By Caleb Adams

Leader Correspondent

BRIDGE CITY—The Bridge City Cardinals beat the Orangefield Bobcats 3-2 in the Cardinals second game of the Chuck Young Tournament Thursday after beating Port Arthur Memorial 8-2 in the first game as fans braved the elements in enjoying the new turf field and stadium.

Peyton Havard went five innings for the Cardinals while giving up five hits and the two runs the Bobcats scored. Havard would throw 92 pitches, almost double what Johnny Armstrong threw in the same amount of innings for the Bobcats. Havard threw a lot of pitches but managed to keep the runs to a minimum and clutched up when it mattered.

The Cardinals offense wasn’t in full force, but did show up enough for the win. Jaxon Bernard would go one for two with a single and a fielder’s choice, along with an RBI on the single. Sam Carpenter would also go one for two with a single and would later score that inning.

Orangefield starter Armstrong who went the full six innings on 69 pitches, allowed just three hits and three runs scored. Armstrong looked great throughout the game, the Cardinals were just able to maneuver the bases without needing a ton of hits.

The Bobcat offense was hot in the first couple of innings, but fell off as Havard settled into the game.

The Bobcats come out swinging, making Havard work early to keep them in check. Armstrong would lead off with a single, find his way around the bases thanks to a walk and a infield hit to put him in scoring position. With Blake Bradley on first trying to steal second, Armstrong took advantage and scored on a bad throw by the Cardinals. That’s all they would get in the inning though as the Bobcats would leave the bases loaded in that inning.

The Cardinals fired back and took the lead in the bottom of the second. The bottom of the lineup came big in the second with a couple singles and some bunts mixed in for good measure. Sam Carpenter and Gavin Green represented the runs scored, Carpenter led off with a single to left and Green walked his way on board. Bunts from Cace Skinner and Havard, along with a single from Jaxon Bernard, resulted in a 2-1 lead heading into the top of the third inning.

Orangefield evened the score with the help of two lead off singles in the top of the third. Landen Tomlinson would come around to score after a fielder’s choice, trying to turn two, and a wide throw to first resulted in the run to make it 2-2 after three.

Bridge City took the lead back with the same play Orangefield did on the base-paths, baiting out a throw to second so the runner on third could score. Cameron Yadon was the runner on first and Tanner Wilson was the runner on third who out ran the throw home. The creative running made the score 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth.

The game would be called in the sixth due to time and the Bobcats weren’t able to rally back for a win in this one.

The Cardinals face Nederland Friday in what should be another close game.

The Cardinals utilized a five-run first inning to turn back Port Arthur Memorial 8-2 in their first game of the day.

Gavin Green got the win on the hill for the Cardinals as he worked 3 2/3 innings and struck out six.

Cameron Yadon had three hits for the Cardinals while Gavin Green had two.

Green also had two runs batted in while Peyton Havard and Jackson Tims each brought in a pair of runs.

The Cardinals finished with 10 hits while the Titans had four.