By JOSH FRYE
News Sports Writer
J.U. Blacksher’s junior varsity and varsity baseball teams each fell to W.S. Neal last Thursday, February 28. The junior Bulldogs fell by a final score of 8-2 and the varsity Bulldogs dropped a 6-1 decision.
“I am proud of the guys for continuing to work and stay motivated,” head coach Justin Mixon said. “The thing is, though, that we are well into the season now and we have to touch the things up that are keeping us from getting over the hump. We have to eliminate free bases being allowed and being hesitant in the field.
“If we can put it together, we will become a much better team.”
The JV squad started strong but fell off after the first couple of innings.
Joseph Gleeson started on the mound for the Bulldogs and pitched 3 2/3 of innings. He registered a strikeout, issued a walk and allowed 8 hits and 7 runs.
Five fielding errors by the young Bulldogs played a big part in the game’s outcome.
Jackson Reid took to the mound after Gleeson was pulled. He pitched only 1/3 inning, getting the out by strikeout, and allowed a run on 2 hits. Reid did not walk a batter.
Offensively, Andrew Clausell drew a walk; Hudson Brown laid down a sacrifice bunt, and Eli Smith walked in his only plate appearance. Josh Burkett had a single in his only official at-bat and added a sacrifice fly RBI; Dawson Butts scored a run, and J.R. House had a single and a walk. Reid registered a walk, a sacrifice bunt and an RBI, and Gleeson went 2 for 2 with singles and 1 RBI.
In the varsity contest, Landon Mura started strong on the mound against WSN.
Mura threw some nice curveballs for strikeouts during the early going but was unable to finish on a strong note. He pitched 6 innings, recording 9 strikeouts while walking 6 batters and allowing 3 hits. Errors again plagued the Bulldogs, as three fielding miscues helped Neal score 6 runs.
Tucker Spence pitched the final inning for JUB, a scoreless frame during which Neal managed just 1 hit.
Spence went 1 for 3 with a single and was hit by a pitch to highlight Blacksher’s offense. Mura singled, walked twice, scored run and was hit by a pitch.
Damon Rolin and Jayce Sells each added a single, while Peyton Wilkins, Michael Reddit and Talan Daughtry each drew a walk, and Dawson Hollinger was hit by a pitch.
The Bulldogs were scheduled to travel to Monroeville on Friday, March 1, and to St. Luke on Saturday, March 2, but both games were rained out and will be rescheduled.
The Bulldogs are set to host Flomaton High at Blacksher Field in Uriah at 4 p.m. on Monday, March 11.