College Baseball Standings

Published: 04/28/2010

Region XIV, East Zone



Conference Season

Team W-L W-L

Texarkana 18-6 34-15

Navarro 16-8 32-16

NE Texas 14-10 34-15

Paris 14-10 26-19

Panola 13-10 32-15

Angelina 12-12 24-26

Bossier Parish 7-16 22-27

Lon Morris 1-23 3-43

LAST WEEK’S RESULTS

MONDAY: Texarkana 5-2, Northeast Texas 3-2; WEDNESDAY: Northeast Texas 14-4, Angelina 7-2; Texarkana 5-15, Bossier Parish 1-3; Navarro 8-3, Lon Morris 0-4; Paris 5-3, Panola 3-15; SUNDAY: Angelina 3-13, Lon Morris 1-2; Navarro 7-13, Bossier Parish 6-2; Panola 11-0, North Texas 9-10; Paris 5-1, Texarkana 4-3.

THIS WEEK’S GAMES

All games 1 p.m., 7-9 inning doubleheaders

TODAY: Texarkana at Angelina, Bossier Parish at Paris, Lon Morris at North Texas, Navarro at Panola; SATURDAY: Panola at Angelina, North Texas at Bossier Parish, Lon Morris at Texarkana College, Paris at Navarro.

Bulldogs split with Paris

Texarkana College moves closer to conference title

By: Johnny Green - Texarkana Gazette -

Published: 04/26/2010

Staff photo by Eric J. Shelton Texarkana College’s Matt Lackie delivers a pitch against Paris Junior College during the first game of a doubleheader Sunday at Texas High. The Bulldogs dropped the opener in extra innings but salvaged a split with a 3-1 win in the nightcap.

Texarkana College remains on the brink of its second straight Region XIV East Zone title, but the Bulldogs would probably already be home free if they had taken care of business at their home away from home.

However, after Sunday’s split with Paris Junior College at Texas High, the Bulldogs are only 7-5 at Tiger Field and 11-1 outside Texarkana in the conference race.

Ironically, that one loss was at Paris, when TC’s defense collapsed in the final inning allowing the Dragons to post a come-from-behind win.

Sunday’s Game 1 appeared to be a case of deju vu, PJC again taking advantage of Bulldog mistakes to post a 5-4 win in eight innings. Game 2 was a different story, TC left-hander Nick Forgarty coming within one out of his second straight shutout as the Bulldogs won, 3-1.

“We’re definitely not satisfied with a split; never can be,” said Bulldogs coach Will Bolt, whose team still has at least a 2-game lead over Navarro after the latter was shocked by last-place Lon Morris on Wednesday. “We didn’t swing the bats that well today. We’re just having quality at-bats like we need to. We had a couple of big hits in the first game, but we had opportunities to put them away and we just didn’t do it.”

The Bulldogs (33-15, 18-6) travel to Tyler for a 3 p.m. non-conference, 9-inning game today.



Game 1

Paris 5, Texarkana 4 (8 innings)

Brad Picha’s solo homer on an 0-2 pitch in the bottom of the seventh inning sent the game into overtime, and the Dragons won it on a throwing error in the top of the eighth.

“We were one strike away from winning the game,” said Bolt. “I think Franco (Pace) has given up two hits to left-handed hitters all year long, and he had him (Picha) in a good spot. But he got a breaking ball up, and he put a good swing on it and got the ball up in the wind.”

The Dragons won it in the next inning when closer Colton Reavis gave up a 1-out walk, and Rodney Garcia singled to right one out later. Phil Delisle, running on the play, came all the way around to score when the relay throw was lobbed over the cutoff man’s head.

It was the second straight unearned run for the Dragons, who scored in the sixth on a throwing error, although the tying run was thrown out at the plate.

“It (throw from outfield) was just a lack of focus, plain and simple,” Bolt said.

The Bulldogs staked starter Matt Lackie to a 4-1 lead through four innings. Tin Enriquez singled home a second-inning run, and Austin Atwell doubled in Richard Sanguinetti, who had tripled, to break a 1-1 tie in the third.

TC chased Paris starter Devin Avery from the mound in a 2-run fourth, two errors, a hit batsman and Jake Rogers’ RBI single making it 4-1.

