By Ronnie Hughes

Leader Correspondent

 

JASPER — The West Orange-Stark Mustangs handled business in Game One of the Class 4A Region III bidistrict round of the playoffs Friday night at Jasper High School against Diboll.

Jack Dallas pitched a complete-game, tossing 9 strikeouts, while batting 2-for-3 with an RBI to lead the Mustangs to a 5-1 win over Lumberjacks.

Jack Dallas and the Mustang defense went to work early with Dallas striking out three of four batters he faced. A big bottom of the first inning put the Mustangs in the driver’s seat out the gate.

BB Tezeno led off the inning with a rip-shot single to right field. KJ Miller followed Tezeno, laying down a sac bunt to move the runner into scoring position. Jack Dallas sent home the first run of the night with a single to right field just deep enough for the speedy Tezeno to score.

Ryan Ragsdale and Chad Dallas would both take free bases after back-to-back walks that loaded the bases. Tre’ Bernard hit into a fielders choice with one out to score another Mustang run. Ragsdale crossed home moments later to cap the scoring for the Mustangs. The Mustangs led 3-0 after one complete.

The second inning brought on a defensive battle with both teams drawing no runs. The Lumberjacks left one runner stranded, but defensively the Jacks’ went, one-two-three, against the stout Mustang lineup.

Kyle Guevara struck the first run across for Diboll in the top of the third. Andrew Rios led off with a walk followed by a Tyler Webb fielders choice. Guevara shot one to right field that drove home Webb to pull the Lumberjacks within two scores. The Diboll defense stepped up once again as they handed the Stangs’ their second consecutive three-up-three-down inning. Mustangs held tight with a 3-1 lead after three complete innings.

WO-S made quick work of the bottom of the fourth to bring their bats back to the plate. After two stale innings the Mustangs were hungry for some runs. Chad Dallas led off the inning with a single to shallow center followed by a Tre’ Bernard infield single that put two Mustang runners on the bags with no outs. Bernard scored on a wild throw and a big stand-up double by Te’Ron Brown scored another Mustang run. The Mustangs stayed in control 5-1 following four complete innings. Te’Ron Brown finished the night 1-for-3 with an RBI.

The Diboll bats went stale the remainder of the evening as the Mustang defense sucked up every ball hit. The Mustangs attempted to add more runs to their lead in the fifth inning, but would leave the bases loaded following a Brown strikeout. BB Tezeno finished his night with a stolen base while batting 2-for-3 with a run scored.

The Mustangs will prepare for Game Two today at 10 a.m. with Game Three to follow if needed.

The WO-S-Diboll winner will face either Tarkington or Houston Wheatley in the area round next week.