La Plata Bulldogs Baseball 2016-2017
Bulldog Nation
#5 Trevor Pipes Now Leading Off... Class-Junior; Height- 6 3 ; Bats- Right; Throws- Right GP PA AB H 2B 3B HR RBI R W SO Avg OBP SLG OPS SB E FPCT 23 93 72 42 14 3 2 17 45 15 1.583.677.944 1.622 22 3.962 Congrats to Trevor all the Bulldog players and coaching staff on a great season! WE LOVE #5! Mom, Dad and Tanner Pipes IP GS WINS LOSS SAVES HITS RUNS ER BB K ERA WHIP 47.2 11 5 2 0 40 25 14 25 68 2.06 1.364
#4 Tel Wheeler Batting Second... Class-Freshman Height-5-6 Bats-Right, Throws -Right GP PA AB H 2B 3B HR RBI R W SO Avg OBP SLG OPS SB E FPCT 23 95 76 28 4 0 0 22 38 11 6.368.473.421.894 15 3.947 Congratulations Tel Wheeler #4 and the Bulldogs on a Great Season! Donnie & Deanna Wheeler IP GS WINS LOSS SAVES HITS RUNS ER BB K ERA WHIP 27 3 3 0 0 25 18 7 14 17 1.82 1.444
Batting Third for La Plata... #12 Tucker Noah Class-Junior Height-5-10 Bats-Right, Throws Right GP PA AB H 2B 3B HR RBI R W SO Avg OBP SLG OPS SB E FPCT 23 95 78 35 8 3 3 44 31 11 15.449.505.744 1.249 9 0 1.00 IP GS WINS LOSS SAVES HITS RUNS ER BB K ERA WHIP 1.1 0 0 0 0 1 3 2 4 3 2.74 1.304
#12 Ryan Jackson Batting Clean-Up... Class-Sophomore Height-5-11 Bats-Right, Throws Right GP PA AB H 2B 3B HR RBI R W SO Avg OBP SLG OPS SB E FPCT 23 89 70 25 7 1 1 26 5 15 15.357.466.529.994 1 7.954 Congratulations BULLDOGS La Plata Pro Shop, Phillips Aerating & La Plata Storage 660-332-7599 IP GS WINS LOSS SAVES HITS RUNS ER BB K ERA WHIP 7.2 2 2 0 0 5 5 3 5 11 2.74 1.304
Batting Fifth, the Shortstop... #7 Gunner McHenry Class-Sophomore Height-5-11 Bats-Right, Throws Right GP PA AB H 2B 3B HR RBI R W SO Avg OBP SLG OPS SB E FPCT 20 74 52 15 1 0 0 12 18 18 6.288.486.308.794 17 4.938 Congratulations, Bulldogs! We are proud of each and every one of you! Steve & Lisa McHenry IP GS WINS LOSS SAVES HITS RUNS ER BB K ERA WHIP 40.2 7 7 1 0 54 32 21 17 35 3.62 1.746
#00 Zach Fleak At First Base... Class-Junior Height-6-1 Bats-Right, Throws Right GP PA AB H 2B 3B HR RBI R W SO Avg OBP SLG OPS SB E FPCT 23 83 65 19 0 0 0 24 13 13 13.292.432.292.724 7 3.980 Teamwork Makes The Dream Work Congratulations Bulldog Baseball! You Make Us Proud! B U L L D O G S Chris, Nicole and Andrew Fleak IP GS WINS LOSS SAVES HITS RUNS ER BB K ERA WHIP 0.2 1 0 0 0 2 4 2 3 2 21.00 7.500
Batting Seventh and in Left Field... #10 Tristan Lynch Class-Sophomore Height-6-0 Bats-Right, Throws Right GP PA AB H 2B 3B HR RBI R W SO Avg OBP SLG OPS SB E FPCT 22 67 55 17 5 2 0 19 18 7 7.309.415.473.888 11 6.778 IP GS WINS LOSS SAVES HITS RUNS ER BB K ERA WHIP 12 9 1 1 1 8 7 6 14 16 3.50 1.833
#2 Justin Wood At the Hot Corner... Class-Freshman Height-5-9 Bats-Right, Throws -Right GP PA AB H 2B 3B HR RBI R W SO Avg OBP SLG OPS SB E FPCT 23 79 63 13 0 0 0 7 17 11 19.206.320.206.526 5 9.786 GREAT JOB BOYS! Representative, Tim Remole District 006, Republican 573-751-6566 Tim.Remole@house.mo.gov IP GS WINS LOSS SAVES HITS RUNS ER BB K ERA WHIP 2.2 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 2 0 0.00 1.500
Batting Ninth for the Bulldogs... #6 Zac Carr Class-Senior Height-5-10 Bats-Right, Throws Right GP PA AB H 2B 3B HR RBI R W SO Avg OBP SLG OPS SB E FPCT 22 69 52 17 17 0 0 9 23 8 20.327.462.327.788 13 2.895 TO THE LA PLATA BULLDOGS 125 South Church Street La Plata, MO 63549 (660) 332-7145
#14 Matt Lewis Courtesy Runner... Class-Sophomore Height-5-11 Bats-Left, Throws Left GP PA AB H 2B 3B HR RBI R W SO Avg OBP SLG OPS SB E FPCT 19 8 5 1 0 0 0 1 23 3 3.200.500.200.700 8 1.500 Congratulations to the LA PLATA P.O. Box 120 STATE BANK LA PLATA, MO 63549 A Division of Northeast Missouri State Bank 660-332-4317 IP GS WINS LOSS SAVES HITS RUNS ER BB K ERA WHIP 1.0 0 0 1 0 1 2 1 3 0 7.00 4.00
#26 Alexander Carr Class-Freshman Height-5-7 Bats-Right, Throws -Right The Carr Show... Your talent got you on the field but your effort and attitude kept you there all the way to 3rd in the state! -Brotherhood -Baseball -Bulldogs Way to go guys! Angel Carr & Logan Adams GP PA AB H 2B 3B HR RBI R W SO Avg OBP SLG OPS SB E FPCT 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0.0 1.00.0 1.00 0 0.0 #16 Brandon Carr CONGRATULATIONS BULLDOGS! Class-Sophomore Height-5-10 Bats-Right, Throws -Right
#15 Hank Noah The Reserves... Class-Senior Height-5-7 Bats-Right Throws Right GP PA AB H 2B 3B HR RBI R W SO Avg OBP SLG OPS SB E FPCT 10 25 21 2 0 0 0 3 3 4 13.095.240.095.335 0 2.714 #21 Caleb Bode We Are Proud of You Bulldogs! La Plata Nursing Home 100 Old Stagecoach Rd, La Plata 660-332-4315 Class-Freshman Height-5-7 Bats-Right, Throws Right
The Managers: Cooper Noah, Riley Case Brett Jackson and Gage McHenry congratulations from the gang at spirits of laplata WAY TO GO BULLDOGS! 660-385-4294
GREAT JOB BULLDOGS! Head Coach Josh Woodward
Assistant Coach Andy Jackson Great Job Bulldogs!
