One of our Best Performances

As we made the long bus ride from Norton, VA to Hampton, TN, as disappointed as we were with a 4-3 loss, we could not help but feel good about the fight our boys showed on Monday night.  Coming back to even the game at three runs apiece with a three run top of the fourth, only to give the Central Wise Warriors a run back in the bottom of the 5th does not undo the positives we can take from our road trip on Monday.  

*Freshman, Morgan Lyons continues to be our "tough luck" pitcher in 2019, as he has pitched the baseball well in several games in 2019 without a win on his record to show for it.  On Monday at the Warriors, Lyons pitched his best baseball.  His 5 2/3 innings, 6 hits, 3 earned run, 5 K, 3 BB performance was a gem, against a good, big, Warrior Lineup.  Lyons fielded his position well, making two really nice plays springing off the mound.  He located better than he has all year, as we kept the powerful Warrior bats guessing, not knowing what was coming next, or in what location.  Lyons was pulled at 103 pitches, keeping him available for Friday when we host the Happy Valley Warriors.  

*Dalton Rouse mashed the ball on Monday from the designated hitter slot in the batting order.  Three hits, including a double that almost left the yard, all hit hard, showed what kind of threat Rouse can be in the middle of the Bulldog order.  

*Mitchell Tolley continues to become more and more of a key cog in our baseball program.  The rookie junior has not only moved to the mix at the second base position, on Monday he hit second in the batting order behind steady leadoff man, Weston Street.  Tolley's base knock to right field scored the second and third run to tie the game at three runs apiece in the top of the 4th.  He also drew a walk, and was a threat every time up.  

*As we said recently, our  "steady Eddie," Josh Owens had another base knock and drew another walk.  His consistency has been a staple in our lineup all season.  He played another good game at third base to help calm our IF defense.   

*Weston Street was not in the mix at the catcher position when the season started due to the coaching staff not wanting to take him out of the IF, but man, has Street proved to be too good back there to keep the gear off of him.  He caught another good game on Monday night.  

*Twin brother, Landen has not hit the ball the way he would like in 2019, but his OF defense in left field has been stellar.  He goes back on the ball as well as anyone on our level. 

*We keep velocity charts on our pitchers for a multitude of reasons.  Senior RHP, Devin Riddle's velocity on his fastball was 67 Monday night.  This is seven to nine miles per hour more than where Riddle's velo sat in 2018.  We cannot say enough about the job he has done out of the Bulldog bullpen, and in his spot start at Hancock County. 

*Caleb Royston continues to play solid defense from the shortstop position, especially for a freshman, so much so, that we now expect him to make every play, which is a compliment to him from the coaching staff, but also not realistic.  Our expectation goes to show what a nice defensive season Mr. Royston has had at SS.  

*The dugout was in the game as loud as they have been this season, as we pulled out the ole "rally cap" last night.  

*We look forward to seeing you at the ballpark today for a 5:00 first pitch.