Thursday, October 2, 2008

2008/2009 Bulldog Roster

2008/2009 Bulldog Roster


Name
Pos. B/T Ht Wt Yr Hometown
1 Thomas Watson INF R/R 6'1 190 SO Paris, TX

2 Austin Atwell OF R/R 5'10 180 FR Allen, TX

3 Trey Buck INF R/R 5'9 165 SO Crosby, TX

4 Zack Fowler P/OF L/L 6'5 190 SO Texarkana, TX

5 Gip Hendrix P/OF R/R 6'0 195 SO Haughton, LA

6 Jordy Snikeris C R/R 5'11 205 FR Austin, TX

8 Justin Parsons P L/L 5'9 180 FR Jasper, TX

9 Michael Long C R/R 6'0 205 FR Benton, AR

10 Brittan Diamond P/INF R/R 6'2 185 FR Sulphur Springs, TX

11 Joaquin Hinojosa P/OF R/R 5'10 190 SO McAllan, TX

13 John Stilson INF R/R 6'3 180 FR Texarkana, TX

14 Justin Fowler P R/R 6'7 205 SO New Diana, TX

15 Jake Rogers INF R/R 5'11 180 FR Texarkana, TX

16 Ty Moore OF/INF R/R 6'0 165 FR Georgetown, TX

17 Ian Gilley INF R/R 6'3 195 FR Ft. Smith, AR

18 Lance Marvel C/OF R/R 6'3 220 SO Texarkana, AR

19 Colton Reavis P R/R 5'11 215 FR Paris, TX

20 Tanner Bailey P/INF L/R 6'7 245 FR Little Rock, AR







22 Brian Ellis OF L/L 5'9 165 FR Houston, TX

23 Shane Cole P R/R 6'3 175 FR Oakville, Ont, CA

24 David Allday INF L/R 6'0 190 SO Texarkana, TX

25 Justin Fielden P R/R 6'5 245 FR Gilmer, TX

26 Devin Day OF L/L 5'11 160 FR Ashdown, AR







28 Taylor Nichols P/INF R/R 6'0 220 FR Magnolia, AR

Coaches

7 Will Bolt Head Coach

12 Brad Flanders

21 Travis Wendte

Assistant Coach

Assistant Coach
29 Chase Brewster Manager

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Four Bulldogs Chosen for TXNMBCA All-star Game

Four Bulldogs Chosen for TXNMBCA All-star Game

Four Texarkana College Bulldogs have been chosen to represent Region XIV East in the 2008 All-Star game at Baylor Ballpark in Waco, Tx September 25-27. Shortstop Trey Buck (Crosby, TX) (.393 1 HR, 28 RBI), OF Gip Hendrix (Haughton, LA) (.370 7 HR, 48 RBI), Catcher Lance Marvel (Texarkana, AR) (.366 6 HR, 32 RBI), and 3B Thomas Watson (Paris, TX) (.306 6 HR, 33 RBI) have all been selected by conference coaches to attend the event.

“We are pleased to have these players represent Texarkana College in this year’s all-star event,” said TC head coach Will Bolt. “This will be an excellent opportunity for these four sophomores to showcase their skills in front of a large audience of college coaches and professional scouts. They are all very deserving and we wish them the best of luck.”

The four Bulldogs selected are the most for any one team in Region XIV East.

Saturday, August 2, 2008

Squad glad Stilson still rubs shoulders with them

Squad glad Stilson still rubs shoulders with them


LEAGUE CITY, Texas—Jake Rogers had just hit a home run, and John Stilson joined his Red River Credit Union Indians teammates for a celebration at home plate.

That was Stilson’s only public appearance Wednesday at Clear Creek High School’s Wildcat Field during the Tribe’s opening-day win over Houston Milby in the 83rd annual Texas American Legion Baseball tournament. The former Texas High standout will see no more action this summer after having season-ending shoulder surgery last month.

A leader on and off the field during tournament games in June, Stilson continues to be a motivational factor from the bench for the Indians during their bid to reach the Mid-South Regional and American Legion World Series.

“It has really been tough sitting and watching for the past month,” said Stilson, voted MVP and Outstanding Pitcher at the Nashville and Mountain Home tournaments earlier this summer. “I could have continued playing this summer, but my shoulder was getting worse. Doctors tell me I could be back in four to six months as good as new.”

That’s when Stilson hopes to land playing time for his new team, the Texarkana College Bulldogs.

Stilson injured his shoulder during football practice last fall. He was playing defense and making a tackle when it popped out of place. The injury slowed him the remainder of the football season and continued to plague him when he played basketball and baseball for the Tigers.

Stilson’s presence at the Legion tournament has helped Texarkana manager Tom Wacha’s confidence this week, and has him looking ahead to next summer.

“John is quite a kid,” Wacha said. “I didn’t know him well before this summer, and getting acquainted this season has been very rewarding. Every team needs a leader, and when you’ve got a lot of good players that’s hard to figure out. It was apparent from the very start that John was the leader of this team. He’s everything you look for in a player and a person.”

Stilson is eligible to play for the Indians next summer, and the same can be said for several other current Indians. David Allday, D.D. Bigham, Duncan Collins, Randall Fant, Keegan Haas, Kendrick Henderson, Cody Mayo, Jon Phillips and Michael Wacha are all expected back for the 2009 season.

“We have a good team this year and we could be even stronger next season,” Wacha said.

Should the Indians reach Saturday’s championship game, the Indians’ pitching-depth could be a factor. No doubt Wacha wishes he had Stilson to throw that game.

“We don’t have to get to Saturday or Sunday to say we wish we had John Stilson,” Wacha said.

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Blinn eliminates Bulldogs, 15-13

Blinn eliminates Bulldogs, 15-13

MOUNT PLEASANT, Texas—As for as Texarkana College is concerned, the South has already risen again.

The Bulldogs’ two-and-out exit from the 2008 Region XIV baseball tournament was courtesy of South Zone teams, including No. 4 seed Blinn College, which outlasted TC, 15-13, in a near-four-hour elimination game Sunday at Northeast Texas Community College’s Bob Baker Field.

Thus the first season of the Will Bolt regime at TC ended at 33-23. Blinn (25-26) plays at 10 this morning against the loser of Sunday’s late game between Alvin College and Navarro.

And it was late, thanks to Sunday’s 11-inning opener that went to Wharton College over Panola, 8-7, and the TC-Blinn marathon that produced a combined 28 runs, 31 hits, 20 walks and 27 runners left on base.

The game was as crazy as those numbers indicate. Blinn had leads of 6-0 and 11-4 before the Bulldogs took advantage of six walks, a hit-batsman and two hits and three runs batted in by David Allday to score eight runs in the seventh inning to take a 12-11 lead.

But they couldn’t hold it.

The Buccaneers scored once in the eighth to tie it, then three more in the ninth off losing pitcher Thomas Watson, two coming on Matthew Steele’s triple that careened off Anton Garcia’s glove in center field.

Winning pitcher James Brandhorst blanked the Bulldogs in the eighth, but surrendered doubles to Gip Hendrix and Watson and a walk in the ninth before ending the game with a strikeout and the potential tying runs on base.

“We expended a lot of energy getting back into the game,” Bolt said. “We did the best we could to slow the game down a little bit for the guys, but they just got so hyped up in situations where all it took was one more hit to break their backs. We were never-say-die, and that’s kind of what this team’s been about all year long.”

TC starter Justin Fowler was hit hard in 5 2/3 innings, including home runs by Layton Hiller and Trey Johnson. Cory Hill surrendered a 3-run homer to the first batter he faced, Zakary Leonhardt, as Blinn extended its lead to 10-3.

“Justin didn’t have his best stuff, but the thing about it, he got us into the sixth inning,” Bolt said. “Not a lot of guys can say that after giving up a four-spot in the first two. He mostly pitched behind in the count, but I thought he competed really hard, and he gave us a chance by staying out there until the sixth.”

Texarkana had to make several positions changes during the course of the game, as well as a big one before it. Second baseman Justin Coats was a late scratch with a shoulder injury suffered in Saturday’s first-round loss to Alvin.

“I had him in the lineup, but he couldn’t throw, and I saw him take batting practice, and he wasn’t the same guy,” Bolt said. “It was a physical, and I think a little bit of a mental blow. It hurt, but that’s not what lost us the game.”

Hiller had a lot to do with that, driving in five runs with four hits, including his 15th home run and a triple. Johnson was 3 for 3 with two RBIs, and Steele drove in three with a triple and a single. Travis Cougot had a pair of doubles as the Bucs totaled 16 hits.

Watson and Allday swung the big bats for TC. Watson was 4 for 5, including a 3-run homer that put Texarkana on the board after Blinn had built a 6-0 lead. Watson also had a double and drove home four runs.

Allday had four singles in six at-bats, driving three runs, all in the big seventh inning. Lance Marvel tripled and singled in three official at-bats, and Hendrix had a pair of doubles.

