Published: March 29, 2008 06:45 pm            

Bobcats take district win over Tribe

By Don Wallace

sports@jacksonvilleprogress.com

Hallsville put a hammering on Jacksonville Friday night.

When the aluminum bats finally were silenced and the dust at the Summers Norman baseball park had settled, Jacksonville was on the short end of a 24-7 score.

The Hallsville bats rapped out 16 hits, including eight doubles and a home run against several different Jacksonville pitchers.

The loss went to Jacksonville starter Antwone Johnson.

Winning pitcher for Hallsville was Justin Jenkins, who pitched five of the six innings.

Jacksonville had six hits on the night against the Bobcats.

The visitors — who came into the game with a 13-2 record, second in district to Nacogdoches — also took advantage of several Tribe miscues.

Hallsville drew first blood, scoring four times in the first inning. The lone highlight for Jacksonville was a tag out at the plate by catcher Paxton Lindsey that prevented further damage.

The Tribe did respond with four runs in the second inning.

Frankie Almendarez started the fun with a solo homer over the left field fence. Almendarez wore a big smile as he rounded the bases after going yard with the curve ball that didn’t curve.

Cody Davlin reached on a hard smash and Carson Lewis drew a walk. Steven Markasky laid down a bunt and was safe when the throw to the bag was high. Brandon Orr grounded to the second baseman who booted the ball, allowing two runs to score to make it a 4-3 ball game. Terrance Canady ended the rally as he tied the game with an RBI single to the outfield.

Hallsville regained the lead with two runs in the third. The Bobcats added two more runs when Josh Schattel rapped a two-run homer.

The visiting Bobcats added two more runs to jump ahead 10-4.

Jacksonville struck back for a lone run in the bottom of the fourth. Markasky doubled off the wall and was knocked home by a Canady double deep to the outfield.

In the sixth inning the Jacksonville pitchers had trouble finding the plate with Markasky inserted to pitch, then he was replaced by Kyle Stacy.

The Bobcats sent 19 batters to the plate in the marathon inning, 13 came around to score for Hallsville.

The Indians lost by the final of 24-7.

Jacksonville fell to 1-4 in district. Hallsville is now 4-1. The Indians play at Henderson Tuesday at 6 p.m.

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.