Athletic Director Steve Lightle The 2017 La Plata Bulldogs Schedule and Results Mar 20th vs. Westran W, 6-4 Mar 23rd @ Clark County L, 17-7 Apr 7th vs. Atlanta W, 11-0 Apr 7th vs. Atlanta W, 12-2 Apr 8th @ Centralia W, 14-8 Apr 8th vs. Sturgeon L, 10-1 Apr 11th vs. Schuyler County L, 6-5 Apr 13th @ Harrisburg W, 5-3 Apr 17th @ New Franklin W, 10-0 Apr 20th vs. Madison W, 10-6 Apr 21st @ Novinger W, 20-1 Rabbi Apr 24th @ Brashear W, 18-1 Apr 28th vs. Linn County W, 13-3 May 2nd @ Green City L, 4-3 May 5th @ North Shelby W, 13-2 May 8th vs. Paris W, 17-7 May 9th vs. Knox County W, 9-2 May 16th vs. Brasher W, 17-0 May 17th vs. Bevier W, 8-3 May 22nd vs. Northwestern W, 9-2 M 24th vs. Northeast Nodaway W, 7-1 May 29th vs. Wellsville-Middletown L, 9-5 May 30th vs. Hurley W, 16-6
The Season Begins 3/29/17: Its baseball season again and the La Plata Bulldogs are ready to show what they are made of to everyone. The Bulldogs started things off with a home game against the Westran Hornets. Ace pitcher Trevor Pipes toed the rubber for the Bulldogs and looked to get La Plata off on the right foot. Pipes took the first step with a strikeout to start play. The Hornets singled to right on the next at bat but the inning ended on a 1-6-3 double play. In the home first, Tucker Noah reached on a two out walk and Zach Fleak followed him with a forced error at short. They could not advance and the game remained scoreless. Westran would break the ice in the 2nd inning with two singles and back to back walks loading the bases. The Bulldogs would only allow one runner to reach home on a wild pitch. La Plata would try to answer in the bottom of the inning, Gunner McHenry walked and one out later Tristan Lynch was hit by a pitch. Zach Carr followed with a walk to load the bases. The bags remained full as the inning came to a close. The Hornets could not add to their one run lead in the 3rd so La Plata took advantage. With two outs Ryan Jackson doubled to left center, McHenry was hit by a pitch, Justin Wood followed with an infield single scoring Jackson and sending McHenry home on the throw. Lynch was hit by a pitch as was Zach Carr, Pipes sent the next run home on a fielder s choice, but the inning ended on an out at third. La Plata held a 3-1 lead. McHenry came in to pitch and gave up two hits but held the Hornets at bay in the fourth. The Bulldogs went down in order in the bottom of the fourth to keep the score at 3-1. Westran was able to string together three runs in the top of the 5th to take the lead at 3-4. The Bulldogs would answer right back in the bottom of the inning. Ryan Jackson walked, McHenry singled to center, Wood would follow with a Bunt that forced an error scoring Jackson. Lynch forced an error on a groundball giving La Plata back the lead. Zach Carr would then pull off a suicide squeeze scoring Wood. Pipes would follow with a walk but the rally would end their with a 6-4 lead. Westran was shutdown 1-2-3 in the top of the 6th by McHenry. Jackson and McHenry would reach on walks in the bottom of the 6th but remain on base. The Hornets could not mount a rally in the 7th, so La Plata took the victory over an always tough Westran squad. Thursday night the Bulldogs went on the road for the first time with a long trip to Kahoka to play the Clark County Indians. Pipes was hit by a pitch to lead off the game. One out later, Noah walked but the Bulldogs could not bring them across. In the bottom of the first, two singles a passed ball and an error gave the Indians a 0-2 lead. McHenry lead off the 2nd with a walk but could not advance for La Plata. Pipes would then sit down three little Indians in the home half of the inning. Pipes and Wheeler singled to start the 3rd. Noah sent Pipes home with a double to right. Fleak and McHenry would send Wheeler and Noah home with RBI s to give La Plata a 3-2 advantage. Clark County would tie things up in the bottom of the 3rd on a single and an error. The Bulldogs would come right back in the top of the 4th. With one out Carr walked, Pipes and Wheeler singled to load the bases with Bulldogs. Noah would send home Carr with a single into left giving the Bulldogs back the lead. Fleak would send the next run home with a hard groundball to short, making the score 5-3. McHenry came in to pitch for Pipes and shutdown the Indians in the home half of the inning. In the top of the 5th, McHenry lead off with a walk but was stranded. In the bottom of the 5th Clark County took back the lead. A three run homerun and an insurance run gave the Indians a 5-7 advantage. La Plata would respond in the top of the 6th. Pipes doubled to right, Wheeler followed with an infield single. Noah was up next and walked to load the bases. Fleak sent Pipes home as he was hit by a pitch. Jackson would then tie the game with a single to left, 7-7. The bags would remain packed from there as Clark County kept the game tied. In the bottom of the 6th the Indians exploded for 10 runs that would end the game a little early and gave the Bulldogs a 7-17 loss. 4/5/17: Last week Mother Nature was not kind to the Bulldogs. She kept the fields covered with tarps and put puddles of rainwater dotting the outfield. La Plata spent the evenings at home and watched the rain fall outside their windows. The Bulldogs will see if, Mother Nature is a little more willing to get Baseball underway this week. The Bulldogs first test of the rain, will come on Monday, with a visit from Milan. Putnam County will make a stop at La Plata on Thursday and on Friday the Bulldogs get to play host to the boys in blue from Atlanta. Go Big Red, we expect big things from you this year.
