By Caleb Adams

Leader Correspondent

BRIDGE CITY — The West Orange-Stark Mustangs edged out the Bridge City Cardinals 3-2 at Cardinal Field in District 22-4A action Friday night.

The atmosphere of the warmups from both teams you could tell how much this game meant to both sides. This district game will help set the tone for the rest of the season, letting each team know what they’re about, and neither did not disappoint on this night.

The Mustangs scored the game-winning run on a wild pitch in the top of the sixth inning.

Jack Dallas from the Mustangs (15-3, 3-0) was a key reason the Mustangs pulled out the win. He threw the complete seven innings with 12 strikeouts, seven walks and giving up one hit on 108 pitches. The only way the Cardinals (10-7, 1-2) touched base was from walks and errors.

Chad Dallas for the Mustangs had the hot stick early as he drove in the only two RBI for the team with his triple in the first inning.

Justyn Romero would get the loss on the mound for the Cardinals.

Chad Dallas started the game off with long triple to right field that would bring in two runners to open the scoring after BB Tezeno and Jack Dallas reached base.   The Mustangs went up 2-0 in the top of the first to set the tone for a superb game.

The Cardinals answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the first. Justyn Romero scored off of an error from the Mustangs. The score was 2-1 after one inning of play.

The Cardinals threatened with runners on second and third in the fourth inning but Jack Dallas found a way to shut down the threat.

In the bottom of the fifth the Cardinals tied up the game. Justyn Romero sent a long fly ball to center for a sacrifice fly to bring in Gavin Green.

The Mustangs threatened to score in the sixth inning failing a couple of times, but eventually won off a wild pitch.

The Mustangs will play host to Orangefield Tuesday while Bridge City heads to Hamshire-Fannett.