Bulldogs defeat Sticks, 9-3, in Game 1 of championship series

MARSHALL, Texas — The fourth frame was a dream for one team.

The Texarkana Bulldogs scored seven runs in the fourth and defeated the Texarkana Sticks, 9-3, in Game 1 of a 3-game series in the 19u Dixie State championship on Thursday at Airport Park Field 10.

Keaton Russo hammered a 3-run homer over the left field fence to put the Bulldogs up, 9-2, after four innings.

The Bulldogs scored seven runs in the fourth on Connor Allred’s RBI after he was hit by a pitch, T.J. Krause’s 2-run bloop single to left and on a bases loaded walk.

Pitcher Josh Longstreth was the winning pitcher, threw 5 2-3 innings, struck out seven, allowed a run on three hits and walked three.

Preston Davis took the loss, tossed four innings, allowed nine runs on six hits, struck out two and walked three.

Braden Hlavinka walked in the third for the Sticks and later scored on a wild pitch to put the Sticks up, 3-2.

Bradley Bearden’s RBI single up the middle for the Bulldogs knotted the game at 2-all in the bottom of the second.

Noah Bristow hit a lead off single to right for the Sticks in the first frame. Braden Hlavinka singled, but was thrown out at second on a fielder’s choice.

Colbey Johnson laced in an RBI single to score Bristow, and courtesy runner Brayden Solida scored on a fielder’s choice to make it 2-0. Johnson singled in the fifth with an out but was left stranded.

Allred singled to score Marzavin Riles, who walked and stole second, to give the Bulldogs their first run in the first.

Longstreth struck out the Sticks side in the second frame.