Thirteen of TC’s 15 total hits were by freshmen.

“We’re not the most perfect team, not the best team that’s ever been through Texarkana,” Bolt said. “But I’m pretty proud of my group the way that they really competed.”



Blinn College 310 024 113 — 15 16 0

Texarkana 000 031 801 — 13 15 4

Trenton Irwin, Will Burke (7), Brian Smith (7), James Brandhorst (8) and Mario Eremo. Justin Fowler, Cory Hill (6), Gip Hendrix (7), Thomas Watson (8) and Dean Malthouse. WP-Brandhorst. LP-Watson. HR: BC-Layton Hiller, 1st, 2 on; Trey Johnson, 5th, none on; Zakary Leonhardt, 6th, 2 on. TC-Watson, 5th, 2 on.

Monday, May 12, 2008

Alvin hands 5-3 setback to Bulldogs

Alvin hands 5-3 setback to Bulldogs

MOUNT PLEASANT, Texas—Texarkana College kept offensive power Alvin College on the ropes most of the game, but the Bulldogs just couldn’t deliver the knockout punch.

The Dolphins, who entered the game with a hefty .363 team batting average, rallied late to post a come-from-behind 5-3 win over TC in opening-round action Saturday in the Region XIV baseball tournament.

The setback drops the Bulldogs (33-22) into the losers’ bracket, where they will play at 1 p.m. today against the loser of Saturday night’s late game matching nationally-ranked Navarro (45-8) and Blinn (24-25). The double-elimination tournament is being played at Bob Baker Field on the Northeast Texas Community College campus.

TC, the third seed from the North, was shutting down Alvin, the No. 2 seed from the South, 2-0, through 5 1/2 innings.

Designated hitter David Phillips figured in both of the Bulldogs’ runs. He smacked a two-out, opposite-field homer above the 15-foot wall in left field. It was his team-leading 19th round tripper of the season, tying TC’s all-time record set by slugger Reed Stewart in the 1980s. It also was his 64th RBI of the season.

Phillips led off the top of the sixth with another opposite-field blast that ricocheted off the bottom of the wall near the 309-foot sign. He ended up with a double. One out later, Dean Malthouse scored him with a sharp single up the middle for a 2-0 Bulldog lead.

“Our guys competed hard and played hard throughout the game,” said TC coach Will Bolt. “We got some key hits and we kept the pressure on them, but we let them stay close and we didn’t put them away.”

Bulldog pitcher Jason Chowning appeared in command, allowing only four singles through five innings. The Dolphins narrowed the score to 2-1 in the sixth with a leadoff walk, stolen base and two-out single by cleanup batter Chris Herrmann.

The Bulldogs stayed with the hard-throwing Chowning, a 6-foot-3 sophomore who has signed with the University of Oklahoma. It was his game to win or lose.

“Jason had 80 pitches entering the seventh inning, and we were going to keep the ball in his hands,” Bolt said. “He was pitching well and he deserved the chance to keep going and try to close out the game.”

Chowning’s trouble in the seventh mirrored the sixth when he walked the leadoff batter. Following a sacrifice bunt, a throwing error off a slow grounder bounced into the Alvin dugout, allowing the Dolphins to tie the game at 2-2.

Alvin followed with three straight hits, including its only one for extra bases (a double), to grab a 4-2 advantage. TC’s lead had suddenly vanished and momentum clearly had swung to the Dolphins’ side.

“They just got to him (Chowning) in the seventh,” Bolt said. “They’re a very good-hitting ballclub and they had seen him a couple of times, and they came up with key hits.”

Bulldog reliever Zach Fowler also was touched for a couple of hits in the big inning, one scoring a run that was charged to Chowning (5-4). Alvin sent 10 batters to the plate and scored four runs off six hits and an error.

TC tried to rally in the seventh when leadoff batter Trey Buck singled, stole second and went to third when the catcher’s throw bounced off the second-base bag.

And that brought up Phillips, who had homered, doubled and was robbed of another extra-base hit when the Alvin right fielder made a diving catch in the fourth inning.

The Dolphins replace starting pitcher Taylor Wulf, an eight-game winner, with Brett Kinsel. The reliever struck out Phillips on three pitches.

Phillips, however, came through again in the ninth. Three walks to Lance Marvel, Buck and Justin Coats loaded the bases with one out. Phillips then grounded out to second, scoring Marvel to close the gap to 5-3. Cleanup hitter Gip Hendrix, who was hitless in five trips to the plate, grounded back to the pitcher, ending the game.

“We certainly had our chances, but we just didn’t come up with enough timely hits when we needed them,” Bolt said.

David Allday, Buck and Phillips had two hits each for TC, which must fight its way back in the losers’ bracket.

“Now we need a four-game winning streak, but we’re going to take it one game at a time and play hard and see what happens,” Bolt said.

Angelina beat Wharton, 6-1, in Saturday’s opening game.



Texarkana College 100 001 001 — 3 9 2

Alvin College 000 001 40x — 5 11 1

Jason Chowning, Zach Fowler (7) and Dean Malthouse. Taylor Wulf, Brett Kinsel (7) and Adelaido Anaya. WP-Kinsel (3-2). LP-Chowning (5-4). HR-TC: David Phillips (19), 1st, none on.

Saturday, May 10, 2008

Bulldogs begin regional tournament

Bulldogs begin regional tournament


j. chowning
MOUNT PLEASANT, Texas—Texarkana College slipped in at the wire as the No. 3 seed from the East Zone for the Region XIV baseball tournament that starts today, but it didn’t help much in determining the Bulldogs’ first-around opponent.

TC (33-21) and Alvin, No. 2 seed from the South, are scheduled to meet at 1 p.m. today at Bob Baker Field on the campus of Northeast Texas Community College. Alvin (33-14) was the season-long leader in the South Zone before being overtaken by San Jacinto in the final week.

“There’s not a lot of difference between Alvin and San Jac,” said TC coach Will Bolt. “Alvin is very offensive; the first five guys in their order are as good as any in the conference. And they like to run. They want to put pressure on you from the first pitch.”

Bolt likes his team’s attitude heading into the tournament.

“I feel like we’re playing our best baseball right now,” he said. “We played pretty well over the last three weeks with our backs to the wall. We’ve been a lot more consistent lately in all facets of the game.”

Bolt is counting on his top two starting pitchers—right-handers Jason Chowning and Justin Fowler—to go deep in the first two games.

“We need them to eat up some innings to set up the rest of our pitching,” he said. “It they can keep their pitch count down and give us seven innings, then we should be in good shape for the rest of the tournament.”

Dean Malthouse will catch Chowning today. Around the infield will be David Allday at first base, Justin Coats at second, Trey Buck at shortstop and Thomas Watson at third. From left to right in the outfield will be Gip Hendrix, Josh Gill and Lance Marvel. David Phillips is the designated hitter.

Other games today will match East No. 2 seed Angelina College (33-14) and Wharton (25-25, South No. 3) at 10 a.m., South No. 1 San Jacinto (42-12) and East No. 4 Panola College (33-21) at 5 p.m. and East No. 1 Navarro College (45-8) and South No. 4 Blinn College (24-25) at 8.

Should TC win, the Bulldogs will play at 8 p.m. Sunday against the Blinn-Navarro winner. A loss would put them against the loser of that game at 1 p.m. Sunday.

The tournament runs through Tuesday or Wednesday with the winner qualifying for the JUCO World Series in Grand Junction, Colo.

The game will be broadcast on the Internet and can be accessed at www.tsrnsports.com/Broadcast/2005/schedule-college.htm.

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

College Baseball: Six Bulldogs earn places on all-conference team





Six Texarkana College Bulldogs have been named to the Region XIV East Zone all-conference team.

Gip Hendrix was named Freshman of the Year, while sophomores Justin Coats of Texarkana, David Phillips and Dean Malthouse, and freshmen Trey Buck and Thomas Watson were selected all-conference.

Malthouse finished second in the East Zone batting race with a .411 average that included 12 doubles and 10 runs batted in.

Coats hit .359 with five doubles, four triples, four home runs and 22 RBIs.

Phillips batted .343 with 12 doubles, and led the team with 10 home runs and 36 runs batted in.

Buck was third overall in the conference with a .404 average. He hit 14 doubles, scored 24 run an drove home 16, while drawing 18 walks from his leadoff position and striking out only four times.

Watson, a redshirt freshman from Paris, batted .346 with six doubles, four home runs and 19 RBIs.

The Bulldogs take on Alvin Community College at 1 p.m. Saturday in the first round of the Region XIV tournament at Northeast Texas Community College’s Bob Baker Stadium.

t. watson
g. hendrix

t. watson
d. malthouse

t. watson
t. buck

t. watson
d. phillips

t. watson
j. coats

t. watson
t. watson








Monday, May 5, 2008

Texarkana College splits games

Texarkana College splits games

PARIS, Texas—The majority of Texarkana College’s hits came in the nine-inning nightcap as the Bulldogs split a doubleheader with Eastern Oklahoma at Hub Hollis Field.