4/12/17: The Bulldogs have been hopping between water puddles like the rest of us have been the past few weeks. La Plata waited until the skies cleared last week and then packed in as much baseball as possible. On Friday the Bulldogs would host a rare double header against the Hornets. Trevor Pipes took the mound for the first game and struck out the side in the 1st inning. Pipes would then start the offense by getting plunked. Tel Wheeler followed with a line shot into left for a hit. Tucker Noah forced an error at 3rd that would pack the bags. Zach Fleak sent 2 Bulldogs home with a base hit to left. Ryan Jackson put across another run with a base hit to make the score 3-0. Gunner McHenry would reach on an error that would score Fleak. La Plata would score 2 more runs on a wild pitch and a RBI groundout by Tristan Lynch to lead 6-0. Pipes would surrender a single in the top of the 2nd but would again strikeout the side. In the bottom of the 2nd, Pipes leadoff with a double to the fence in left-center. Trevor would steal 3rd and then score on an error to now lead 7-0. Pipes kept up the k s on the mound striking out the side again in the top of the 3rd. La Plata kept the offense rolling in the bottom of the 3rd, McHenry singled to center, one out later he would score on a forced error by Lynch. With 2 outs Pipes would single to center scoring Lynch. Wheeler walked, so Noah would send both runners home with a single to center. Pipes would allow a hit in the top of the 4th but would make it 12 strikeouts with another strikeout of the side. In the top of the 6th the Bulldogs would hold on to end the game early. Pipes would add 2 more strikeouts to end the game with 14 in five innings pitched. In the second game Ryan Jackson would take his turn on the rubber for La Plata. Atlanta was unable to score in the 1st and despite a leadoff walks to Pipes in the bottom of the inning, the game was scoreless after one. In the bottom of the 2nd the Bulldogs would rattle their bats. Jackson and McHenry would open the inning with back to back walks. Curtesy runner Matt Lewis would score the first run on an error. Justin Wood made it 3 walks in a row as he marched to first. McHenry would make it 2-0 on a wild pitch and Lynch 3-0 on a single to center. One out later Pipes would single to center, Wheeler would add an RBI fielder s choice. Noah would put across the 5th run of the inning to give the Bulldogs on an infield ground ball. Wheeler had pitched in the top of the 3rd for La Plata and Lynch had relieved him with one out in the 4th. Both kept the Hornets off the scoreboard. In the bottom of the 4th, Lynch leadoff with a single and one out later scores on a wild pitch. Pipes is then hit by a pitch and Wheeler reaches on catcher interference. Noah is up next and singles to load the bases. Fleak walks to drive in the 8th run. Jackson would clean the bases with a 3 run double to center to make the lead 11-0. McHenry and Woods walked to reload the bases and Jackson would score the 12th run on a fielder s choice. The Hornets would put 2 across The Skies Clear in the top of the 5th but could not extend the game, the final score would be La Plata 12-Atlanta 2. Over the weekend the Bulldogs would make a trip down to Sturgeon for yet another double header. Up first for La Plata would be a game against Centralia. Pipes leadoff the game with a double to right but was unable to score. The Panthers would take an early lead with a run on the bottom of the 1st. In the top of the 2nd La Plata would have an answer. Fleak would walk to leadoff and move to 3rd on a wild pitch and sac bunt by Jackson. McHenry would walk and with 2 on, Wood put down a suicide squeeze to tie the game. With two outs Zach Carr forced an error at short scoring 2 Bulldogs. Pipes would make it 5-1 with a homerun to dead center. Wheeler was up next with a walk and would score the 6th run for La Plata on a double by Noah. McHenry would set down the side on the mound for La Plata in the home half of the 2nd. Jackson would line a base hit into left to open the 3rd but could not score. In the bottom of the 3rd, the Panthers would plate 3 runs to cut into the Bulldogs lead 6-4. La Plata s offense went back to work in the 4th. Zach Carr singled and Pipes doubled to center. Wheeler would put Carr across with a single. With one out Pipes scored on a wild pitch and Fleak walked. Jackson would drive in the next run with a single to left. Curtesy runner Max Lewis would make the score 11-4 on a wild pitch. Centralia would try to rally with 2 runs in the 4th