But Paris scored single runs in the next four innings to claim the victory. Submarining right-hander Justin Scharf, who pitched McKinney North to a 2-1 win over state champion Texas High in last year’s playoffs, struck out four over the last two innings to pick up the win.

Sanguinetti, Brittan Diamond and Enriquez each had two of TC’s 10 hits.



Game 2

Texarkana 3, Paris 1

Forgarty pitched in and out of trouble in going the distance in the nightcap, which was switched from nine to seven innings after the opener went extra innings.

Fogarty, a left-hander from Canada, struck out four and walked three, and missed a shutout when a potential double-play grounder was bobbled in the seventh.

“Nick has been very good for us,” Bolt said. “He should have had a shutout today, and he was coming off a shutout last time out. He’s been throwing really well and has been able to mix up three pitches. He got himself into some jams today, but he made some nice pitches to get himself out.”

TC gave Fogarty all the support he needed with a 2-run first inning. Taylor Coleman singled up the middle to start the rally, and raced to third on Sanguinetti’s double down the line in right. Austin Atwell lofted a sacrifice fly to right, the speedy Coleman separating the catcher from the ball with a hard slide, and Jordy Snikeris drove in the second run with a ground ball to second.

Snikeris set up the third run with a hustle double leading off the fourth. After Hunter Allday sacrificed him to third, Diamond singled through the middle to make it 3-0.

Sangunetti was 2 for 2 and Coleman 2 for 3 to lead the Bulldogs, who had six hits. Picha, who was 4 for 4 in the opener, was held hitless and struck out twice against Fogarty. Garcia and Craig Whitehead had two hits each for Paris (26-19, 14-10).



GAME 1

Paris JC 001 011 11 — 5 7 2

Texarkana 011 200 00 — 4 10 3

Devin Avery, Jordan Badarack (4), Corey Farrell (4), Jordan Baker (5), Justin Scharf (7) and Andy Lalumandier. Matt Lackie, Justin Choate (6), Franco Pace (7), Colton Reavis (7) and Jordy Snikeris. WP-Scharf. LP-Reavis. HR: PJC-Brad Picha, 7th, none on.



GAME 2

Paris JC 000 000 1 — 1 6 1

Texarkana 200 100 x — 3 6 0

Matt Buckmaster, Jon Marc Abbey (6) and Devin Avery. Nick Fogarty and Jordy Snikeris. WP-Fogarty. LP-Buckmaster.

Home game vs. Paris on Monday changed to away game vs. E. Oklahoma...

Game vs. NTCC is cancelled due to weather...

Games cancelled this week...Hoping to get the players well again.

E. Oklahoma game Cancelled for today...

Tuesday game @ NTCC Cancelled...

2009 Fall Schedule...

Texarkana College Baseball
2009 Fall Schedule

September

5 BPCC Texarkana, TX changed to Shreveport noon

9 Grayson Texarkana, TX TBA

15 NTCC Mount Pleasant, TX 3pm

18 Tyler Texarkana, TX 2pm

20 No Game

22 Eastern OK Wilburton, OK TBA

25-27 Conference Tournament Mt. Pleasant, TX TBA

30 Grayson Denison, TX TBA


October

2 OBU Arkadelphia, AR 2pm

4 Eastern OK Texarkana, TX TBA

6 NTCC Texarkana, TX 3pm

8-10 All-Star Weekend Waco, TX TBA

12 Paris Texarkana, TX TBA

17-18 TBA College Station, TX (Olsen) TBA

20 Paris Paris, TX TBA

24 BPCC Shreveport, LA changed to Texarkana TBA

Texarkana Ranked 21 by PG Crosschecker...

Juco: Top 50 Teams (FINAL)