TC (33-21) dropped a 2-1 decision in the opener after managing just one hit, but the Bulldogs banged out 20 hits to back six pitchers in an 18-6 Game 2 rout.

Justin Coats accounted for all of Texarkana’s offense in Game 1 on a solo home run in the fourth inning. Gip Hendrix took the loss.

Josh Gill had a pair of solo homers in the second game, Hendrix added a solo shot and David Phillips had a two-run homer, double and four RBIs for the Bulldogs.

Gill finished 4 for 5, Trey Buck was 4 for 5 with two doubles and two RBIs, Coats was 2 for 4 with a double and four RBIs, Dean Malthouse was 4 for 6 with three doubles, and Zach Fowler had two hits and two RBIs.

Logan Schamberg belted a grand slam for Eastern Oklahoma, and Cody Wilson picked up the win for TC, which scored in each of the first six frames.



Texarkana 001 000 0 — 1 1 2

Eastern Oklahoma 001 001 x — 2 4 2

Jason Chowning, Zach Fowler (3), Gip Hendrix (6) and Dean Malthouse. Nate Pettus, Jeff Sbarbino (6) and Brady White. WP-Sbarbino. LP-Hendrix. HR: TC-Justin Coats, 3rd, none on.



Eastern Oklahoma 000 204 000 — 6 6 3

Texarkana 252 225 00x — 18 20 1

Josh Miller, Seth Terry (2), Philip Parcell (7) and Danny Cartwright. Justin Fowler, Cody Wilson (4), David Phillips (5), Corey Hill (6), Josh Gill (8), Thomas Watson (9) and Lance Marvel, Malthouse (6). WP-Wilson. LP-Miller. HR: EO-Logan Schamberg, 6th, 3 on; TC-Gip Hendrix, 2nd, none on; Josh Gill, 2nd, none on; Phillips, 5th, 1 on; Gill, 6th, none on.

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Bulldogs sweep Eastfield

Bulldogs sweep Eastfield

Justin Coats set a school record Monday in Texarkana College’s pair of victories over Eastfield at George Dobson Field.

Coats finished the doubleheader with seven hits, including three triples to run his season total to eight for a new school record. The Bulldogs took the opening game 9-1 and cruised to a 10-1 victory in the nightcap, improving to 32-22.

David Allday belted a grand slam home run in the third frame of the first game, and Lance Marvel made it back-to-back home runs with a solo shot. Gip Hendrix and Thomas Watson each added a pair of hits.

David Phillips had a three-run home run and drove in four RBI, and Hendrix added three hits in the nightcap. Trey Buck and Watson both contributed a pair of hits.



Game 1

Eastfield 001 000 0 — 1 5 0

Texarkana 015 201 x — 9 12 1

Jonathan Reeder, Landon Davidson (3), Caleb Kovatch (5), Casey Stone (6) and Travis Graves. Cody Wilson, Zach Fowler (7) and Lance Marvel. WP-Wilson. LP-Reeder. HR: TC-David Allday, 3rd, three on; Marvel, 3rd, none on.



Game 2

Eastfield 000 001 0 — 1 3 0

Texarkana 322 120 x — 10 17 4

Collin Loftin, Austin Good (2), Kelvin Garner (5), Casey Stone (6) and Nathan Reddick. Gip Hendrix, Zach Fowler (3), Cory Hill (5), Thomas Watson (6) and Lance Marvel. WP-Hendrix. LP-Loftin. HR: TC-David Phillips, 1st, two on.

Sunday, April 27, 2008

Bulldogs take doubleheader, clinches playoff spot

Texarkana College vs. Lon Morris: Bulldogs take doubleheader, clinches playoff spot


Staff photo by Tanner Spendley Texarkana College’s Lance Marvel runs to third as Josh Gill makes his way to second. Marvel and Gill along with Trey Buck made it to home plate on the next play after Justin Coats hit a grand slam during the first game of a doubleheader against Lon Morris Saturday at George Dobson Field.
Texarakana College clinched a playoff spot with a sweep of Lon Morris Saturday at George Dobson Field.

With a six-run fourth inning, Texarkana College won the opener, 8-3. The Bulldogs belted three home runs en route to a 14-4 victory in the nightcap.

The teams were tied at 2-2, at the end of three innings before Justin Coats grand-slam home run highlighted the Bulldogs six-run fourth inning in the opener.

David Allday and Lance Marvel led off the inning with singles and Josh Gill drove in the first run with a single. Trey Buck then beat out a bunt to load the bases.

Coats then slammed relief pitcher Adam Leggett’s pitch over the left-field wall for a home run and a 7-2 lead. The final run came on a single by Gip Hendrix and an RBI single by Dean Malthouse.

The teams traded home runs in the first inning with Brad Cochrane hitting one for Lon Morris and winning pitcher David Phillips tied it at 1-1 with his shot to left field.

Texarkana went on top, 2-1, in the second and Lon Morris tied it up again, 2-2, in the third.

The Bulldogs (30-20, 16-12) banged out 10 hits with Malthouse and Gill leading the way with two each. Cochrane paced the visitors’ seven-hit atttack with the home run and three singles.

Cochrane gave Lon Morris a quick lead in the nightcap after doubles by Tell Ross and Cochrane. Cochrane later followed with two more hits, making it seven straight for the day.

Texarkana got the run back in the second on singles by Malthouse, Zach Fowler, and Marvel, and took the lead with an unearned run in the third.

The Bulldogs added two more runs on three hits in the fourth for a 4-1 lead. Marvel blasted a one-out home run, followed by a single by Allday, a double by Trey Buck, and sacrifice fly to right by Coats.

TC exploded for five runs in the eighth to run rule Lon Morris in the second game.

Phillips had a grand slam home run in the sixth, and Thomas Watson had a two-run blast in the five-run eighth. Watson finished with three hits and two RBI. Marvel had a solo shot in the fourth.

Allday added four hits for the Bulldogs.



FIRST GAME

Lon Morris 101 010 0 — 3 7 2

Texarkana 110 600 x — 8 10 2

Hector Plaza, Adam Leggett (4th) and Brad Cochrane. David Phillips, Cory Hill (6) and Dean Malthouse. WP-Phillips. LP-Leggett.

HR: Lon Morris, Brad Cochrane, 1st, none on. Texarkana, David Phillips, 1st, none on; Justin Coats, 4th, three on.



SECOND GAME

Lon Morris 100 010 20 — 4 12 1

Texarkana 011 214 15 — 14 16 1

Game called after eight innings, 10-run rule.

Ryan Mashinter and Steven Wostal. Josh Gill, Zach Gryder (7), Gip Hendrix (7) and Dean Malthouse.

HR: Texarkana, Lance Marvel, 4th, none on; David Phillips, 6th, 3 on; Thomas Watson, 8th, 1 on.

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Playoffs hope alive as TC takes one from region champ

Playoffs hope alive as TC takes one from region champ


Staff photo by Evan Lewis Navarro’s Kyle Livingstone slides in safe under the attempted tag by Texarkana College catcher Dean Malthouse in the third inning of the first game in Wednesday’s doubleheader. Navarro won the opener, 17-7, but Texarkana claimed the split, 7-6.
There have no doubt been bigger wins in Texarkana College baseball history, but none that was needed more than the Bulldogs’ 7-6 victory over Navarro College in Wednesday’s second game at George Dobson Field.

Battered 17-7 in the opener, TC survived the nightcap as closer Cody Hill put down a Navarro uprising in the ninth inning. Texarkana’s first win over the Region XIV East Zone champions allowed the Bulldogs to maintain a one-game lead over Panola for the final playoff berth with two games to play. Panola split a home doubleheader with third-place Bossier Parish.

“That was a big-time, gut-check win right there,” said a relieved TC coach Will Bolt. “That’s a win that can lead to many, many more in a row. I was proud of the way we battled after we couldn’t stop them in the first game.”

Right-hander Justin Fowler checked Navarro’s leading bats on eight hits, leaving with a 5-3 lead after six innings despite being struck on the wrist of his pitching arm by a first-inning line drive.

“I thought it was broken,” Fowler said. “I couldn’t even squeeze Coach’s hand. But I got on the sideline and threw some, and it loosened up.”

Fowler was denied the victory when Brett Parsons homered in the top of the seventh inning after Jason Chowning’s third-strike wild pitch allowed what would have been the third out to reach first base.

But Chowning, TC’s No. 1 starter, settled down and the Bulldogs regained the lead in the bottom of the inning on back-to-back doubles by Dean Malthouse and Thomas Watson. They made it 7-5 in the eighth when Justin Coats singled home Josh Gill, who had singled and moved to second on a sacrifice.

Navarro (43-8, 23-3) loaded the bases with no outs in the ninth, and Hill gave up a sacrifice fly to Ross Hubbard to make it a one-run game. But Hill picked off pinch runner Anthony Washington and struck out the next batter.

