Bulldogs, Beasts start tourney off with a bang
The host Guaranty Bond Bank Texarkana Bulldogs jumped to an early lead and cruised to a 10-2 victory over the Post 8 Ballinger, Texas, Cannonneers in their opener of the fourth annual Phil Sandoval Memorial Tournament on Friday at George Dobson Field.
Across town at Joe Blagg Field, the East Texas Beasts shut out Arkansas Pulpwood, 8-0, to get off to a hot start of the tournament.
Four games will be played in the senior division today at George Dobson Field. The first game pits the Bulldogs against the Colt 45’s at 9 a.m., followed by the Ada Braves facing off against Camden at 11:05. The third game features the Renegades against the Braves at 3:15 p.m., and finally the Bulldogs and Burk Burnett tangle at 5:20.
There will be four games in the senior division today at Joe Blagg Field. The Razorbacks tussle with the Renegades at 11:05 p.m., Burk Burnett goes up against he Cannoneers at 1:10, the Razorbacks face down Camden at 3:15, and the Colt 45’s play the Cannoneers at 5:20.
Sunday’s semifinal senior games will be at George Dobson Field at 9 a.m. and at 11:15. The champion- ship game is slated for 4:40.
The junior semifinals will be at H.E. Markham Park on Sunday with games at 9 a.m. and 11:15. The junior championship game is Sunday at 2:20 p.m. at George Dobson Field.
Texarkana got off to a hot start and didn’t look back.
The Bulldogs put up seven runs in the first en route to a win over the Post 8 Ballinger, Texas, Cannonneers at George Dobson Field.
“It was a big win for us, and we didn’t know anything about this team,” head Bulldog coach Kevin Sutton said. “The pitching, defense and hitting was all good.”
Bryan Moore led the team as he went 3 for 4 with two RBI, while teammates Conner Allred and TJ Krause each were 2 for 3 for Texarkana.
The Cannoneers had runners on second and third with no outs in the first, but Bulldog pitcher Eberlein got out of the jam by striking out the next two batters and inducing a fly ball.
Texarkana struck first when Allred hit a two-run single through the hole at short stop to score Chris Lyles and Moore, who each had singled.
Gage Gore drove in a pair of runs on a single to short, left center as the Bulldogs took an early 4-0 lead. Jacoby Ross beat out a throw for a single as another run came across to make it 5-0.
Moore smacked a single to right field as two runs scored to pad Texarkana’s lead, 7-0, after the first.
Wyatt Stavinoah had a onerun single in the second for the Bulldogs. Texarkana added 2 runs in the third on a two-run single from Krause to make it 10-0.
Ballinger, Texas, put two runs on the board in the fourth on a pair of hits as the Bulldog lead shrunk to an eight-run lead.
Relief pitcher Ryan Galvan retired the side in the fourth for Texarkana, and the game ended on time limit.
East Texas Beasts 8, Arkansas Pulpwood 0
The East Texas Beasts blanked Arkansas Pulpwood in the opening day of the Phil Sandoval Memorial Tournament at Joe Blagg Field Friday afternoon, 8-0.
Easton Fincher started on the bump for the Beasts. Fincher went four innings, gave up five hits and struck out five in the shutout.
The Beasts jumped out to an early 7-0 lead on Pulpwood in the first inning.
The Beasts scored a run in the third inning off a Hunter Burleson sacrifice, driving in Phillip Sissons, adding to the insurmountable lead, 8-0.
Alex Zadivar led the Beasts at the dish, going 2 for 2 with an RBI and he also scored a run in the rout.
Dalton Warrick went 2 for 3 at the plate for the ETX Beasts, scoring a run and adding 2 RBI. Teammate Hunter Burleson finished the night going 1 for 2 with a double and 2 RBI.
The game was called due to the Sportsmanship Rule.