to trail 11-7. La Plata would get those 2 runs back in the top of the 5th. Carr bunted for a single to leadoff and would score on a double to center by Pipes. Wheeler would send Pipes home with a single to right making the score a baker s dozen. The Bulldogs would add yet another run in the top of the 6th. Jackson singled and would score on a two out base hit by Noah to make the score 14-7. Centralia would score one more run in the bottom of the inning but La Plata would hold on for a 14-7 win. The Bulldogs would play their 4th game in two days with a matchup against Sturgeon. Wheeler went to the mound for La Plata and kept Sturgeon off the scoreboard in the 1st. Pipes would stay hot and leadoff the bottom of the inning with a single. Wheeler would follow with a walk but both were stranded. The game would remain scoreless until the top of the 3rd were Sturgeon would plate 2 runs and take the lead. Zach Carr would lead off the bottom of the 3rd but the Bulldogs could not advance him. Sturgeon would add an insurance run in the top of the 5th to lead by three. In the bottom of the 6th Pipes started things with a double to left. Wheeler would then walk and Noah would put the Bulldogs on the scoreboard with a single to center. Sturgeon would rattle their bats in the top of the 7th and plate 7 runs to lead 1-10. The Bulldogs would put two on in the bottom of the 7th on an Alexander Carr walk and a double by Wheeler to left, but the game would end with a final score of Sturgeon 10-La Plata 1.
Spring Campaign Continues 4/19/17 The La Plata Bulldogs continued their spring campaign last week with two contest. The first game would be a home game against the Schuyler County Rams. Trevor Pipes went to the mound for the Bulldogs and shutdown the Rams in the top of the 1st. In the bottom of the inning Pipes lead off with a double to right and would score on an error at first to put La Plata up by a run. The Dogs would try to add to their lead in the top of the 2nd with a leadoff single from Ryan Jackson. La Plata was kept at bay this time by the Rams and the lead stayed at one. La Plata would try again in the 3rd and was met with some success in adding to the lead. Zach Carr would walk to open the inning and Pipes would put two on with a single to left. One out later Tucker Noah brought home Carr with a single to make the lead 2-0. Zach Fleak would follow him to the plate and would score Pipes on a ground ball to lead by three. Jackson and Gunner McHenry would load the bases on back to back walks but the Bulldog rally would end there. The score would remain the same until the top of the 5th. The Rams would send four over the dish to take the lead on La Plata at 3-4. The Bulldogs would tie it right back up in the home half of the inning. Noah would walk with one out and Fleak would send him to 2nd on an infield single. Jackson would pack the bags with Bulldogs on a single to left. McHenry would send the tying run home on a single to center. The Rams would wrestle the lead back with a run in the top of the 6th to make the score 4-5. The Bulldogs would follow serve with a run in the bottom of the inning. Zach Carr reached again to leadoff with a single and would score on a RBI single by Tel Wheeler. The game went to the 7th and yet again the Rams took a one run lead. The Bulldogs could not tie it up this time and took a one run loss to the Rams at home 5-6. The Bulldogs went on the road Thursday night with a trip south to Harrisburg. The Bulldog got off the bus and went right to work with their bats. With one out, Wheeler singled to center and would score with two outs on a single by Ryan Jackson. Harrisburg would tie the game with a run of their own in the bottom of the first. In the top of the second, Fleak would start things with a single to right, Wood and Noah would load the bags with back to back walks with no outs. Pipes would walk with one out sending Fleak home. Wheeler sent Justin Wood home with a fielder s choice to make the score 3-1. The Bulldogs would hold Harrisburg and then would try to add to their lead in the 4th. Fleak would lead off the inning with a single to left, but the Bulldogs were not able to add to their advantage. It would move to the top of the 5th before La Plata was able to extend their lead. With two outs Wheeler and Noah singled. Ryan Jackson walked to load the bases and McHenry followed with a RBI base on balls. Fleak would make it 5-1 after being hit by a pitch and the Bulldogs held a four run advantage. The Bulldogs would need the insurance as Harrisburg was able to score two runs in the bottom of the 6th to make the score 5-3. La Plata would keep the score right there and take the victory on the road. GREAT JOB LA PLATA BULLDOGS! It s been our pleasure to cover your team this season! HERE S TO A GREAT SEASON BULLDOGS! Pro-Tech Co. Inc. 2411 E. Illinois St., Kirksville, MO 63501 8AM 5PM 660-665-3171
