Bulldogs rally late to pick up first district win over Ballinger
BALLINGER – Heading into the top of the sixth inning, Ballinger held a 6-2 lead over Coahoma and the momentum on their side. However, the Bulldogs bats came alive to put up five runs and take a one run lead over the Bearkats.
The late rally in the sixth would prove to be too much for Ballinger to overcome as the Bulldogs walked away with a 7-6 win and more importantly their first district win of the season.
Both teams headed into the matchup down 0-2 in District 6-3A play with the Bulldogs losing back to back games to Clyde last week and the Bearkats losing its first two district games to Jim Ned.
Coahoma came out on fire to start the game as they quickly jumped out to a 2-0 lead after the first inning. Junior Billy Bailey was walked to start the game. Coahoma's Chris Thurman laid down a sacrifice bunt which allowed Bailey to advance all the way to third base.
Coahoma's Nickolas Gonzales hit a single to bring in Bailey for the run, A few bats later, Coahoma's Kayden Kelly brought in another run as he hit a fly ball single into center field.
Ballinger responded back with a couple of runs of their own in the bottom of the first to tie the game up at 2-2. Both teams would go scoreless in the second before Ballinger's offense picked it up in the bottom of the third.
Ballinger put up three more runs to take a 5-2 lead over Coahoma after three. The Bearkats would put up another run in the bottom of the fourth to bump the score up 6-2. The fifth inning saw both teams go scoreless again.
In the top of the sixth Coahoma's bats came alive as the Bulldogs would go onto score five runs to take a one run lead over Ballinger. Bailey got things going as he singled to centerfield. Coahoma's Thurman and Nikolas Gonzales also hit singles to load the bases up. Coahoma's Ryan Shifflett kept the ball rolling as he hit a pop fly to center to bring in both Bailey and Thurman for the score.
The Bulldogs got a break after Ballinger pitcher Cade Strube committed a balk to bring in Gonzales for another run. Coahoma's Bryan Martinez brought in two more runs after hitting a ground ball to center to bring in Shifflett and Bryce Davis for another two runs to take a 7-6 lead.
Coahoma's defense would hold on for the remainder of the game to complete the come from behind win. Coahoma's Bailey earned the win for the Bulldogs on the mound. Bailey pitched for a six and a third innings giving up five runs on six hits, two walks, and had 11 strikeouts.
Coahoma's Martinez closed out the game for the Bulldgos as he pitched for two-thirds of an inning. Martinez gave up zero runs and hits while walking one and striking out one.
Ballinger's Kyle Bullard earned the loss for the Bearkats on the mound. Bullard pitched for five and a third innings giving up five runs on ten hits, three walks, and struck out six.
The Bulldogs tallied a total of 13 hits in the game. Coahoma's Thurman led the Bulldogs at the plate as he went 3-for-5 with one run scored. Shifflett, Kelly, Gonzales, and Martinez all went 2-for-4 at the plate. Shifflett had one scored run and 2RBI while Gonzales had two scored runs and 2RBI.
Kelly had an RBI with Martinez finishing the game with 2RBI.
Coahoma now 1-2 in district play will play again this Friday as they get set to host Ballinger in the two-game district series. The JV game is set for 4 p.m. with the varsity game set for a 7 p.m. start.
COAHOMA: BALLINGER:
2 0 0 0 0 5 0 – 7 13 2 2 0 3 1 0 0 0 – 6 6 3
Pitchers: W – Billy Bailey (Coahoma), L – Kyle Bullard (Ballinger); Doubles: Ballinger – Jaylen Hernandez; Triples: Ballinger – Martin Quiroga; HBP: Ballinger – Nickolas Martinez & Kyle Bullard; Stolen Bases: Coahoma – Billy Bailey, Ballinger – Kyle Bullard (2) & Bryce Lopez; RBI: Coahoma – Ryan Shifflett (2), Bryan Martinez (2), Nickolas Gonzales & Kayden Kelly, Ballinger – Jaylen Hernandez & Cade Strube.