Wednesday, June 03, 2009

Top 50 Teams--FINAL Compiled by Allan Simpson / PG Crosschecker Junior College World Series champions (Division I, II, III) in boldface *Particicipant, Junior College Division I World Series #California community-college state champion ^Northwest Athletic Association of Community College champion FINAL May 18 JUNIOR COLLEGE State Won Loss 1 1 *Howard (Div. I) TX 63 1 2 4 #Orange Coast CA 37 14 3 2 *San Jacinto TX 45 11 4 5 *Western Nevada NV 48 14 5 3 *Spartanburg Methodist SC 55 9 6 18 *Santa Fe FL 36 22 7 6 *Cowley County KS 48 15 8 8 Central Arizona AZ 51 13 9 9 *Shelton State AL 44 18 10 7 Santa Ana CA 37 13 11 13 Palomar CA 36 13 12 14 USC Sumter SC 50 11 13 15 Walters State TN 46 11 14 16 Yavapai AZ 47 12 15 17 Miami-Dade FL 38 12 16 Parkland (Div. II) IL 49 9 17 11 *Middle Georgia GA 44 20 18 12 LSU-Eunice LA 51 12 19 19 Ohlone CA 37 11 20 21 Feather River CA 42 5 21 25 Texarkana TX 40 15 22 26 *Temple TX 44 16 23 27 Tallahassee FL 43 18 24 20 *Seminole State OK 40 20 25 22 Columbia Basin WA 48 9 26 10 Des Moines Area IA 55 11 27 28 Georgia Perimeter GA 42 16 28 30 Connors State OK 43 14 29 31 Pitt NC 36 8 30 23 Diablo Valley CA 36 17 31 24 *Iowa Western IA 41 24 32 32 Potomac State WV 37 14 33 33 Blinn TX 42 16 34 NR ^Bellevue WA 29 20 35 34 Maple Woods MO 40 19 36 36 Cypress CA 32 16 37 37 Chipola FL 31 20 38 38 Manatee FL 36 16 39 39 San Joaquin Delta CA 35 19 40 40 Meridian MS 37 17 41 41 Mt. San Jacinto CA 35 13 42 42 Young Harris GA 44 12 43 29 Skagit Valley WA 32 10 44 NR Richland (Div. III) TX 47 13 45 43 Southwestern Illinois IL 45 16 46 44 Wallace State-Hanceville AL 38 13 47 35 Mt. Hood OR 35 8 48 48 Central Florida FL 36 18 49 47 Merced CA 36 10 50 48 Arkansas-Fort Smith AR 43 15 DROPPED OUT: No. 45 Western Oklahoma (50-15), No. 49 Johnson County, Kan. (43-14), No. 50 Panola, Texas (39-17).

NJCAA All-Americans Announced...

Here is the link to the NJCAA site: http://www.njcaa.org/sports_awards.cfm?sid=7&divid=1&slid=3

News Coverage...

College Station KTBX
Bolt's Bulldogs Best Blinn (Click for link to video)

BRENHAM- Blinn's run is done at the Region XIV baseball tournament.

The Buccaneers dropped an elimination game to Texarkana, 13-5, Tuesday afternoon at Leroy Dreyer Field.

Bulldog head coach Will Bolt, a former Texas A&M assistant, got a two-run homer from Joaquin Hinojosa in the top of the third inning.

The Dogs put up six runs in the fifth, three of those coming home on a
Jordy Snikeris dinger.

The Bucs struggled defensively in the seven-inning game, six of Texarkana's runs were unearned.

Blinn ends its year at 42-&-16.

San Jacinto pounded Texarkana, 15-3, in the second game of the day to claim the regional title.

Buccaneers’ run comes to a close -- San Jacinto beats Texarkana for tournament title

Brenham Banner

Sophomore shortstop Jonathan Ogden fields a ground ball during Blinn’s 13-5 loss to Texarkana Tuesday afternoon in the Region 14 Tournament semifinals. Ogden is going to Mississippi State University in the fall. Richard Bray/Reprints at www.brenhambanner.com

By RICHARD BRAY/Sports Editor

Published:

Wednesday, May 13, 2009 1:26 PM CDT

The Blinn Buccaneer baseball team won three consecutive elimination games to reach the semifinals of the Region 14 Tournament, but on Tuesday the club’s Junior College World Series dreams came to a close with a 13-5 loss to Texarkana.

Blinn, the second seed out of the South Zone, dropped its tournament opener to Navarro 11-3, but bounced back on Sunday and Monday with three consecutive victories, including a 6-4 victory over Navarro Monday night to advance into the semifinals.

But in Tuesday’s contest the Buccaneers were unable to get any traction as Texarkana pounced on every Blinn miscue on the afternoon.