“Justin Fowler did an outstanding job; he’s come a long way,” Bolt said. “A prime example was when he was hit by the line drive. He never buckled a bit, and came out and attacked the strike zone. Chowning wanted the ball, and it wasn’t perfect for him, but he kept us in the game. And Hill never blinked on the rundown. He got it to the athlete (Coats) and let him run the runner down. It was just a great team win.”

The Bulldogs had 15 hits in the nightcap, including a solo home run and single by Coats and two doubles by Watson. Trey Buck, David Phillips, Gip Hendrix, Malthouse and Gill also had two hits. Parsons had four of Navarro’s 12 hits.

Texarkana made a game out of the opener, pulling within 9-7 in the fourth inning, but the Bulldog bullpen couldn’t slow Navarro’s relentless bats. The visiting Bulldogs scored eight unanswered runs to put the game out of reach.

Most of the damage was done by the long ball. Navarro hit five home runs, three of them by Scott Livingstone, who finished with eight runs batted in. Zach Grichor and Caleb Marx hit solo homers.

TC managed 12 hits, 11 off Navarro’s No. 1 starter Bryan Bingham, who still pitched five innings to improve to 11-0 on the season. Hendrix hit his sixth homer in the third inning and Phillips his 14th in the fourth, both with one runner aboard.

But the first game was all about Navarro’s bats. The Bulldogs cranked out 17 hits, including three each by Grichor, Livingstone, Hubbard and Marx.

TC starter Zach Fowler lasted just 3 2/3 innings and yielded eight runs, seven earned. Relievers Cody Wilson and Zach Gryder were treated similarly by NC’s torrid hitters. Coats tripled and singed twice in four at-bats to lead TC at the plate. Hendrix had a single to go with his home run, and Gill, who recently committed to play next year at Louisiana-Monroe, doubled twice, driving in a run.

The Bulldogs can clinch first-place by sweeping last-place Lon Morris on Saturday at home.



FIRST GAME

Navarro College 102 643 1 — 17 17 1

Texarkana College 004 300 0 — 7 12 2

Bryan Bingham, Jeff Thompson (6), Chad McIn (7) and Mark Mayfield. Zach Fowler, Cody Wilson (4), Zach Gryder (5) and Dean Malthouse. WP-Bingham (11-0). LP-Fowler (5-4). HR: NC-Zach Grichor, 3rd, none on;

Scott Livingstone, 4th, 2 on; Livingstone, 5th, 2 on; Livingstone, 6th, 1 on; Caleb Marx, 7th, none on. TC-Gip Hendrix (6), 3rd, 1 on; David Phillips (14), 4th 1 on.



SECOND GAME

Navarro College 020 010 201 — 6 12 1

Texarkana College 100 013 11x — 7 14 0

Travis Dirk, Brian Shore (6) and Jordan Kopycinski, Mark Mayfield (9). Justin Fowler, Jason Chowning (7), Cory Hill (9) and Dean Malthouse. WP-Chowning. LP-Shore.

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Bulldogs split with Panola

Bulldogs split with Panola


Staff photo by Tanner Spendley Panola College’s Brandon Choate slides into third in front of Texarkana College’s Thomas Watson Saturday at George Dobson Field. The Bulldogs won the first game of a doubleheader, 2-1, but dropped the nightcap, 4-3.
With series remaining against first-place Navarro College and last-place Lon Morris—all at home—Texarkana College could have made it easy on itself with a sweep of Panola College Saturday at George Dobson Field.

Now if they are to qualify for the Region XIV tournament, the Bulldogs will have to it the hard way after blowing early scoring opportunities in a 4-3, second-game loss to the Ponies.

David Allday’s walk-off RBI single with one out in the bottom of the seventh gave TC and left-hander David Phillips a 2-1 win in the opener.

So, instead of a 3-game lead over Panola (29-18, 12-12) with four East Zone games to play, the Bulldogs (27-19, 13-11) hold a scant one-game edge over the Ponies in the battle for the fourth playoff spot.

“We had the opportunity to really make it tough on them (Panola),” said TC coach Will Bolt. “We got the walk-off hit in the first game, and I thought we took the momentum into the second when we got the three-run homer (Phillips) in the first inning. But then we kind of sat on the lead.”

Much of the credit for Panola can go to Carthage right-hander Kory Cleveland, who came on with two outs in the second inning due to an injury to starter Travis Reagan. Cleveland allowed just one hit over the next 6 2/3 innings, striking out two and walking two.

“He did a good job working his fastball to both sides of the plate,” Bolt said. “He didn’t have overpowering stuff, but we just didn’t do a good-enough job at the plate. He gave us pitches to hit, but we just got underneath them. You have to hit line drives, and we hit too many lazy flyballs.”

Phillips’ 13th homer of the season over the center field wall with two aboard in the bottom of the first came after a two-out error kept the inning alive.

The two-out drive scored Trey Buck, who had singled, and Justin Coats, who had walked. But Lance Marvel’s single in the second and Buck’s second hit in the fourth were all the Bulldogs could muster the rest of the way.

It appeared the three first-inning runs would be all that were needed for starter Jason Chowning, who breezed into the seventh with the lead before Panola put together four hits to tie the game. Former Hooks standout Brandon Choate started the rally with a single to left, and scored the first run.

Josh Gill came on with the score tied and kept it that way by retiring the two batters he faced, but he gave up a leadoff double to Chase Wier to start the eighth and took the loss when Wier eventually scored on a groundout off reliever Cory Hill.

“Chowning deserved to win,” Bolt said. “We just didn’t get him any runs early when we had the right guys up. We just didn’t get it done.”

Phillips got it done in the opener, scattering five hits, including a solo home run by Mason Denson, tying the game on the first pitch of the top of the seventh inning.

But with one out in the bottom of the inning, Dean Malthouse singled down the right-field line and Thomas Watson was hit by a pitch. Allday then hit the first pitch from loser Scott Copeland on the ground between third base and shortstop, and Malthouse scampered home with the game winner.

Lance Marvel’s sacrifice fly scored Malthouse from third base with the game’s first run in the fifth inning.

Phillips gave up five hits, struck out three and walked one. Chowning surrendred six hits, fanned seven and walked two in the nightcap.

“I thought we pitched well and played good defense today,” Bolt said. “Our pitchers kept the ball around the zone and we made some good plays in the field. We just didn’t get the timely hits.”

Watson was 2 for 2 with a double in the opener. Zach Fowler also had a double.

Panola ends the season with 2-game series against second-place Bossier Parish and seventh-place Northeast Texas Community College.



FIRST GAME

Panola College 000 000 1 — 1 5 1

Texarkana 000 010 1 — 2 5 0

One out when winning run scored.

Scott Copeland and Brandon Choate. David Phillips and Dean Malthouse. WP-Phillips. LP-Copeland. HR: PC-Mason Denson, 7th, none on.



SECOND GAME

Panola College 100 000 210 — 4 7 1

Texarkana 300 000 000 — 3 5 1

Travis Reagan, Kory Cleveland (2), Aaron Wilkerson (8) and Brandon Choate. Jason Chowning, Josh Gill (7), Cory Hill (8) and Dean Malthouse. WP-Cleveland. LP-Gill. HR: TC-David Phillips (13), 1st, 2 on.

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Eights are enough as TC sweeps Paris

Eights are enough as TC sweeps Paris

PARIS, Texas—Texarkana College improved its playoff prospects Wednesday with a sweep over Paris.

The Bulldogs took the opening game, 8-4, and cruised to an 8-2 victory in the nightcap. TC improves to 26-18 overall and 12-10 in conference action.

David Phillips had a two-run double, and Trey Buck added two RBIs to lead Texarkana College to a victory in the first game. Justin Coats contributed a double. Zach Fowler earned the victory.

Justin Fowler notched the win for the Bulldogs in the second contest, and Justin Coats finished 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI. Gip Hendrix had a pair of hits and two RBIs, and Dean Malthouse had two hits.

TC returns to action Saturday with a doubleheader against Panola.





Game 1

Texarkana College 050 003 0 — 8 8 5

Paris 003 010 0 — 4 10 3

Zach Fowler, Cory Hill (7) and Dean Malthouse. Zach Snead, Cole White (7) and Beall Bentley. WP-Fowler. LP-Snead.



Game 2

Texarkana College 131 100 101 — 8 9 1

Paris 000 000 020 — 2 8 3

Justin Fowler and Dean Malthouse. Jared Carruth and Beall Bentley. WP-Fowler. LP-Carruth. HR: PAR-Nick Stelte, 8th, 1 on.

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Bulldogs romp in Game 2

Bulldogs romp in Game 2

LUFKIN, Texas—Texarkana College snapped Angelina’s 11-game conference winning streak Wednesday.

