By Lee Trawick Riverbend News
The Columbia County Junior Varsity Tigers played host to the Suwannee County Junior Varsity Bulldogs on Monday, April 5, at Tiger stadium, 469 SW Fighting Tiger Dr., in Lake City. The Bulldogs were led onto the field by starting pitcher, Mathew Jenkins. Jenkins pitched five and one third innings, giving up four runs from six hits, with four walks. Through the five and one third innings, Jenkins blew the ball past two Tigers, trying to keep them tamed at the plate.
While Jenkins was keeping the Tigers tamed, the help of the strong arm of Braxtyn Green from behind the plate kept the Tigers from running at will. Green threw out one base runner trying to steal second early in the game, sending the message extra bases would come at a premium. The Bulldogs' bats got off to a slow start their first time through the lineup, with only two hits in the first two innings by Hunter Vann and JD Cherry, neither of which were able to cross the plate. It would be the third inning before PJ Davis would make his way to the plate with his first two base hits on the day, followed by Green, who collected a base hit that pushed Davis over to second. With another hit by Ethan Layton, the bases were loaded for Jenkins, who would not let the Bulldogs down. Jenkins drove a base hit back up the middle, scoring Davis for the first run of the game. As the Bulldogs put pressure on the base pads, the Tigers got raddled, allowing the Bulldogs to put together three more hits along with a walk. The Bulldogs were able to push over a total of seven runs on seven hits and one walk in the third inning.
As tough as Jenkins was pitching for the Bulldogs, the Tigers were able to figure out a way to get three runs across the plate on four hits and no walks in the bottom of the third. The Bulldogs would be shut down for the remainder of the game, allowing the Tigers the opportunity to play catch up over the next four innings. Jenkins was able to endure the fourth inning, allowing only one run off of two hits and two walks. With a play at the plate, by Jenkins and Green off a passed ball, the Bulldogs were able to get out of the fourth. It would be the fifth inning however, with one out, before the ball was handed to Ethan Layton, ending the day for Jenkins on the mound allowing four runs on six hits, two strikeouts and four walks.
Layton would be charged with taking the Bulldogs the rest of the way home and putting a stop to the Tigers' momentum. Layton would finish off the fifth inning for the Bulldogs, giving up two runs on back-to-back hits by the Tigers. In the sixth inning, Layton's curveball would come to life, as the Tigers only managed one run on one hit.
Going into the seventh inning tied up seven to seven, the Bulldogs were shut down. Layton was able to come out in the seventh and challenge the Tigers to try and push the game into extra innings. However, the Tigers had other plans and put together two hits, one including a line drive up the middle scoring the game winning run. The Bulldogs fell to the Tigers seven to six on this game.
Layton gave his best effort two and two third innings, allowing two runs on six hits and two walks, but collected three strikeouts.