| Dawgs’ season ends when offense starts late then stalls against Halls | By: Sara Reid — Special to the Weakley County Pres
| | The Gleason Bulldogs waited until late to get their offense rolling. Unfortunately, the Dawgs stalled with the potential tying and winning runs on base.
Finding themselves trailing 4-0 in the sixth inning, the Gleason Bulldogs came back to cut the deficit in half in the seventh, but couldn’t complete the run and fell to the Halls Tigers, 4-2, to eliminate themselves from District 14-A tournament Monday in Union City.
Halls put its first run on the board in the first inning when a fly ball from Jacob Clark fell in for a double and a sac fly from Craig Davis scored Clark to put the Tigers up 1-0.
The Tigers scored again in the third inning on a single from Davis to drive in Stephen Cesak and give the visitors the 2-0 lead.
In the sixth inning, Halls put two more runs on the board thanks to a big double to take the 4-0 lead.
Gleason’s first run came in the bottom of the sixth when Matt James walked and Alex Verdell lined into right field to drive in James and cut the Tigers’ cushion to three runs at 4-1.
In the bottom of the seventh, Cody Ezell walked before Colin Bennett lined out to left field. Ezell put his quick feet to work and stole second base. He moved on to third on a wild pickoff throw to second. The speedster raced home on a wild pitch that got by the Halls catcher and pulled the Dawgs closer at 4-2. Zach Wallace singled to load the bases, but the Tigers held off the Gleason challenge and took the victory.
Right-hander Colin Bennett was stuck with the loss for Gleason. Bennett went the distance, striking out 10, giving up just five hits, while hitting two batters and walking two batters.
The loss marks the end of the Bulldogs’ season. It also closes the chapter of high school athletics for Zack Browning, Chase Griffin, Matt James and Tyler Verdell. | | | | |