Sophomore left-hander Zach Hardoin (10-2), who went undefeated during the regular season, suffered his second loss of the tournament on two days’ rest. After Blinn’s victory over Navarro on Monday night, Hardoin sought out Blinn (42-17) coach Harvey McIntyre for the opportunity to pitch against Texarkana, but the University of Missouri signee allowed six runs - three earned - in 4 1/3 innings.

Even though Texarkana managed just two hits against Hardoin, the southpaw walked five batters, and Texarkana’s first hit of the day was a two-run home run by Joaquin Hinojosa that gave Texarkana a 4-1 lead.

“When I got him off the mound I told him I appreciate his effort and his will to take the baseball for us,” McIntyre said. “He gave us a great effort.”

Jonathan Delgado entered the game with one out and two on in the fifth after Hardoin walked two batters and immediately ran into trouble as Thomas Watson hit an RBI single and Jordy Snikeras launched a three-run home run that gave Texarkana a 10-2 lead.

Blinn committed just one error in the game, but was plagued with fielding miscues throughout the day. A passed ball on a third strike in the third inning allowed a runner to reach base prior to Hinojosa’s home run, and on two other occasions Blinn outfielders allowed fly balls to fall in front of them after initially running toward the wall. In all, six of Texarkana’s 13 runs were unearned.

Center fielder Trey Johnson was a lone bright spot for the Buccaneers. Johnson hit an RBI single in the first inning to tie the score, then hit a three-run home run in the sixth inning. He had all four of Blinn’s RBIs in the game.

“I think it’s fitting that in Trey Johnson’s last at-bat for us he hit a three-run home run for us,” McIntyre said. “How else would you write that script? When we need a big knock he always seems to produce for us and he did it again today.”

John Stilson earned the win for Texarkana, throwing 5 2/3 innings. He allowed four earned runs on seven hits and four walks, striking out six. After Ty Moore got the final out of the sixth inning, Colton Reavis threw a perfect seventh inning to end the game - and Blinn’s season - via mercy rule.

San Jacinto, which won all four of its tournament games, defeated Texarkana 8-5 Tuesday night to win the tournament championship and advance to the Junior College World Series in Grand Junction, Colo.

Blinn’s roster included 15 sophomores this season, including Jonathan Ogden, Zak Leonhardt, Trenton Irwin, Brian Smith, Brandon Finken, Johnson, Cameron Goff, Broc Haymon, Kendall Korbal, Hardoin, Michael Dixon, Phillip Butler, Eric Staha, Cody Morrison and Mario Eramo.

“This group accomplished so much,” McIntyre said. “Winning 42 baseball games is extremely impressive. Not just what they did from a statistical standpoint, they played hard and with energy. They were a lot of fun to be around, to coach and to watch.”

Blinn will be sending plenty of athletes on to four-year schools next season, including Eramo at Penn State, Hardoin at Missouri, Johnson and Ogden at Mississippi State, Korbal at Texas Christian University, Smith at Sam Houston State, Leonhardt at San Angelo State, Irwin at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Morrison at Texas A&M. McIntyre said he also expects Dixon to sign with a four-year program after the Bucs’ right-hander generated plenty of interest with his performance at the conference tournament.

“They have done the right thing from day one,” McIntyre said. “They’re a very unselfish, very committed group. They’re great players, but at the same time they’re just an outstanding group of young men.

“It’s a big group of kids we brought in and it’s a big group of kids we’re losing. They brought more sophomore leadership than any other group we’ve had. Hopefully our young kids can learn just by watching those guys, and they should because it’s a great group to follow up.”

Both Morrison and Johnson were named to the all-Region 14 team.

The Buccaneers will have to replace their starting first baseman, shortstop and outfielders, as well as the bulk of their starting pitchers next season.

“To me it’s trying to replace Trey Johnson, Cody Morrison, Mario Eramo and Zak Leonhardt in the lineup, and Ogden’s presence in the infield, but at the same time we’ve got a great group of freshmen who will step right in and do a great job for us next year as sophomores.”

Bulldogs finish second

Published: 05/13/2009

j. stilson

BRENHAM, Texas—It would seem difficult to take something positive from a 15-3 loss, but Texarkana College coach Will Bolt did just that after his team was eliminated by seventh-ranked San Jacinto College Tuesday in the Region XIV baseball finals at Blinn College’s Leroy Dryer Field.