4/26/17: The La Plata Bulldogs took a long road trip south last Monday and found themselves in New Franklin. The Bulldogs stepped off the bus and started hitting. Trevor Pipes leadoff with a base hit to center and Tel Wheeler followed with a single to left. One out later Ryan Jackson sent both of them home with a double to center for a 2-0 lead. Pipes would then go to the mound and not let New Franklin reply to the Bulldogs. In the top of the 2nd Zach Carr and Pipes would reach with two outs on a walk and a single but could not add to the La Plata lead. Pipes would have two runners reach in the 2nd on a Hit by pitch and a walk but he would keep New Franklin scoreless. Hank Noah would open the 3rd inning with a double to left. Ryan Jackson would go to fist on a walk, so Gunner McHenry would be the one to send Noah home on a double to right. Zach Fleak would add another hit on a single to left but the Bulldogs did not add to their lead. New Franklin loaded the bases in the bottom of the 3rd with no outs, but Pipes would stop them in their tracks and keep them scoreless. With one out in the 4th, Pipes reached on an error and would score one out later on a hit by Noah. Jackson would score Noah on a double and then score on a single by McHenry. La Plata held a 6-0 lead going to the bottom of the bottom of the 3rd. New Franklin would again load the bases in the bottom of the 4th but yet again Pipes would not allow any of them to make it home. In the top of the 5th, Justin Wood was walked and Triston Lynch was hit by a pitch. Zach Carr would follow them with a walk to pack the bags with Dogs. Wheeler would single in one run and then Noah would single in another. Wheeler would add the tenth tally for La Plata with a steal of home. Pipes would hold New Franklin in the bottom of the inning for a shutout and a 10-0 Bulldog victory. The Bulldogs would return home on Thursday for a home game against Madison. The Panthers would plate one run to start the game for an early advantage. It would be short lived, Wheeler would walk with one out and then score on a triple to right by Noah. Ryan Jackson would put La Plata on top with a RBI groundout to lead 2-1. Lynch would walk but the score would stay at a one run lead. The Bulldogs would hole Madison in the 2nd and add to their lead in the bottom of the inning. With two outs Pipes was hit by a pitch stole 2nd and scored on a single by Wheeler. Wheeler would then steal 2nd and 3rd and score the fourth run on an error. Madison would cut the lead to a single run with 3 runs in the top of the 3rd and take the lead with two more in the 4th to go up 4-5. La Plata tried to rally with two outs in the bottom of the 4th with a double by Pipes but he could not advance past third. The game would advance to the 5th for the next run in the game. Noah singled to put to runners on base. La Plata then went to some small ball. Fleak sacrificed the runners over to 2nd and 3rd. Lynch would then tie the game on a suicide squeeze and Wood gave La Plata the lead with a Sac Fly. Noah would add one run of insurance with a single to center and a 7-5 Road Trips Bulldog lead. Madison would cut the lead back to one with a run in the top of the 6th. The Bulldogs would add some space to their lead with a leadoff single by Pipes and Wheeler reaching on an error. Pipes would score on a balk and Wheeler would follow on a double by Noah. Jackson would make the score 10-6 on a sac fly going into the 7th. Madison was not able to match the Bulldogs in the final inning and La Plata took their 2nd win of the week. The final game would be at Novinger on Friday night. The Bulldogs looked like they wanted to get home early to get ready for Prom. Pipes leadoff the game with a homerun, Wheeler walked and came home on a homer by Noah. Jackson singled, Fleak walked and Lynch singled in the next run. Noah forced a run home on an error, Matt Lewis reached on an infield single. Pipes brought the 7th run home with a single and the 8th run scored on a forced error by Wheeler. Jackson was hit by a pitch to load them up but the Bulldogs finally ended the inning with an 8-0 lead. La Plata would add another run in the top of the 2nd on a single by Lynch and walks to Noah and Pipes. With the bags packed, a balk was called and the score moved to 9-0. Novinger was able to break into the scorebook with a run in the bottom of the 2nd to trail 9-1.In the top of the 3rd, Noah singled and scored on a Jackson single. Fleak would then walk and Lynch would plate two more Dogs on a single. With two puts Noah and Lewis walked, Pipes sent home the 13th run with a single. The next run would score on a forced error by Wheeler. Pipes scored on another balk and the 16th run followed on a single by Noah. La Plata would add 4 more runs in the top of the 5th inning. Lewis and Carr walked and the bases were loaded on a single by Wheeler. The 17th run scored on a Fielder s Choice from Noah. Jackson walked and Fleak walked in the 19th run of the game. Lynch singled into center to make the score 20-1. La Plata ended the game with a laugher going 3-0 on the week.