The Bulldogs pounded out 20 hits in their 13-7 victory in Game 2. Trey Buck and Thomas Watson each had a home run, and Gip Hendrix finished 3 for 5 at the plate. Justin Coats added a triple, a single and three RBIs. Lance Marvel added three hits, and David Allday contributed a pair of hits.

Corey Hill picked up the win on the hill in relief of Justin Fowler. The Bulldogs rallied for five runs in their final at-bat to pull away from the Roadrunners, and Watson nailed it down in the ninth.

Texarkana College (22-17, 8-10) dropped the opening game, 6-5. Watson finished with three hits and two RBIs, and Marvel added two hits, including a double. Hendrix had a pair of doubles, and Buck finished with two singles.

Josh Gill suffered the loss.



Texarkana College 010 202 0 — 5 13 0

Angelina 110 022 x — 6 10 2

Zach Fowler, Josh Gill (6), Corey Hill (6) and Dean Malthouse. Frank Corolla, Tanner Hamilton (6), Chase Hernandez (7) and Joey Latulippe. WP-Tanner Hamilton. LP-Gill. HR: Ang-Latulippe, 2nd, none on; Latulippe, 6th, none on; Ryan Kelley, 6th, none on.



Texarkana College 110 023 015 — 13 20 1

Angelina 001 100 320 — 7 10 1

Justin Fowler, Corey Hill (7), Thomas Watson (9) and Dean Malthouse. Corey Benavides, Daniel Franchois (6) and Ryland Parker (9), Kyle Cassidy (9), Chase Barrera (9) and Bryan Mallet. WP-Hill. LP-Franchois. HR: TC-Trey Buck, 1st, none on; Thomas Watson, 9th, 2 on. Ang-Chris Laira, 3rd, none on; Chris Andreas, 7th, none on; Mark Serna, 8th, 1 on.

Monday, April 7, 2008

Bossier Parish inflicts doubleheader loss on Bulldogs

Bossier Parish inflicts doubleheader loss on Bulldogs


Staff photo by Tanner Spendley Texarkana College’s Gip Hendrix slides into second as the ball gets by Bossier Parish’s Garrett Hammond during the second game of a doubleheader Sunday at Texas High. Bossier Parish swept the Bulldogs, 5-0 and 6-5.
It would be hard to point a finger at any one reason for Texarkana College’s doubleheader loss to visiting Bossier Parish Community College Sunday.

Lack of clutch hitting and pitching, and poor defense all played roles in the 5-0, 6-5 losses at Texas High’s Tiger Field, the second time the Cavaliers have swept the Bulldogs this season.

“We weren’t very competitive, and that’s something I addressed between the games and after the last game,” said TC coach Will Bolt. “Two things you can control are effort and attitude, and I don’t think we did that to the best of our abilities today.”

TC, which has lost six of its last eight games, dropped to 22-17 overall and, more importantly 7-9 in the Region XIV East Zone standings. The Bulldogs trail third-place BPCC (23-16, 10-6) by three games and are in a dogfight with Paris Junior College and Panola College for the fourth playoff berth.

Bossier ace T. J. Forrest, a University of Arkansas recruit, blanked TC in the opener, marking the third shutout in six games for the Bulldogs. Forrest, a hard-throwing right-hander, allowed five hits, struck out six and walked one.

David Phillips gave up just three hits and just one earned run in five innings as the TC defense committed five errors. Thomas Watson was touched for three hits and two runs in the sixth, and Zach Gryder pitched a scoreless seventh.

Lance West had a two-run single and David Morgan a solo homer for the Cavs. Five Bulldogs had one hit each, including doubles by Justin Coats and Dean Malthouse.

Malthouse’s double over the third-base bag followed a lead-off single by Gip Hendrix in the second inning, but the runners were stranded at second and third when Forrest retired the next three batters without the ball leaving the infield.

“To me, that pretty much set the tone for the game,” said Bulldogs coach Will Bolt. “We’ve got runners at second and third with nobody out and guys coming up who had driven in a ton of runs. But we don’t get the job done. I don’t think we had any fight in us after that point.”

Hendrix’s two-run double to right field gave Texarkana its first lead of the day in the first inning of the nightcap. But Bossier Parish scored single runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings off TC ace Jason Chowning, who struggled with his control, walking seven and hitting a batter in 4 2/3 innings. He struck out six and allowed four hits.

Josh Gill came on to get the final out on a back-hand stab by third baseman Thomas Watson, who threw out pinch-hitter Jacob Rhodes with the bases loaded.

The Bulldogs took Chowning off the Hook with two runs in the bottom of the inning. Hendrix tripled home Coats, who had singled, then scored on Malthouse’s double, all coming in the first inning of relief by left-hander Moses Munoz. But the next two batters struck out, standing Malthouse at second.

Two TC errors contributed to Bossier’s three-run sixth that put the Cavs ahead to stay. Joey Ford tripled in one run, then scored on an RBI single by K. W. Smith, who advanced on two wild pitches and scored on one of the errors.

Cody Wilson came on to pitch two scoreless innings, and closer Cory Hill did the same in the ninth.

“Wilson did a great job out of the pen,” Bolt said. “He kept them where they were at and gave us a chance. I thought for the most part, Gill did a good job and, while Chowning didn’t have command of his pitches, to his credit he pitched out of a bases-loaded, no-outs jam in the fourth.”

TC crept within one when David Phillips lofted a solo home run high over the right-field bullpen in the seventh, but the Bulldogs went quietly in the eighth and ninth innings.

Phillips, Henderix and Coats each had two hits for TC, as did Ford and Smith for Bossier Parish.



FIRST GAME

Bossier Parish 001 022 0 — 5 6 0

Texarkana 000 000 0 — 0 5 5

T. J. Forrest and Brannin Hagan. David Phillips, Thomas Watson (6), Zach Gryder (7) and Dean Malthouse. WP-Forrest. LP-Phillips. HR: BP-David Morgan, 5th, none on.



SECOND GAME

Bossier Parish 001 113 000 — 6 8 4

Texarkana 200 020 100 — 5 8 3

Jordan LeGros, Moses Munoz (5), Eric Kirkland (8) and Michael Pettito. Jason Chowning, Josh Gill (5), Cody Wilson (7), Cory Hill (9) and Dean Malthouse. WP-Munoz. LP-Gill. HR: TC-David Phillips, 7th, none on.

Sunday, April 6, 2008

Texarkana College fights back for split

Texarkana College fights back for split

It was a case of missed opportunities for Texarkana College as the Bulldogs dropped a 2-1 decision in its opening game against San Jacinto Saturday at Spring Lake Park.

TC rallied back against the Coyotes in the nightcap to post an 11-10 win in 12 innings for the split.

The Bulldogs (22-15, 10-5) host Blinn College (30-9, 15-3), which leads the Region XIV South Zone, in another doubleheader today at 11 a.m.



FIRST GAME

San Jacinto 2, Texarkana 1

The Coyotes took advantage of two big errors in the fourth inning for its only runs, while the Bulldogs missed several scoring opportunities. TC stranded nine runners on base, wasting a strong pitching performance by Lacey Lang.

A sophomore right-hander, Lang struck out 10 and allowed just three hits. Both runs were unearned, due to the two errors in the Coyotes’ two-run, fourth.

In the Coyotes’ fourth, Tasha Rotramel led off with a single and Janet Rendon reached on an error.

Brittany Boren sacrificed the runners to second and third. Winning pitcher Kelsey McClain hit a slow roller to first and the throw home was high, and both runners scored on the play.

Texarkana’s only run came in the bottom half of the fourth on a home run by Misti Cosby over the centerfield fence.

After the home run, Lang and Roxanna Holley singled and a wild pitch put runners on second and third with just one out. But McClain retired the next two batters on a groundout and strikeout.

The Bulldogs missed another great opportunity in the sixth. A base hit by Lang was followed by an error and a walk to load the bases with one out. Again, McClain got out of the inning without further damage.



San Jacinto 000 200 0 — 2 3 1

Texarkana 000 100 0 — 1 6 4

Kelsey McClain and Krystal Plummer. Lacey Lang and Kristyn Adney. WP-McClain. LP-Lang. HR: Texarkana, Cosby, 4th, none on.



SECOND GAME

Texarkana 11, San Jacinto 10

The visitors took a 5-0 lead with two runs in the first inning and three more in the second, knocking out TC starter Jessica Upchurch. Lang came on in relief and went the rest of the way.

Texarkana fought back with a single run in the third and added two more in fourth to pull within, 5-3.

San Jacinto took a 6-3 lead with a run in the top of the fifth before the Bulldogs bounced back to tie it up with three runs in the bottom half.

Upchurch led off the fifth, reaching on an error and Haley Nix followed with a single. Cosby ripped a single to right and when the ball got past the rightfielder, both runners scored. With one away, Lang blooped a hit over the shortstop to drive in Cosby with the tying run.

Each team added a pair of runs in the sixth to keep the scored tied, 8-8. Nix drove in the first run with a double to centerfield and Cosby’s single tied the game.

