WESTSIDE -- The Decatur Bulldogs came close to defeating one of its nemeses, the Cotter Warriors, during the first round of the 2A-1 District baseball tournament in Flippin on April 29. Unfortunately, the Warriors prevailed, advancing Cotter to the regional tournament and ending the Decatur Bulldogs 2021 baseball season.
The Bulldogs had a real opportunity to take the lead throughout the seven-inning contest. But the only run Decatur was able to bring home was Kaden Burr in the later stages of the game.
The Cotter Warriors took the first-round win 5-1 over the Decatur Bulldogs.
In an earlier doubleheader played April 23 at Edmiston Ballpark in Decatur, the Bulldogs took on the Alpena Leopards in a series of makeup games. This was senior night for Bryson Funk, Zac Luker, Curtis Lauber, Trevor Girdner and Kevin Garcia. This would be the final time the home crowd watched these players perform and, in turn, show their appreciation for the years of commitment to the Bulldog baseball program.
In the first game of the doubleheader, the Bulldogs jumped out in front and took control of the contest. By the end of the third inning, the game was called because of the 10 run rule, giving Decatur its first win of the season, 23-14 over the Leopards.
During the second game, just before the rains came, the Bulldogs got their first and only grand slam home run of the season. Once again, the 10 run rule came into play and the Decatur Bulldogs took their second win of the season, once again 23-14 over the Alpena Leopards.
Decatur traveled to Cotter for the final regular-season doubleheader of the season on April 26.
In the first contest, the Warriors jumped out in front early and eventually took the first win, 23-1, over the Bulldogs.
The second game went the full seven innings and was one of the closest contests of the season. Decatur held the lead during the first two innings, but the Warriors eventually caught up and took the win, 8-7, over the Bulldogs.
For coaches J.C. Dorsey and Dayton Shaw, the 2021 baseball season was full of ups and downs. One of the biggest hurdles the coaches faced was keeping up with the tough 21-game schedule. With the covid-19 pandemic, coupled with the bad weather at home and on the road, Dorsey had to shuffle the schedule to get in all the games, which he and Shaw managed to accomplish.
The Decatur Bulldogs baseball team finished their 2021 season with two wins and 19 losses and one loss in district tournament play.