance of taking the game on their home field, but Loyd Star had other plans.
Despite a three-run seventh inning, the Bulldogs still fell short 8-6.
Brandon Blackledge, Brandon Mabry, and Eastman all scored in the final inning for Clarkdale.
Seth Britt fanned nine Bulldog batters in taking the 8-6 decision for the Hornets. Jared Weir suffered the loss for the 19-14 Bulldogs.
Clarkdale was led in hitting by Brewer with a pair of doubles.
The Bulldogs are living by a motto of whatever it takes', and King believes just that.
Clarkdale will travel to Loyd Star today for the final game of the best-of-three series with the Hornets.