Neither team scored in the seventh, sending the game into extra innings.

San Jacinto went on top with two runs in the eighth on an RBI single by Brittany Boren and a throwing error by the pitcher on the next batter allowed Boren to score.

The never-say-die Bulldogs fought back with two runs on two hits to tie the game again, 10-10.

With one away, Upchurch struck out, but reached when the ball got past the catcher. Nix followed with a single and Cosby drove in both runners with a double to right-center.

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Texarkana splits with Lon Morris

Texarkana splits with Lon Morris

JACKSONVILLE, Texas—Texarkana College had to settle for a split with last-place Lon Morris Wednesday, bouncing back for an 18-5 victory in the second game after a 4-0 loss in the opener.

The Bulldogs are 22-15 overall and 7-7 in the Region XIV East Zone.

Michael Russo blanked TC on six hits in the opener. It was the second straight series that the hard-hitting Bulldogs, who lead the zone in hitting, have been shut out.

Zach Fowler took the loss, giving up seven hits and all four runs in four innings. Josh Gill struck out four in two innings of relief.

Gip Hendrix doubled and singled, Justin Coats had two singles and David Phillips a double for TC.

TC pounded out 16 hits in the second game, but trailed 3-2 after six innings. But the Bulldogs scored six runs in each of the seventh and eighth inning, the seventh highlighted by Hendrix’s 3-run home run and a 2-run blast by Gill. Justin Coats had a solo homer in the first inning.

Justin Fowler went seven innings, striking out six and walking one, to pick up the win. Thomas Watson pitched the eighth and Cory Hill the ninth, neither surrendering a run.

Coats led the way at the plate with four hits in five at-bats, including his home run and a triple. He drove in three runs. Hendrix drove in seven runs with his home run and two singles, Gill had two singles to go with his homer, Phillips and Trevor Rainey had RBI doubles and Dean Malthouse a double.

Lon Morris finished the day at 15-24 and 2-12.

Texarkana starts the second round of zone play Saturday, hosting Bossier Parish Community College at noon.

Sunday, March 30, 2008

Bulldogs swept in doubleheader

Bulldogs swept in doubleheader

CORSICANA, Texas—Navarro dealt Texarkana College’s conference title hopes a blow Saturday by sweeping TC, 7-0 and 7-3.

Jared Rogers went the distance on the mound for Navarro in the opener, scattering seven hits. Justin Howard and Jeff Jones both hit two-run homers in the second as the host Bulldogs exploded for six runs to take command.

David Phillips was the losing pitcher, while Trey Buck led TC (20-14, 6-6) at the plate with a double and single. Justin Coats and Trevor Rainey had doubles for Texarkana.

Texarkana claimed an early 1-0 lead wth a single run in the first inning of the nightcap, but fell behind 4-1 after six innings in the 9-inning contest.

Garrett Larsen threw the first seven innings for Navarro to get the win, with Tanner Chitwood getting the save. Kyle Livingstone homered for the winners.

Jason Chowning suffered the loss on the mound, while Phillips homered for TC. Dean Malthouse had two singles for Texarkana and David Allday added a double.

Texarkana will be back in action Monday at home against Tyler Junior College.



First Game

Texarkana 000 000 0 — 0 7 2

Navarro 060 010 x — 7 11 1

David Phillips and Dean Malthouse; Jared Rogers and Jordan Koptjycinski. WP-Rogers; LP-Phillips. HR-N: Justin Howard, 2nd, 1 on; Jeff Jones, 2nd, 1 on.



Second Game

Texarkana 100 000 101 — 3 4 0

Navarro 001 102 30x — 7 12 1

Jason Chowning, Josh Gill (7) and Malthouse; Garrett Larsen, Tanner Chitwood (8) and Mark Mayfield. WP-Larsen; LP-Chowning. HR-TC: Phillips, 7th, none on; N: Kyle Livingstone, 7th, none on.

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Panola College gives TC taste of its own medicine

Panola College gives TC taste of its own medicine

CARTHAGE, Texas—Texarkana College was in complete control in the first game but was forced to split with Panola College on Wednesday, as the Ponies overcame a 14-2 loss in the opener to post a 14-9 victory.

Zach Fowler scattered eight hits in Game 1, fanned six and walked one to earn the win for the Bulldogs (20-12).

David Allday ripped a two-run home run and double to finish 3 for 5 for TC, Thomas Watson also belted a homer, Trey Buck was 3 for 4 with a double, and Lance Marvel had a double and single.

David Phillips’ three-run homer in the second game went for naught, as did Buck’s 5-for-6 performance, including two doubles. Dean Malthouse was 3 for 3 in the loss.





Texarkana 220 208 0 — 14 17 0

Panola 100 000 1 — 2 8 6

Zach Fowler and Dean Malthouse. Chad Sherman, Kory Cleveland (4), Chase Wier (6) and Brandon Choate. WP-Fowler. LP-Sherman. HR: TC-David Allday, 6th, 1 on.



Texarkana 004 001 211 — 9 18 0

Panola 031 036 01x — 14 16 4

Justin Fowler, Zack Gryder (6), Gip Hendrix (6), Josh Gill (6) and Malthouse. Mason Denson, Daniel Martin (6), Aaron Wilkerson (7) and Choate. WP-Denson. LP-Fowler. HR: TC-David Phillips, 3rd, 2 on.

Friday, March 21, 2008

Texarkana College’s bats ignite sweep of Eagles

Texarkana College’s bats ignite sweep of Eagles

MOUNT PLEASANT, Texas—Texarkana College’s bats exploded for 38 hits, including 18 doubles, in Wednesday’s doubleheader sweep over Northeast Texas Community College at Eagle Field.

The Bulldogs (17-10, 4-2) backed Jason Chowning’s complete-game 3-hitter with 14 hits in the 9-2 win in the first game, then had season highs in runs (19) and hits (24) in the 19-4 nightcap.

Chowning (2-2) struck out seven and walked two, with both runs he surrendered being unearned. Zach Fowler went six innings in the nightcap, fanning nine and walking two.

David Phillips had seven hits in at-bats on the day, all of them doubles. He was 3 for 3 with three runs batted in the opener, while Lance Marvel smacked a home run and double, Fowler a triple and single, Gip Hendrix a double and single, David Allday two singles and Trey Buck a double. Allday and Hendrix drove in two runs each.

Phillips drove in five runs with four doubles in five at-bats in the nightcap. Dean Malthouse was 4 for 4, including three doubles, and Josh Gill was only a single shy of hitting for the cycle, slamming a 2-run home run, double and triple in four at-bats.

Buck had three hits, including two doubles, Jared Washington a double and single, Allday two singles and two RBIs and Trevor Rainey a double.

The Bulldogs jump right back into Region XIV action today at George Dobson Field, hosting Paris Junior College at noon. The doubleheader was originally scheduled for Saturday but was switched due to Easter weekend.

Thursday, March 13, 2008

TC unlucky in Louisiana

TC unlucky in Louisiana

Bossier Parish claims doubleheader

Texarkana College was swept in its Region XIV opening doubleheader Wednesday in Shreveport, La., falling 4-3 and 12-5, to Bossier Parish Community College.

Jason Chowning hurled a three-hitter in Game 1 but took the loss after the Cavaliers rallied for three runs late and held off the Bulldogs in the seventh.

David Phillips ripped a solo home run for TC (12-9, 0-2), Trey Buck had a double and single, and Gip Hendrix and David Allday added a double each. Allday also had a RBI.

Bossier Parish banged out 17 hits off six Bulldog pitchers in the nightcap.

Larry Phillips belted a homer and single for TC, and Justin Coats and Allday added a hit each.



Texarkana 010 000 2 — 3 7 2

Bossier Parish 100 021 x — 4 3 0

Jason Chowning and Dean Malthouse. Blake Jones, Scott Adair (7) and Brannin Hagan. WP-Jones. LP-Chowning. HR: TC-David Phillips, 2nd, none on.



Texarkana 010 002 200 — 5 5 1

Bossier Parish 206 010 30x — 12 17 1

Zach Fowler, Cody Wilson (3), Zack Gryder (3), Gip Hendrix (5), Cory Hill (7), Thomas Watson (8) and Malthouse. Michael Boyd, Larry Stewart (5), Corey Hoff (7), Moses Munoz and Michael Petitto. WP-Boyd. LP-Fowler. HR: TC-Larry Phillips, 7th, 1 on.

Monday, March 10, 2008

Texarkana College takes doubleheader

Texarkana College takes doubleheader

Texarkana College picked up another pair of wins Sunday as the Bulldogs swept Eastern Oklahoma State College, 5-0 and 5-1, at Texas High’s Tiger Field.

TC (12-7) got a complete-game effort from Justin Fowler in the opener and a grand slam home run by freshman Lance Marvel. Three Bulldog pitchers combined to three-hit Mountaineers in the nightcap, when Justin Coats and Zach Fowler also smacked homers.

