Bears split pair of games against Avery

SULPHUR BLUFF — The Sulphur Bluff Bears welcomed the Avery Bulldogs to Sulphur Bluff High School for a doubleheader Friday. During that span, the Bears would go 1-1, losing the first game, but rebounding to win the second game.

For the first game, the Bulldogs handed the Bears a 7-3 loss. Avery would jump out to a commanding lead and never let it go, leading to a loss for the Bears.

The first inning was scoreless, with both pitchers performing well. In the second inning, the Bulldogs scored the first three runs of the game, taking a 3-0 lead.

The third inning saw the Bulldogs add three more runs, increasing their lead to 6-0. Another run in the fourth inning extended their lead to 7-0.

Though the Bears tried to mount a come back with three runs in the fifth inning, it wasn’t enough, as the Bulldogs won the first game 7-3.

As a team, the Bears batted 3 for 15 (.200) from the plate. Brock Gunn, Brody Gunn, and Marshall Johnson all recorded one hit each. Clint Degen, Brock Gunn, and Matthew Overly all scored one run each.

Brock Gunn suffered the loss on the mound. Across 1 1/3 innings, he surrendered five hits, five earned runs, and one walk, managing three strikeouts. Brody Gunn pitched two relief innings, recording four strikeouts while conceding two walks and one run.

In the second game of the doubleheader, the Bears would earn a 17-7 victory. The Bears would light up the scoreboard early and never looked back, leading to the win.

The Bulldogs scored first in the top of the first inning with a run, taking a 1-0 lead. From there, the Bears scored 11 runs in the bottom of the first inning. Degen scored two runs, while Gavin Brazell, Ayden Johnson, Kip Collins, Evan Carr, Marshall Johnson, Overly, Brody Gunn, and Christian all scored one run each, as the Bears took a commanding 11-1 lead.

After a scoreless second inning, the Bulldogs scored a trio of runs in the top of the third inning, trimming the score to 114. The Bears answered with three runs of their own in the bottom of the third inning. Kaleb White, Landon Marroquin, and Brazell all scored, as Sulphur Bluff’s lead increased to 14-4.

The top of the fourth inning saw the Bulldogs score a pair of runs, bringing the score to 14-6. In the bottom of the inning, the Bears scored two runs of their own. Ayden Johnson and Collins both scored, bringing the Bears’ lead to 16-6.

The Bulldogs scored another run in the top of the fifth inning, cutting the score to 16-7. Later on, the Bears finished off the game when Brazell scored the winning run, helping the Bears polish off a 17-7 run-rule victory.

As a team, the Bears batted 19 for 31 (.613) from the plate. Degen led the way, going a perfect 3/3. Brazell, Carr, Collins, Ayden Johnson, Marshall Johnson, Overly, and White recorded two hits each, while Brock Gunn and Brody Gunn added one hit each.

Brazell finished as the leading scorer with three runs. Carr, Collins, Degen, and Ayden Johnson scored two runs each, while Christian, Brody Gunn, Marshall Johnson, Marroquin, Overly, and White scored one run each.

Brazell earned the win on the mound. Over two innings, he struck out five batters, conceding only two hits, one earned run, and one walk. Collins pitched the third inning, striking out two batters and allowing only three runs and two hits.

Carr pitched the fourth inning, allowing two hits, two earned runs, and one walk, tallying one strikeout. Kason Joslyn pitched the fifth inning, recording two strikeouts and allowing only one hit, one earned run, and one walk.

With these results, the Bears are now 1-3 on the season. They resumed action Tuesday, welcoming the Dodd City Hornets to Sulphur Bluff High School.