Decatur loses on road, wins last game of season at home

Photo by Mike Eckels In a controversial call at home plate, Decatur’s David Lopez slides across home plate just as the Hartford catcher tags him during the last regular season game against the Hustlers on April 21. Lopez was called out in the play.
Photo by Mike Eckels In a controversial call at home plate, Decatur’s David Lopez slides across home plate just as the Hartford catcher tags him during the last regular season game against the Hustlers on April 21. Lopez was called out in the play.

DECATUR -- In a season that started with three straight victories and two conference wins, the Decatur baseball team also ended its regular season with a big win against the Hartford Hustlers, winning the game, 19 to 3, in five innings.

Earlier in the week, the Bulldogs traveled to Mountainburg in a conference game. Mountainburg took the victory, 18 to 8.

The Bulldogs ended the regular season with a 3 and 4 conference record and a 4 and 5 overall, one of the best seasons since Jason Porter took over the program three years ago.

"Our players wanted to be more involved. They committed themselves more to the game then in the past," he said.

Porter is quick to give the credit to his players for the success of this year's team thus far.

"The guys really came together as a team," Porter said. "They support each other by holding each other to a certain level of performance. If they didn't exceed it or meet it, they would work together to better themselves. In seasons past it was more like, 'oh well.' This attitude is what makes a good team better."

The Bulldogs are in fifth place, ahead of Hartford and Union Christian. Eureka Springs, which has been in last place, decided to pull out of the district tournament.

Decatur will travel to Hackett April 28 to play JC Westside in the second round of the district tournament. If the Bulldogs pull off a victory against the Rebels, they will get an automatic berth in the regional tournament the following week.

For more information on tournament times, go to decatursd.com/athletics.

Sports on 04/27/2016