“The way I see it, we had two bad innings against San Jac in both games we played them,” Bolt said. “In the first game we had a chance to put them on the ropes early, and we let them take the momentum away from us. The same thing happened today. If we had managed to stay in the winner’s bracket, things might have been different.”

The Bulldogs, who run-ruled host Blinn College, 13-5, earlier in the day to earn a second shot at San Jacinto, finished the season at 40-15. The Gators take a 43-9 record to the JUCO World Series in Grand Junction, Colo., in two weeks.

San Jacinto raked six Texarkana pitchers for 19 hits in the game.

“We just totally ran out of gas in the second game,” Bolt said. “When you run tired arms out there against a team like San Jac, they’ll make you pay.”

The Bulldogs lost shortstop Trey Buck to a possible fractured wrist when he collided with the Gators first baseman after bunting. Buck played a key role in the win over Blinn.

The Bulldogs managed nine hits, including a double and single by John Stilson, who replaced Buck at shortstop. Jake Rogers had a pair of singles and drove in a run.

“We had a good season, winning the conference championship,” Bolt said. “We talked all year about going to Grand Junction, and we fell just one game short. We’ve got 14 freshmen coming back, and hopefully the experience they got here will help us get back.”



San Jacinto 227 200 201 — 15 19 1

Texarkana 100 000 110 — 3 9 0

Sean Nolin, Dylan Adamek (8) and Gregg Alazar. Justin Fowler, Justin Fielden (3), Zach Fowler (3), Brittan Diamon (3), Ty Moore (5), Joaquin Hinojosa (7) and Lance Marvel, Michael Long (8). WP-Nolin. LP-J. Fowler. HR-Danny Hernandez, 4th, none on.



Texarkana 13, Blinn 5

Texarkana’s 10-hit attack in the early game included home runs by Joaquin Hinojosa and Jordy Snikeris.

Pitching on two days rest, John Stilson improved to 12-1 on the season, pitching 5 2/3 innings and throwing 103 pitches. He walked four and struck out six, while yielding four earned runs. Ty Moore allowed a run before retiring the last batter in the sixth, and Colton Reavis came on to pitch a 1-2-3 seventh.

Leadoff batter Trey Buck was a thorn in the Buccaneers’ sides, drawing three walks, stealing three bases and scoring three runs.

t. buck

The Bulldogs broke a 3-all tie with three runs in the third inning and never trailed after that. Buck drew a 1-out walk, stole second, and one out later Brian Ellis reached on a third-strike wild pitch. Buck eventually scored on a balk by losing pitcher Zach Hardoin (10-2), and Ellis rode home on Hinojosa’s team-leading 11th home run over the center field wall.

After Blinn pulled within 4-2 with a run in the fourth inning, the Bulldogs put it out of reach in the fifth. Buck and Ellis drew walks and pulled off a double steal after Hardoin was replaced by Jonathan Delgado.

Buck scored as Hinojosa grounded out to shortstop, and after David Allday was hit by a pitch, Thomas Watson singled, driving in Ellis. Hot-hitting Lance Marvel, who was 3 for 4 with two runs batted in, then drove in Allday with a single. Snikeris’ 2-run homer capped the 5-run inning.

Marvel, Buck and Austin Atwell had RBI singles in the seventh as the Bulldogs ended the game on the run-rule.

Watson’s double and two singles led TC at the plate. Watson had a double and single for the Bulldogs (40-14).



Texarkana 103 050 3 — 12 10 0

Blinn 100 103 0 — 5 8 1

John Stilson, Ty Moore (6), Colton Reavis (7) and Jody Snikeris. Zach Hardoin, Jonathon Delgado (5) and P. D. McIntyre. WP-Stilson (12-1). LP-Hardoin (10-2). HR: TC-Joaquin Hinojosa, 3rd, 1 on; Snikeris, 5th, 1 on.

Bulldogs suffer 8-5 setback against San Jacinto College

By: Johnny Green - Texarkana Gazette -

Published: 05/12/2009

BRENHAM, Texas—The long ball has put Texarkana College behind the 8-ball.

Pre-tournament favorite San Jacinto College cracked five home runs en route to an 8-5 victory over the Bulldogs Monday in a battle of unbeatens in the Region XIV baseball tournament at Blinn College.