Justin Fowler allowed just two hits in Game 1, striking out six and walking four. Marvel belted his grand slam in the fourth inning to break a scoreless game and also had a triple. Trey Buck also had a RBI single in the frame.

Coats gave Texarkana the lead for good in the fifth inning of the second game with his 3-run homer and also had a double. Gip Hendrix was 2 for 4 with a double, and Zach Fowler ripped a solo home run in the eighth to go along with his single.

David Phillips pitched seven strong innings. He allowed two hits, fanned five, walked three and allowed an earned run. Josh Gill and Cory Hill each tossed an inning of relief.



Eastern Oklahoma 000 000 0 — 0 2 0

Texarkana 000 500 x — 5 5 0

Ashton Mowdy, Gunner Glad (6) and Brady White. Justin Fowler and Dean Malthouse. WP-Fowler. LP-Mowdy. HR: TC-Lance Marvel, 4th, 3 on.



Eastern Oklahoma 010 000 000 — 1 3 0

Texarkana 000 031 01x — 5 6 1

Josh Miller, Seth Terry (7), Brady White (8) and Danny Cartwright. David Phillips, Josh Gill (8), Cory Hill (9) and Dean Malthouse. WP-Phillips. LP-Miller. HR: TC-Justin Coats, 5th, 2 on; Zach Fowler, 8th, none on.

Monday, March 3, 2008

Texarkana College splits

Texarkana College splits

COPPELL, Texas—For the second day in a row Texarkana College had to win Game 2 to manage a split with Seward County Community College Sunday.

The Bulldogs posted an 8-4 victory in the nightcap of a doubleheader after the Saints pulled out a 6-5 victory in eight innings in the opener Sunday. TC won 12-7 and lost 2-0 Saturday.

Justin Coats was 3 for 4 with a pair of home runs for the Bulldogs (9-6) in Sunday’s second game. Coats led off the game with a solo homer and belted a 2-run shot in the fourth inning, helping Texarkana build a 6-1 lead.

Anton Garcia was 2 for 3 with a 2-run blast in the first inning, Lance Marvel was 2 for 3 with a double, and Zach Fowler ripped a RBI double.

David Phillips combined with Cody Wilson and Zach Gryder for the win.

Corey Hill took the opening loss as the Saints scored with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Phillips banged out two home runs and was 3 for 5 in the game. He blasted a 2-run homer in the first and a solo dinger in the seventh to knot the score.

Garcia was 2 for 4 and hit the first of back-to-back home runs in the sixth inning. Trevor Raney followed Garcia with his homer.

Fowler hurled five strong innings before leaving with an 8-1 lead as Texarkana College salvaged the split Saturday with the late win.

Marvel led the Bulldogs at the plate with a double and two singles, while Coats and David Allday contributed a home run and double each. Phillips had a triple and single.

Texarkana’s bats were silent in the opener as Thomas Cruz held the Bulldogs to one hit. The Saints scored the game’s first run in the fifth on a double by Jon Bartlotti, who scored on a single by Caleb Nine.



Sunday’s games

Texarkana 200 002 10 — 5 12 0

Seward County 201 101 01 — 6 8 0

Two outs when winning run scored.

Josh Gill, Gip Hendricks (4), Jason Chowning (6), Corey Hill (7) and Dean Malthouse. Bobby Doran, Chris Williams (6), Austin Roff (7) and David Masters. WP-Roff. LP-Hill. HR: TC-David Phillips (2), 1st 1 on; 7th, none on; Anton Garcia, 6th, none on; Trevor Raney, 6th, none on.



Seward County 100 003 0 — 4 6 0

Texarkana 300 320 x — 8 12 0

Austin Terhune, Williams (5) and Masters. Phillips, Cody Wilson (5), Zach Gryder (7) and Lance Marvel. WP-Phillips. LP-Terhune. HR: TC-Justin Coats (2), 1st, none on; 4th, 1 on; Garcia, 1st, 1 on.



Saturday’s games

First Game

Texarkana 000 000 0 — 0 1 0

Seward County 000 020 x — 2 4 1

Justin Fowler and Malthouse. Thomas Cruz and Masters. WP-Cruz. LP-J. Fowler.



Second Game

Seward County 000 015 010 — 7 12 0

Texarkana 220 130 40x — 12 12 1

Teddy Kandchuck, Chad Burting (4), Morgan Alou (6) and Thomas Gifford. Zach Fowler, Wilson (6), Gryder (6), Hill (9) and Malthouse. WP-Z. Fowler. LP-Kandchuck. HR: SC-Wade English, 5th, none on; Jon Bartlotti, 6th, 1 on. TC-Coats, 4th, none on; David Allday, 5th, 1 on.





Monday, February 25, 2008

Bulldogs complete sweep

Bulldogs complete sweep

Texarkana College extended its winning streak to six games Sunday by completing a four-game sweep of Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College at George Dobson Field.

The Bulldogs scored a pair of runs in the second and third innings to defeat Coffeyville 4-0. TC improved to 7-5 on the season.

David Phillips notched his first win for the Bulldogs, hurling five shutout innings and limiting the Ravens to just five hits.

The Bulldogs scored two of their four runs on sacrifice flies from Justin Coats and Dean Malthouse.

Zach Fowler had a RBI single, and Phillips helped his own cause with RBI. Trey Buck and Gip Hendrix each had a double.

Jake Mitcheltree took the loss for the Ravens, lasting just three innings.

Texarkana College returns to action March 1 at Seward County Community College.

Saturday, February 23, 2008

Bulldogs drop Coffeyville behind Fowler

Bulldogs drop Coffeyville behind Fowler

Zach Fowler wasn’t overpowering in posting his first collegiate pitching victory Friday, but his ability to throw strikes drew praise from his Texarkana College coach.

“Zach didn’t have his best stuff, but he was competitive and threw strikes,” said TC coach Will Bolt after the Bulldogs’ 7-1 win over Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College at George Dobson Field. “And he kept his pitch count down by throwing strike one.”

Pitching in frigid weather, the former Liberty-Eylau standout struck out two and walked one, and the only run he gave up was unearned due to his own error in the first inning.

Fowler slipped while fielding Brandon Elmore’s one-out chopper in front of the mound, and threw wide of first from his knees. Elmore advanced on a single by Jason McBride and scored on Zach Johnson’s sacrifice fly.

But the Bulldogs (4-4) took the lead for good in the bottom of the first, scoring three runs on five hits. Trey Buck’s one-out double started the rally, and another two-bagger by Gip Hendrix drove in the tying run.

David Phillips’ infield hit was followed by RBI singles by Dean Malthouse and Lance Marvel.

Josh Gill doubled to lead off the second, stole third, and scored on Anton Garcia’s groundout to third base.

Coffeyville starter Jordan Bartlett blanked the Bulldogs over the next three innings, but Malthouse greeted reliever Nathaniel Rankin with a solo homer with one out in the sixth. Then, following a single by Thomas Watson, Gill slammed his second homer of the season to right field.

“We swung the bats pretty well,” said Bolt, who won his first game at Dobson Field. “We jumped on them early by taking a real good approach at the plate. We put pressure on them the whole game and scored early and late. That will win a lot of games.”

Gill was 2 for 2, and Buck doubled and singled in three trips to lead the 10-hit attack.

The same two teams go at it again today at Dobson in a noon doubleheader. Justin Fowler and Gill are scheduled to pitch for TC.



Coffeyville 100 000 0 — 1 5 0

Texarkana 310 003 x — 7 10 1

Jordan Bartlett, Nathaniel Rankin (6) and Matt Dahms. Zach Fowler and Dean Malthouse. WP-Fowler (1-1). LP-Bartlett (0-1). HR: TC-Malthouse, 6th, none on; Josh Gill, 6th, 1 on.



— Johnny Green

Sunday, February 3, 2008

Bulldogs settle for split in Gainesville

Bulldogs settle for split in Gainesville

GAINESVILLE, Texas—Texarkana College started the season off on the right note Saturday by rallying for a come-from-behind extra-inning victory, but North Central College didn’t make the same mistakes in the nightcap as the host Lions salvaged a split with the bulldogs.

David Allday ripped a leadoff home run in the top of the eighth inning of the opener, and winning pitcher Cory Hill shut the door in the bottom of the frame to seal a 4-3 win for TC (1-1).

David Phillips also smacked a solo homer for the Bulldogs, and Justin Coats was 2 for 4 with a pair of doubles.

North Central erupted for six runs in the second inning of Game 2 and held off Texarkana’s late heroics.

Dean Malthouse was 2 for 2 with a solo home run for the Bulldogs, Coats chipped in a pair of hits and RBI and Lance Marvel was 2 for 3 with a double.

Kaleb Herren hit a homer for the Lions, and Matt Nilo picked up the win.

Josh Gill took the loss for TC.



