By Ronnie Hughes

Leader Correspondent

 

BRIDGE CITY — The overcast weather and chance of rain didn’t keep the stands from filling up in Bridge City Tuesday night.

The Cardinals played host to the West Orange-Stark Mustangs, but fell short 4-2 in the battle for first place in District 24-4A. The Cardinals fell victim to their own mistakes, committing four errors that led to three run for the Mustangs.

WO-S junior Jack Dallas picked up the complete-game win with eight strikeouts.

The Mustangs took advantage of the Cardinal errors early.

KJ Miller batted in the number two spot and would take a free base after Tod McDowell struggled with his command early. Miller stole second and took third base after a wild throw from the catcher. Jack Dallas would bring Miller home on a ground out shot to short to give the Mustangs a 1-0 advantage after one complete.

McDowell found his spot in the second inning striking out two of three Mustang batters, but it would be Jack Dallas returning the favor with a one-two-three inning himself.

WO-S again notched runs on errant throws by the Cardinals in the top of the third. Blake Robertson led off with a walk and eventually was brought home after two wild throws by the Cards.

Jack Dallas reached second base the next at bat with another error by the Cardinals. Ryan Ragsdale ripped a shot down the third baseline to score Dallas and gave the Mustangs a 3-0 command after the top of third inning.

The Cardinals would attempt to answer back in the bottom of the third. Derrick Dearing scored after pinch-running for Skylar Thibodeaux after a Kyle Bergeron deep fly ball to left field. Kevin Gordon gave the Cardinals their third straight hit off Jack Dallas in the third and drove in Bergeron to pull the Cardinals within one after three innings.

The two squads exchanged a pair of three-up-three-down innings through the fifth before WO-S would scoot another run across in the top of the sixth.

After Ragsdale led off with a walk he would score after a Kevin Gordon throwing error in attempt to get BB Tezeno out at first. The free run was all the Mustangs needed to secure the victory on the evening as the Cardinals failed to bring a run across in their final two at bats, leaving six runners stranded including bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh. The Mustangs ended the game with a double play after an infield meeting on the pitchers mound.

West Orange (4-0) now holds onto first place in district 24-4A with the Cardinals (3-1) dropping their first district game of the season The two squads will meet up again in the second half of district play in West Orange at Ronnie Anderson Park.

Bridge City will play host to Orangefield Friday while WO-S visits LC-M.