By Ronnie Hughes

Leader Correspondent

BRIDGE CITY —It was a tough night Tuesday for the Little Cypress-Mauriceville Bears as they traveled to Bridge City for a District 24-4A showdown against the Cardinals.

Despite a strong crosswind the Cardinals were able to get their bats going to down the Bears 7-2 with Tanner Dorion getting the win, allowing just one hit in the contest while striking out eight batters.

 

The Bears opened the game with Drake Trawhon walking to put the potential first run on base. After a Vinny Hale sacrifice bunt to send Trawhon to second base, Grant White would strikeout swinging to end the first inning for the Bears.

 

Bridge City struggled to bring in runners early in the game. Following a Kyle Bergeron strikeout, Kevin Gordon picked up the first hit of night with a hard shot that skipped past third base and shortstop. Austin Fitts walked two batters later with Dorion sitting on an 0-3 count and taking the free base on a walk to load the bases. Caleb Dubois, however, failed to bring in a runner swinging and missing on a full count pitch to leave three runners stranded.

 

Dorion went right to work on the mound in the top of the second inning. It took just six pitches to down three consecutive Bear batters and bring the Cardinal offense right back to the plate. The Cardinals again left a runner stranded as the Bears made quick work on the mound too as the game remained scoreless through two complete innings.

 

LC-M showed a glimpse of what they’re capable of in the top of the third inning. Seth Dronett walked following a Payton Choate ground out to shortstop. Trawhon stepped to the plate and took Dorion to a full count before he’d launch a two-run home run to right field scoring Dronett and giving the Bears a 2-0 lead. Vinny Hale and Mitchell Lee both ground out to end the side.

 

Kevin Gordon received the Bears message loud and clear as he led off the huge third inning for the Cardinals with a hard hit single over the second baseman. Tod McDowell followed suit with a shot up the middle to score Gordon on an RBI double and cut the Bears lead to 2-1. The Cards continued their dominant plate presence as they loaded the bases and forced the Bears into their first of four pitching changes on the night.

Justyn Romero took a free base after a walk that tied the game at two run each with Caleb Dubois scoring. Bradley Thibodaux hit a two run double to left field following the Romero walk. Skylar Thibodaux hit into a fielders choice to score Romero as the Cardinals ended the third inning with four hits and a 5-2 lead. Gordon was 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored and two RBI.

Dorion again took down the Bear batters in order in the top of fourth striking out two of three and continued his strikeout streak into the next inning striking out five consecutive into the fifth inning.

 

The Cardinals scratched two runs across in the bottom of the fifth inning with Romero leading off with a single to shallow left field. Rylee Harris came into bat for Austin Fitts with two runners on and two outs. Harris sent a line drive into shallow center that dropped into play scoring Romero and Bergeron for a 7-2 lead putting the game just out of reach for the Bears. Romero went 2-for-4 on the night with two runs scored.

 

The Bears were unable to muster anything throughout the remaining innings. Four of the six remaining LC-M batters went down swinging to drop to 3-5 in district 24-4A play while the Cardinals move to 6-1 and will travel to Silsbee on Friday.