The loss leaves TC in the position of having to win three straight games, including two today, to win the regional title and JUCO World Series berth. The Bulldogs face the winner of Monday’s late game between Navarro and Blinn at 1 p.m. today. If they survive that contest, they will get San Jacinto at 5 and will have to beat the Gators to force a final game at 1 p.m. Wednesday.

Texarkana (39-14) managed just one run after loading the bases with one out in the top of the first inning, and the Gators started their home run barrage in the bottom of the frame with back-to-back-to-back shots off the bats of Steven Vidaurri, Devin Shines and Ryan Burnaman. A double and stolen base by Zachary Benson and an RBI single by Danny Hernandez made it 5-1 and finished starter Zach Fowler after one inning and 46 pitches.

“The first five innings of the game were very intense,” said TC coach Will Bolt. “I thought we were extremely ready to go, and we got a run in that first inning, but should have probably put up a crooked number there. Then they answered back in the bottom of the inning.”

Left-handed starter David Rollins, who opposed Liberty-Eylau’s Fowler in the 2006 prep playoffs while pitching for Carthage, managed to survive a 3-run Bulldog second inning, pitching through the seventh to earn the win. He threw 130 pitches before leaving after walking the leadoff batter in the eighth.

“It’s hard to play from behind, and our guys battled back to make a game of it,” said Bolt. “We had some baserunners on, but every time he (Rollins) got out of jam he got a little more confidence. He made some adjustments, and so did we. We just missed out on some opportunities late in the game.

The Bulldogs loaded the bases in the eighth against relievers Jeff Abt and Tommy Collier, but got only one run on Austin Atwell’s infield hit. But the runner coming from second was caught rounding third and tagged in a rundown to end the threat.

Brian Ellis led off the ninth with an infield single, but was picked off first base by the catcher. Collier, who reportedly threw 130 pitches in a Saturday night start, then retired the next two batters to end the game.

Rollins, who wild-pitched a run home in the first before striking out the last two batters, ran into a jam in the second when the bottom of the TC batting order started a 3-run rally. Jordy Snikeris singled, Lance Marvel doubled over the third-base bag, and Jake Rogers spanked an RBI single to right.

Trey Buck’s double to left-center plated Marvel, and Rogers scored the third run when Atwell sent the center fielder to the fence to snag his sacrifice fly. But Rollins again got the next two batters to limit the damage.

If there was a bright spot for the Bulldogs, it was the work of the bullpen. Shane Cole retired the first eight batters he faced before Deric Hawkins smacked a home run to right-center. A walk and

Gregg Alcazar’s 2-run homer to center with two outs in the fifth made it 8-4.

Brittan Diamond pitched 1 2/3 innings and Colton Reavis 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief.

“After the first five innings of the game I thought we pitched pretty good,” Bolt said. “Shane had his moments when he was good, but the two-run homer was big. But Diamond and Reavis came in and did a good job. They gave us a chance to come back in the game, and I sure felt to the very end that we were going to come back and win.”

The Bulldogs outhit the Gators 10-8, but the only extra-base hits were the doubles by Marvel and Buck. Snikeris and Marvel were the only TC players with two hits.

Bolt said first-game starter John Stilson, who threw six innings and 61 pitches Saturday, would start today’s 1 p.m. game.



Texarkana College 130 000 010 — 5 10 0

San Jacinto College 500 120 00x — 8 8 0

Zach Fowler, Shane Cole (2), Brittan Diamond (6), Colton Reavis (7) and Jordy Snikeris. David Rollins, Jeff Abt (8), Tommy Collier (8) and Gregg Alkazar. WP-Rollins (8-3). LP-Fowler (6-5). HR: SJC-Steven Vidaurri, 1st, 1 on; Devin Shines, 1st, none on; Ryan Burnaman, 1st, none on; Deric Hawkins, 4th, none on; Alcazar, 5th, 1 on.

Regionals Update...

Game 4 for Texarkana
Texarkana (Away)vs. Blinn (Home)
Tuesday, May 12th @ 1:00 PM

The team will be staying at Holiday Inn Express in Brenham off of 290 W.

Here is the bracket (click on bracket) for the tournament.

Here is the website specifically made for the regional: http://www.blinn.edu/regionXIVbaseball.htm

Bulldogs knock off Navarro at regional tournament

Published: 05/11/2009

By Johnny Green

Sports Director

BRENHAM, Texas—Eleven runs, 16 hits, five home runs—and Justin Fowler had no hand in any of them.