Texarkana 000 100 21 — 4 6 0

North Central 021 000 00 — 3 7 0

Jason Chowning, Zach Fowler (6), Cory Hill (7) and Dean Malthouse, Lance Marvel (7). Brent Lewis, Jefferson (5), Kaleb Herren (6) and Garrett Campfield. WP-Hill (1-0). LP-Herren (0-1). HR: TC-David Phillips, 4th, none on; David Allday, 8th, none on.



Texarkana 000 104 0 — 5 8 1

North Central 260 001 x — 9 7 1

Josh Gill, Zach Gryder (2), Justin Fowler (3), Cody Wilson (7) and Malthouse. Don Williams, Matt Nilo (3), Jefferson (6) and Chad Keefer. WP-Nilo (1-0). LP-Gill (0-1). HR: TC-Malthouse, 6th, none on; NC-Herren, 5th, none on.

Friday, February 1, 2008

Muscle on the mound

Muscle on the mound : Talented pitching staff has Bulldogs coach believing conference championship is within arm’s reach

Will Bolt will no doubt carve his own niche, but for now the first-year Texarkana College coach doesn’t mind comparisons to former mentor Dave Van Horn.

d. phillips
Staff photo by Tanner Spendley Texarkana College head coach Will Bolt, left, goes over catching techniques with David Allday during practice Wednesday afternoon.


“I would say we have a lot of similarities, but I would never put myself in the same category with him,” Bolt said of Van Horn, who used the TC coaching job as a springboard to bigger things as head coach at Nebraska and now Arkansas. “People have told me that I reminded them of Dave as a player, and others have said I look like him when I’m coaching. I do take a lot of what I do from him. He knows how to get the most of out of his players.”

That’s what Bolt and assistants Justin Seely and Brad Flanders hope to do with their first group of Bulldogs, who open the season with a doubleheader at noon Saturday at North Central Texas Community College in Gainesville.

Bolt comes to TC from Texas A&M, where he was a volunteer coach under former Bulldog coaches Rob Childress and Matt Deggs. He also played for Van Horn at Nebraska and was a volunteer coach for the Cornhuskers.

He takes over a Texarkana College program that overcame the controversial dismissal of head coach James Mansinger last season to win the Region XIV East Conference title. However, only seven players return from that team, and Bolt will build his first squad around that nucleus.

That includes right-hander Jason Chowning, who heads a pitching staff that Bolt feels is the strength of the team.

“Our starting pitching should be our strongest point. Depth wise, we’re going to have to have some guys step up and define their roles as the season progresses,” Bolt said.

Chowning and Texas High graduate Josh Gill, also a right-hander, are scheduled to start on Saturday. Gill was in the starting rotation for conference play last spring.

Former Atlanta standout Logan Puckett, one of three transfers from Seminole State College on the TC roster, missed the last month and a half of the fall season with an elbow injury and will be brought along slowly in the spring. Bolt is counting on Puckett to be one of his conference starters.

The same is true of left-hander Zach Fowler, who helped lead Liberty-Eylau to two state tournament championship games, then signed with Louisiana Tech before transferring to TC for the spring semester.

Others in the mix are 6-6 freshman Justin Fowler from New Diana (Texas) High School, Zach Gryder from Calhoun, La., Cody Wilson from Groesbeck, Texas, redshirt freshman Thomas Watson of Paris and perhaps Gip Hendrix, a freshman from Shreveport.

Gryder is the only other left-hander in the group.

The closer’s role appears to belong to right-hander Cory Hill, a sophomore transfer from Canada, who pitched in the JUCO World Series for Iowa Western last spring.

Several of the pitchers could also be everyday players, including Watson, who was redshirted after being injured early last year. He will start at third base and bat fifth in the lineup. Watson led the team in hitting in the fall.

“He’s going to get his hacks in and drive in runs,” Bolt said. “We’re counting on him big time.”

Australian Dean Malthouse returns at catcher, where he established himself as a steady performer last year. He will be backed up by Arkansas High graduate Lance Marvel.

“Dean can handle the bat and can catch and throw with anybody in the conference,” Bolt said. “He’s a lot stronger than he was last year. He’ll do most of the catching, but if Lance could catch one out of every four games that would give Dean some rest. Lance can also play in the outfield, and if he swings the bat like he’s capable, we may have to find a spot for him in the lineup.”

David Allday, a freshman from Texas High, earned the starting position at first base in the fall, and will hit third in the lineup. Last year’s designated hitter, David Phillips, will back him up, although Phillips will be the starter in left field.

Defensive whiz Trey Buck, a freshman from Crosby, Texas, will play second and bat second in the lineup.

Shortstop Justin Coats, a 2006 graduate of Texas High, hit 10 home runs for Seminole last year, but it’s been his defense that’s dazzled Bolt.

“Justin’s one of the most exciting athletes I’ve been around,” Bolt said. “He made some plays in the fall that you couldn’t believe. He missed the final three weeks with a sore elbow, but he’s healthy now. I’m confident he can make the plays shortstops have to make, and he’s also going to lead off for us.”

Watson’s entrenched at third with Puckett available to play there as well as shortstop and second base.

“Logan will be our swing guy,” Bolt said, “but if something happened to Trey, we’d probably move Watson to second and let Puckett play third.”

Phillips, from Nacogdoches, was one of the Bulldogs’ top hitters last year as the DH, but Bolt said he has made himself a good outfielder, earning the left-field position.

“He moves well for his size, and has a good arm,” Bolt said. “In fact, he may also pitch some for us. We put him on the mound a couple of times in the ball and he threw 88 (mph).”

Returnee Trevor Rainey, a spot player in right field last year, has moved to center, his old high school position.

“Trevor’s our best defender in the outfield,” Bolt said. “He has the most accurate arm, and even though he’s not the fastest guy, he gets the best jump off the bat.”

Gill will play right field when he’s not on the mound, and Bolt said he’s expecting big things offensively from him.

“He’s really worked on his swing. He can hit the ball out of the park, but he can also run and showed the ability to use the whole field in the fall. He’s probably our best base runner and has the best speed on the team.”

Anton Garcia, who started in left field last year, will back up Gill.

With Phillips occupying left field, the designated hitter’s role will fall to Hendrix, who smacked 18 home runs his senior season in high school.

The Bulldogs went 1-1-1 in the fall conference tournament held at Northeast Texas Community College, and Bolt got the chance to see much of his conference competition.

“As far as pure talent goes, I think Panola College really jumped out at me,” he said. “I didn’t see Angelina, but we played Navarro, and they’re always going to have three or four pitchers who get drafted every year.

“We should be in the mix. We don’t have a whole lot of depth, so some guys are going to have to stay healthy and produce. But I would put our guys up against anybody. As long as they perform their roles and stay together, I think we will have a shot at winning the conference.”





2008 BULLDOGS SCHEDULE

Date Opponent-site Games Time

Feb. 2 at North Central Texas, Gainesville 7-7 Noon

Feb. 12 at E. Oklahoma, Wilberton 7-9 1 p.m.

Feb. 15 Grayson County at Brenham 7 4 p.m.

Feb. 15 Blinn JC, Brenham 7 7 p.m.

Feb. 16 Seminole State at Brenham 7 2 p.m.

Feb. 16 Grayson County at Brenham 7 5 p.m.

Feb. 22 Coffeyville, Kan. 7 TBA

Feb. 23 Coffeyville, Kan. 7-7 TBA

Feb. 24 Coffeyville, Kan. 7 TBA

Mar. 1 Seward, Kan., Colleyville, Texas 7-9 1 p.m.

Mar. 2 Seward, Kan., Colleyville, Texas 7-9 Noon

Mar. 4 at Fort Smith, Ark. 7-7 1 p.m.

Mar. 8 Eastern Oklahoma 7-9 1 p.m.

Mar. 12 x-at Bossier Parish CC 7-9 Noon

Mar. 15 x-Angelina College 7-9 Noon

Mar. 16 Longview, Mo., Tishomingo, Okla. 7-9 Noon

Mar. 19 x-at NE Texas CC 7-9 Noon

Mar. 22 x-Paris Junior College 7-9 Noon

Mar. 24 at Tyler JC 9 2 p.m.

Mar. 26 x-at Panola College 7-9 Noon

Mar. 29 x-at Navarro College 7-9 Noon

Mar. 31 x-Tyler Junior College 9 2 p.m.

Apr. 2 x-Lon Morris College 7-9 Noon

Apr. 5 x-Bossier Parish CC 7-9 Noon

Apr. 9 x-at Angelina College 7-9 Noon

Apr. 12 x-NE Texas CC 7-9 Noon

Apr. 16 x-at Paris JC 7-9 Noon

Apr. 19 x-Panola College 7-9 Noon

Apr. 23 x-Navarro College 7-9 Noon

Apr. 25 Eastfield College 7-7 1 p.m.

Apr. 26 x-at Lon Morris College 7-9 Noon

x-Region XIV East games.