Cardinals cruise past Tigers in 24-4A action
Published 9:41 pm Tuesday, March 22, 2016
By Ronnie Hughes
Leader Correspondent
BRIDGE CITY — The Bridge City Cardinals took care of business Tuesday night as they downed the Silsbee Tigers, 7-2.
Tanner Doiron picked up the win, allowing one hit while striking out five in the big District 24-4A win.
Bridge City took advantage of early Silsbee errors in the second inning to start the scoring. Tod McDowell led off with a shot to shallow center field with Doiron slipping one by the shortstop on the next at bat.
The Cardinals loaded the bases after Caleb Dubois reached on an error. Justyn Romero picks up an RBI single bringing home McDowell for the first run of the night. It would be back-to-back throwing errors that scored Derrick Dearing and Romero for a 3-0 Cardinal lead after two complete innings.
The Cardinals again got another run on board in the fourth inning after the Tigers struggled to get runners on the bag. McDowell slaps an RBI single just past first to drive home Austin Fitts for a 4-1 advantage after the fourth.
Doiron pitched near perfect with a no-hitter through 4-1/2 innings of play before Mason Youngblood got the Tigers first hit of the night slipping one past first and second. Spencer Uribe eventually drove Youngblood home on a sacrifice fly to center field. The Cardinals worked their way out of jam turning a 6-4-3 double play to end the side.
McDowell stepped back to the plate in the bottom of the fifth inning with Fitts on first base. McDowell picked up his second RBI of the night after a shot down the first baseline to bring home Fitts giving the Cardinals a 5-1 advantage. Fitts continues his stellar plate presence going 2-for-3 on night and holds a .333 BA on the season.
Silsbee took advantage of a Cardinal pitching slump as Doiron eventually came out of the game in the sixth inning, but not before the Tigers brought home Jacob Collins on a sac fly by Uribe. Tod McDowell replaced Doiron on the mound and ended the side strikng out two batters with bases loaded.
The Cardinals put the icing on the cake in the bottom of the sixth scoring two runs with Silsbee making a pitching change as well, but the Cards bats were too much for the Tiger bullpen. McDowell went 3-for-3 from the plate with two RBI and one run scored.
Bridge City put Silsbee away in the top of seventh after walking the first two batters, McDowell settled down and found his mark. Schuyler Thibodeaux threw down a runner at third base to aid in the final three outs.
Bridge City (2-0) will travel to Hardin Jefferson Thursday to take on the Hawks in an early game while looking to continue their quest for another district title.
WO-S 8, OF 4
ORANGEFIELD — The West Orange-Stark Mustangs improved to 2-0 in District 24-4A play Tuesday night by snagging a 8-4 road victory against the Orangefield Bobcats Tuesday night.
Chad Dallas got the complete-game victory on the hill for the Mustangs.
KJ Miller and Ryan Ragsdale led WO-S at the plate, both hitting homeruns.
The Mustangs will entertain Hamshire-Fannett Thursday while the Bobcats return to action Mar. 29 at Hamshire-Fannett.