Yet Fowler was perhaps the key figure in Texarana College’s 11-6 victory over Navarro Sunday in the second round of the Region XIV baseball tournament at Blinn College.

Fowler, last year’s Bulldog ace but a nearly-forgotten man this season, pitched 3 2/3 scoreless innings in relief of starter Tanner Bailey, allowing TC to take control of the game against Navarro, which had beaten the Bulldogs three times in the conference round-robin schedule.

“Justin’s year has been up and down, not the type of year he wanted,” said TC coach Will Bolt. “But not one time has he wavered from the team, and he’s never felt sorry for himself. I think he’s the story of the day, coming in and getting some stops when we needed it. He pitched his tail off today.”

Fowler did weaken in the eighth, walking the first two batters he faced, but closer Joaquin Hinojosa did his job, coming on to strike out five of the six batters he faced.

“I felt good today. I got ahead early, and it works a lot better when you throw strike one,” said Fowler, a sophomore from Diana, Texas. “I got a little tired in my last inning, and my arm started dragging a little bit. I started leaving everything up.”

There were plenty of other heroes on the day for the Bulldogs, who play the winner of the late game between Panola College and San Jacinto North into today’s 5 p.m. semifinals.

David Allday, the East Division’s Player of the Year and an all-region selection, was 4 for 4 with a double and his 10th home run, a prodigious blast to dead center, and scored four runs.. The former Texas High standout is 6 for 7 in two tournament games.

Thomas Watson slugged his seventh and eighth home runs, driving in five runs. He also doubled.

Brian Ellis also had three hits, and it was his 2-run shot to right that finished Navarro starter Logan Chitwood in a 5-run fifth. Watson’s second homer of the game, a 3-run shot to left, came off reliever Austin Pruitt to cap the big inning.

“I’ve never seen anything like the way our hitters squared the ball up in those couple of innings,” Bolt said. “We knew what we were looking for, and when got it we didn’t miss it.”

Lance Marvel’s seventh homer of the season, almost a replica of Allday’s, was the only solo round-tripper for TC. It came in the fourth inning and tied the game after Jordy Snikeris’ 2-run single had pulled the Bulldogs within one earlier in the frame.

Bailey struggled early on, giving up a 2-run homer to Bobby Buckner, son of former major leaguer Bill Buckner, that momentarily put Navarro up 5-2. He was pulled in the fifth after yielding a solo home run to Joey Fuda and a single.

The first batter Fowler faced reached on an error, but he settled in to retire nine batters in a row before the two walks in the eighth. Hinojosa then did his thing.

“He plays right field, hits in the four hole, then comes in and throws two scoreless innings,” Bolt said. “He did a good job, and we’re going to need him the rest of the tournament.”

Allday is confident the Bulldogs will punch the school’s third ticket to the JUCO World Series.

“We definitely have a chance to win it,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of pitching left, all the hitters are coming around, everybody’s seeing the ball real well and we’re putting up a lot of runs. We’re going to win it.”

Zach Fowler is scheduled to take the mound for the Bulldogs today.

Galveston and Angelina were the first teams eliminated on Sunday. Host Blinn downed Galveston, 14-6, and Alvin College knocked off Angelina, 7-2. Angelina dropped a 6-2 decision to San Jacinto North in Saturday’s late game.

Alvin and Navarro play the first elimination game today at 10 a.m. with Blinn taking on the Panola-San Jacinto loser at 1. The winners of those two games will play again at 8 p.m.



Texarkana College 020 350 100 — 11 16 3

Navarro College 113 010 000 — 6 8 0

Tanner Bailey, Justin Fowler (5), Joaquin Hinojosa (8) and Jordy Snikeris. Logan Chitwood, Austin Pruitt (5), Jason Drymalia (9) and Mark Mayfield, Justin Snider (9). WP-Fowler (5-3). LP-Chitwood. HR: TC-David Allday, 2nd, 1 on; Thomas Watson, 4th, 1 on; Lance Marvel, 4th, none on; Brian Ellis, 5th, 1 on; Watson, 5th, 2 on; NC-Bobby Buckner, 3rd, 1 on; Joey Fuda, 5th, none on.