By Caleb Adams

Leader Correspondent

 

BRIDGE CITY — The Bridge City Cardinals took care of the Silsbee Tigers 10-3 at Chuck Young Field in District 22-4A action Friday night.

Bridge City’s explosive offense led them to another district win.

Peyton Havard got the nod for the Cardinals (16-6-2, 7-1) and had a rough start to the game, giving up a run and facing six batters. After that he was able to slowly settle into the job. The offense for Bridge City was able to make up for any mistakes putting up runs in almost every inning.

Unlike most outings where Havard used the strikeout to get out of situations, he used the groundball and his defense to get out of innings, showing he doesn’t have to rely on the strikeout to be successful.

Bridge City was able to take advantage of multiple errors by Silsbee (3-5 in district) to supplement what hitting they did find on the night. The middle of the Cardinal lineup found success early with a Sam Carpenter and Logan Hamm driving in runs in the first few innings. Silsbee was never able to keep the Cardinal offense at bay very often as they scored in nearly every inning.

Silsbee had real trouble finding ways to move the few base runners they got after the first inning of play. The Tigers’ pitching had trouble too as the starter, Spencer Uribe, only lasted a few innings and gave up six runs. Uribe’s defense didn’t help, as the Tigers had five errors on the night and the Cardinals took every opportunity they could.

Silsbee found the first run in the game in the top of the first inning. Chance Partain would bunt in Brady Scoggins with a bases loaded squeeze bunt. Scoggins would leadoff with a walk and be pushed around by another walk and a sac bunt. The Tigers would leave the bases loaded but stuck first, leading 1-0 over the Cardinals.

The Cardinals fired back quick in the bottom of the first inning. Carpenter sent one deep to right center to drive in the leadoff hitter Hamm. Hamm reached on a Tigers’ error to lead off the inning. Jackson Tims would drive in Carpenter’s pinch runner Deagen King from third base after another Tigers’ error. That’s all the Cardinals would find in the first, but took the lead 2-1 over the Tigers.

Bridge City came back in the next inning to continue their offensive push. Carpenter would earn another RBI, with the bases loaded, by taking a pitch to the upper back, driving in Trevor Kimball from third base. After an error the Cardinals would score two on a hit by Havard. On the next pitch Ryan Ellis would steal second, after a wide throw the Cardinals’ Deagen King would score from third for the fourth run of the inning. After two complete the Cardinals led 6-1 over the Tigers.

Hamm had his first RBI of the night in the bottom of the third inning. Kimball would score from third after walking and advancing on a wild pitch. The Cardinals led 7-1 after three innings in the books.

Bridge City continued to take advantage of Tiger mistakes. Havard would slap a double on the first pitch of his at bat in the fourth inning, putting a runner in scoring position quickly. After a couple wild pitches King, Havard’s pinch runner, would score on the bad pitches as the Cardinals led 8-1 after four innings of play, keeping a comfortable lead.

Havard drove in a run with another big double, this time to left field. Wilson would score from second as Havard traded spots with him to cushion their lead. Tims would knock himself a single and advanced to third on wild pitches and hits. After Cameron Yadon reached on a bunt single to move Tims to third, Yadon swiped second. After a bad throw on the play Tims stole home for the 10th run for the Cardinals. Bridge City led 10-1 heading into the final inning.

The Tigers would score a couple more runs in the top of the seventh but never threaten the Cardinals lead.

The Cardinals will now head to Hardin-Jefferson in a big 22-4A tilt in Sour Lake next Friday.