Published: May 07, 2008 02:09 am         

Cracking bats across Texas | Baseball and softball playoffs

Royse City Bulldogs sweep Princeton, 11 - 2 and 7-1



By Charles W. Quinn

Herald-Banner Sports



The Bulldogs took the field at Friday night in Garland playing a double header against the Princeton Panthers in a best out of three series by winning game one 11-2 and taking game two with a score of 7-1. They advance to area play-offs this weekend.

On the mound in game one for Royse City was Scott Lane and for the Princeton Panthers was Jake Gildner. Both came out demonstrating their ability to shut down their opponents.

The Bulldog bats came alive through the order in the third inning with a lead-off single from Scotty Arterberry, and a double from Richard Morrison. Then Coach Clay Wolf showed he would utilize his players anyway he could to score by bunting the next two batters.

The number three batter, Dalton McAden and number four batter Chaz Quinn bunted to score Arterberry and Richard Morrison which got the Bulldogs scoring started. The outfield of Morrison, Jacob Stone, and Cameron Nichols supported Lane’s pitching by catching all six fly balls to the outfield.

Morrison was the force of the offense by hitting a single, a double and a triple and he had one last chance to hit for the cycle which is a rare opportunity but, Morrison went down on a called strike three.

In game two, Morrison and Jake Abbott were took the mound for their teams.

Morrison, with the support of his team’s defense behind him, controlled the game all night and showed he has what it takes to work himself out of a jam on a couple of occasions with bases loaded. Morrison and his defense did not allow a run until the fourth inning. The scoring play started with a miscommunication at first on a pick-off attempt which sent the ball past the first baseman, allowing the outfielder, Carlos Gallegos, to throw home to Chaz Quinn, with the runner, Matt Winso, attempting to score from second on the overthrow.

The final decision was on the umpire, and the score counted. This was the only run Princeton would score the rest of the night.

Jake Abbott's pitching proved to be too much for the Bulldogs until the fourth inning when he allowed three walks and Morrison scored on a wild pitch.

Starting the scoring for the Bulldogs in the fifth inning, was Stone who hit a hard ground ball to the outfield, getting by the defenders and allowing him to make it to third base.

Abbott’s very next pitch was wild and Stone scored for the go-ahead run of 2-1. With bases loaded Lane hit a monster of a shot over the left-field wall for a grand slam, which gave the insurance to the Bulldogs to finish the game 7-1.

Royse City will meet Lake Worth, winner of district 11-3A, this weekend at a time and place to be announced for the area round of playoffs.

The winner will advance to the Regional Quarterfinal Round the weekend of May 17, and play either Frisco Wakeland, the 9-3A district first-place team, or Glen Rose, third-place in 12-3A.

Frisco Wakeland is ranked Number 8 in the state by the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association as of May 1.

Not only does Royse City’s region, Region 2, contain the Association’s No. 8 ranked team, it also contains the Number 3 ranked Kennedale, and the Number 9 ranked Gilmer. After the May 17, four teams vie for the two Regional Semi-Final spots, which will then meet in the Regional Final May 31, with the winner meeting the Region 4 winner in early June.



Lady Dawgs breeze past FW Castleberry



By David Wilfong

Herald-Banner Staff



The Royse City Lady Bulldogs bested the Lady Lions of Fort Worth Castleberry in two games played in at Grand Prairie Friday night, winning 6-1 and 8-3, to advance to the Regional Quarterfinals to be held this weekend.

At Grand Prairie High School softball field Friday, the Lady Bulldogs and the Lady Lions remained deadlocked through the first three innings in the first game.

The Lady Bulldogs got on the boards in a big way in the bottom of the fourth. After Alicia Pille got on first with a walk and was relieved by courtesy runner Marcy Quarrels, Camille Flores dropped a shot just past the third baseman to single and advance Quarrels to second. Then Shelby Pille singled to load up the bases. Sarah Stutts then slapped a long shot over the head of the centerfielder for a triple, scoring Quarrels, Flores and Pille. Stutts then reached home herself on a hit from Dezyrae Arredondo.

In the top of the sixth, FWC claimed its sole run of the game when Courtney Taylor made the lap around the bases on double error from first.

Devani Harrison scored in the bottom of the sixth off a hit from Ashley Heinaman. Julia Zielinski found her way home on a FWC error for the final run of the game.

The Lady Lions’ final chance at bat was cut short by a double play as Kourtney Kelley made the tag at first then got the throw off to Arredondo at third base for the final out.

Alicia Pille picked up the win on the mound and struck out 10 batters in the contest.

On Saturday the Lady Dogs took the second game in a convincing 8-3 manner to end out the series.

Royse City scored the eight runs on nine hits and two errors.

Stutts and Arredondo hit doubles in the contest and Alicia Pille picked up another win from the mound.

Royse City advances to Regional Quarterfinals against Celina, this weekend, at a time and place to be announced. Celina came in first and Frisco-Wakeland second in District 9-3A, each with one victory over each other.

Frisco-Wakeland will take on Wills Point, a team which beat Royse City twice in district 10-3A action. Wills Point is currently ranked Number 8 by the Texas Girls Coaches Association Poll as of May 1, as it has been most of the season.

Number 6 ranked Liberty-Eylau, which Royse City beat 1-0 in a tournament in February, is meeting Number 9 ranked Bullard.