5/3/17: The La Plata Bulldogs started off last week s slate of games to the northeast with a trip to Brashear. The Bulldogs offense has been firing on all cylinder with a 20-1 over Novinger in their last game as an example. La Plata walked off the bus Monday night and started hitting. Trevor Pipes walked to leadoff and Tel Wheeler followed him with a single to right. Tucker Noah cleared the bases with a line drive homerun to right-center to make the score 3-0. Ryan Jackson would reach on a forced error and move up after a walk to Zach Fleak. After one out Justin Wood singled to load the bases. La Plata would score one more run by Lewis on a wild pitch to lead 4-0. Brashear picked up a single in the bottom of the inning but could not score. Pipes leadoff the 2nd inning with a double to left and Wheeler sent him to 3rd with an infield single. Tucker Noah plated Pipes with a sacrifice and reached on an error. Ryan Jackson sent the sixth run home on a groundout to third. Fleak followed suit with his own RBI groundout to make the score 7-0 Bulldogs. Triston Lynch would double down the left field line but La Plata was done scoring in the inning. After holding the Tigers, Noah reached on an error to start the 3rd inning. Zach Carr would follow right behind him with a nice bunt single. With two outs Wheeler forced an error in right to make the score 8-0. Tucker Noah followed him with another homerun to right for his second dinger of the game and a 10-0 lead. Ryan Jackson would reach on an error and his courtesy runner Matt Lewis would score on a single by Fleak. Brasher would make it on the scoreboard in the bottom of the 3rd but would still trail La Plata 11-1. The Bulldogs kept on rolling in the 4th. With one out Zach Carr reached on a bunt single and then scored on a double by Pipes. Wheeler followed with a walk and Tucker Noah sent Pipes home with a double to right. Ryan Jackson cleared the bases with a homerun to right making the score 16-1. Lynch would single with two outs but the Bulldogs would go to the 5th with a 15 run lead. The Tigers were unable to cut into the lead to end the 4th so the Bulldogs offense heaped it on in the 5th. Hank Noah walked to lead off the inning and one out later Pipes doubled him over to third. Tucker Noah walked to load the bases and Lewis sent a Bulldog home with his own base on balls. Pipes would score the next run on a wild pitch to lead Brashear 18-1. La Plata would make that score stand up and return home early with a victory. The Bulldogs would conclude the week with a home game on Friday night against Linn County. The Mustangs galloped out to an early lead with a run in the top of the first. Pipes would single to start the home half of the inning and steal his way to third. With two outs Ryan Jackson walked and Gunner McHenry tied the game with an infield single. Lewis would score on a wild pitch as a courtesy runner for Jackson and Fleak would make the score 3-1 on a base hit to center. McHenry settled down on the mound and held Linn County in the 2nd inning. In the bottom of the inning the Bulldogs added another run on a Lynch walk, a sac bunt by Wood and Light Schedule a RBI single from Zach Carr. The Mustangs could not cut into the lead in the top of the third, so La Plata kept building on their advantage. Tucker Noah singled and advanced on a walk to Ryan Jackson. One out later Fleak would make the score 5-1 on a sac bunt. The Bulldogs would put the game out of reach in the next inning. Zach Carr singled to start the inning and one out later Wheeler singled to left. Tucker Noah scored Carr on a sac fly and Wheeler followed him home on a wild pitch. McHenry would keep the line moving with a single and Lewis would add the 8th run on a wild pitch. McHenry would bring home the next run on a wild pitch to make the score 9-1. Linn County would add two more runs to their total in the top of the 5th to make the score 9-3. In the bottom of the 5th the Bulldogs looked to end the game early. Wood singled to lead off for La Plata and one out later Pipes would walk. Wheeler doubled to left sending Wood home. Tucker Noah grounded out to second scoring Pipes. Ryan Jackson walked and McHenry would end the game with a RBI groundout and a final of 13-3 La Plata. 5/10/17: The La Plata Bulldogs had a light schedule last week with rain in Bevier and graduation on the weekend. The Dogs would have to wait until Friday evening to take the field in a make-up game against the Raiders of North Shelby. The Bulldogs would not score until the 2nd inning, Ryan Jackson was walked to leadoff and was replaced by courtesy runner Matt Lewis. Gunner McHenry would send Lewis to third with a single, putting runners on the corners. Zach Fleak would make it 1-0 with a base hit to center and Triston Lynch 2-0 with a groundout. After McHenry held the Raiders off the scoreboard from the mound in the bottom of the inning, La Plata s bats went back to work in the third. Trevor Pipes leadoff with a double to right and would come all the way around from second on a groundout by Tel Wheeler. The Raiders were again held scoreless in the home half of the inning, so the Bulldogs kept up the pressure in the 4th. McHenry would reach on a walk and advance to 2nd on a single by Fleak. After a double steal Lynch would groundout but score McHenry. One out later Zach Carr would make the score 5-0 with a single to left. Pipes was then walked, so Wheeler made them pay with a two run double, to lead North Shelby 7-0. The Raiders would break into the books in the bottom of the 4th with two runs to make the score 7-2. In the 5th Fleak would walk with two outs and steal 2nd but could not advance to third. La Plata would wait until the top of the 6th to extend the lead. With one out Zach Carr was hit by a pitch and then would score on a double by Pipes. Wheeler was walked and then a balk was called sending Pipes home. Tucker Noah was then walked bringing up Ryan Jackson who would bring home the tenth run with a groundout. The victory would be capped in the top of the 7th. With two outs Justin Wood singled and Zach Carr followed with a walk. Pipes would load the bases with a walk and then Wheeler sent two Dogs home with a base hit. Noah would single and the Bulldogs would add one more run to lead by eleven runs. La Plata would hold the off the Raiders one more time for a 13-2 victory.
