DECATUR -- As the baseball season begins to wind down, the 2A conference race is heating up and the Decatur Bulldogs made the long 140-mile, three-hour trip to Flippin to take on the Bobcats in a doubleheader on April 12.
The Bobcats gained control of the first contest, bringing home seven runs in the bottom of the first and second innings to put the Bulldogs away early.
Decatur managed to put three across home plate in the top of the third on runs by Larry Thompson, Zac Luker and Jefferson Cardona to cut Flippin's lead back to nine. The Bobcats put the cap on the game with four runs in the bottom of the third to take the first contest, 18-3.
The Bulldogs had nine at bats during the first contest, bringing home three runs on two hits and one walk.
Luker was on the mound for the Bulldogs, lasting one inning and throwing 32 pitches. He allowed seven runs on nine hits. Luker was relieved in the top of the second inning by Taylor Burchette, who completed the remaining 1.2 innings. Burchette threw 56 pitches, allowing 11 runs on 12 hits, while striking out two.
The Bulldogs did not fare well in the second contest of the night, with the Bobcats bringing in two runs in the bottom of the first and two in the second inning to take a four-run lead going into the top of the third. The Bulldogs only managed one run. Luker crossed home plate to cut into the Flippin lead by one.
The Bobcats put the cap on the game in the bottom of the third with 12 runs to take the second conference win of the night, 16-1, over Decatur.
Luker started on the mound for the Bulldogs, completing two innings and delivered 46 pitches over home plate. Luker allowed four runs on five hits, three earned runs, while walking one, striking out one and allowing one home run. Kevin Garcia took over the mound in the bottom of the third, lasting 0.2 innings and throwing 44 times. Garcia allowed nine runs on four hits, two earned runs, walking four and striking out two. Finally, Burchette took the mound, finishing out the remaining .1 inning in 13 pitches. He allowed three runs on one hit, walking two and allowing one home run.
The Decatur High School website includes the latest listings of the remaining Bulldog baseball games.