Advancing to the Championship 5/17/17: The Bulldogs concluded the regular season with two games at home last week. The first team to visit the sports complex would be the Coyotes from Paris. The Coyotes would get out to an early lead with 3 runs in the top of the first. The Bulldogs were not able to collect their first hit until Gunner McHenry singled with one out in the bottom of the second. Paris would add two more runs in the top of the 3rd to lead the Bulldogs 0-5. The Bulldogs offense would come alive in the home half of that inning. Justin Wood singled to lead off and one out later both Trevor Pipes and Tel Wheeler was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Tucker Noah would single to center sending two Bulldogs across the plate. Ryan Jackson would follow with a sac fly to cut the Paris lead to two. McHenry would make the lead one with a single to left. Zach Fleak would push him to 2nd with a forced error at short. Tristan Lynch would advance him to 3rd with a walk and he would come home on a wild pitch to tie the game. The game would remain tied only one half inning with La Plata coming to bat in the 4th. Zach Carr walked to lead off and stole 2nd base. Pipes would put La Plata on top with a single to left. Wheeler was again hit by a pitch putting two Bulldogs on base. Both runners advanced on a passed ball and Pipes scored on a throwing error by the catcher. With Wheeler on third, Ryan Jackson sent him home with a sac fly to make the score 8-5. In the 5th both teams collect a single with Lynch doing the honors for La Plata, but could not score. In the top of the 6th, Paris cut the lead to one run with two Coyotes circling the bases. The game went to the bottom of the 6th and the Bulldogs rattled their bats. With one out Wheeler reached on an error and then would score on a single from Tucker Noah. Ryan Jackson would reach on an error and one out later Fleak made it 11-7 with a 2 RBI single. Lynch would send Fleak home with a double to center. Wood would follow with a walk and Zach Carr was hit by a pitch. The 13th run would come home on a wild pitch as the Bulldogs kept the line moving. Pipes brought in the next two runs with a single to center to push the lead to 16-7. Wheeler was yet again hit by a pitch and Tucker Noah would end the game a hair early with a single to left to go up ten, 17-7. The following night was senior night and the Bulldogs welcomed the Knox County Eagles to La Plata. This time the Bulldogs would get out to an early lead in the first inning. Pipes would reach on an error and then would score on a single by Wheeler. Tucker Noah and Ryan Jackson would walk, Wheeler would make it 2-0 by scoring on a wild pitch. McHenry reached on an error so Zach Fleak took advantage and singled in the third run with a hit to left. With two outs Wood reached on a walk to load the bases but the rally ended with the score of 3-0. After McHenry and the Bulldog offense held the Eagles scoreless in the second, Pipes lead off the bottom of the inning with a single. He was unable to move around the bases and the score remained the same. The Bulldogs could not add the insurance until the 3rd were Ryan Jackson tripled and was replaced on base by Matt Lewis who scored on and RBI groundout by Fleak. Knox County cut the lead in half with two runs in the top of the 4th. The Bulldogs offense would wait until the bottom of the 5th, to gain those runs back for La Plata. Wheeler reached on a single and Tucker Noah on an error to start the inning. Wheeler would take home on a double steal to lead 5-2. McHenry was hit by a pitch leading to a RBI single by Fleak to left. The Eagles could not cut into the lead in the 6th, so the Bulldogs continued to add to their advantage. Zach Carr singled and then scored on a triple by Pipes. Wheeler followed with a RBI groundout to make the score 9-2. The Eagles were able to load the bases in the top of the 7th but the Dogs kept them from scoring to end the game. La Plata took both games at home and now set in wait for District Play starting Tuesday at the sports complex. 5/24/17: On Tuesday the La Plata Bulldogs took the field for a second round matchup against the Brashear Tigers. Brashear had advance to face the Bulldogs after a first round victory over Atlanta. The Bulldogs entered the game well rested after a first round bye. La Plata had previously defeated the Tigers in Brasher on April 24th to a score of 18-1. Tel Wheeler went to the mound for La Plata and gave up one run but kept Brashear off the scoreboard. Trevor Pipes leadoff for La Plata with a triple to right field. Wheeler would join him on the bases as catcher s interference was called. Tucker Noah would put the Dogs in front with a two RBI double to right. Gunner McHenry and Tristan Lynch would follow the first two outs with walks to load the bases. Justin Wood would make it 4-0 with an infield single, an error on the catcher would make it a five run lead for La Plata. The Tigers would gain a one out single in the second but a popup double play would end the inning. In the bottom of the second with one out Wheeler would reach on an infield single and score on a triple by Tucker Noah. Ryan Jackson would make the score 7-0 on a groundout RBI and reach on an error at first. The game would move to the bottom of the third for the next change on the scoreboard. Lynch reached on an error to leadoff and would advance to third on a sac bunt by Wood. Zach Carr would drop down a nice bunt for a hit bringing Lynch home. Pipes collected another hit to advance Carr to third. Zach did the rest with a steal of home giving the Bulldogs a 9-0 lead. Tucker Noah would then single to first, scoring Pipes to make the lead double digits. Brashear would start the 4th with a single but for the second time in the game get doubled up on a popup. The Dogs kept rattling the bats in the bottom of the 4th inning. With one out Fleak picked up an infield single. Lynch reached on an error and Wood on a bunt single to load the bases. Zach Carr made it 12-0 with a two RBI single to left. One out later Wheeler sent two more Dogs home on a RBI single. Tucker Noah kept the rally going with a double to center scoring Tel. Ryan Jackson followed with another double to center scoring Noah. McHenry would make it seven runs in the inning with a single to left to lead Brasher 17-0. The Tigers would attempt to rally with two runners on in the 7th but La Plata would keep the shutout in tact for the victory. The Bulldogs would advance to the championship game for a much anticipated matchup against Bevier. The Wildcats would leadoff and score a first inning run to lead 0-1. The Bulldogs would answer right back, Pipes and Wheeler would leadoff with a walk. Then with two outs back to back errors off the bats of McHenry and Fleak would make the score 3-1. Pipes would hold the Wildcats in the top of the second and in the bottom of the inning the Bulldogs bats went back to work. Lynch started the offense with a walk and came home on a bunt and an error off the bat of Wood. Zach Carr would send home Wood with a single to left. Pipes would fire a ball into the right-centerfield gap for a RBI triple. Wheeler would bring Pipes home with a groundout to increase the lead. Tucker Noah would then be walked and would score one out later on a single to right by McHenry. After two innings of play the Bulldogs lead was 8-1. Pipes would surrender a single to Bevier in the top of the third but would again keep them from home. The Bulldogs would collect a walk to Wheeler in the bottom of the inning but could not add to their advantage. Bevier would score their first run in the top of the fourth but would still trail La Plata 8-1. In the bottom of the 4th the Bulldogs looked like they would add to their lead. Wheeler walked and then went to third on a double by Tucker Noah. Ryan Jackson sent what appeared to be a sac fly to left but Wheeler was called out for leaving third too early and the score remained the same. Neither team could mount any offense until the bottom of the 6th. With two outs Pipes doubled to center and Wheeler joined him on base with a walk. The inning however would end with them standing on the bags, but still holding a seven run lead. Bevier would attempt a rally in the top of the 7th with two runs to cut the lead to five but it would not be enough to overcome the Bulldogs. La Plata was crowned the District champions and now set in wait for a sectional matchup at home on Monday against Northwestern (Mendon).
5/31/17: Last week the Big Red Machine kept on rolling. The Bulldogs were set to play their sectional game in the Class 1 Missouri State Baseball Tournament on Monday Night, at the Sports Complex against Northwestern. Mother Nature however decided to step-in by adding some rain which would add another day to the anticipation that built across the Bulldog Nation. Tuesday Night with some exceptional ground work on the field, the Bulldogs were ready to play some ball. La Plata had swept aside the competition at Distracts and now welcomed the Eagles to dinner. Northwestern had punched their ticket to La Plata with a 9-1 record and a District 14 title over Braymer. All year long the Bulldogs have used the formula of good pitching and defense, a balanced and aggressive offense that keeps pressure on the opposition, small ball and exceptional leadership by the team and the coaches. The combination of Josh Woodward and Andy Jackson are the cogs that makes this machine run. The game started with a hiccup by the Bulldogs, back to back errors lead to the first two Eagles reaching base. Gunner McHenry flashed some moxie on the mound and struck out the next batter. A double to right would bring home the first two runs of the game but a greedy Eagle would try for third and get mowed down by a nice relay. Another error would lead to one more Eagle reaching base, but the inning would end with a two run Eagle lead. Trevor Pipes leadoff for the Bulldogs and took first after being struck on his elbow pad by a pitch. One out later, Tucker Noah joined Trevor on base with a walk. After the second out of the inning, McHenry walked to load the bases. Zach Fleak came up clutch for La Plata with a single up the middle platting two runs and tying the game. In the top of the second another Eagle would reach on an error, but he would be kept grounded. For the Dogs, Pipes would single to left with two outs but was unable to advance. In the third inning, Northwestern added a walk and La Plata two walks via McHenry and Fleak but neither squad could break the deadlock. On to the 4th where a single and walk would put two Eagles on the bases but McHenry would gun out the last batter with a strikeout. Justin Wood would put the small ball in motion with a bunt single to open the bottom of the inning. Zach Carr would apply the next step with a sacrifice bunt that the Eagles would throw away brining Wood home with the lead. The Eagles would attempt to answer in the 5th. With one out, back to back singles put two runners on base. The second out would come on a heads up play by Pipes forcing the lead runner at third on a ground ball. McHenry would do the rest by adding his sixth strikeout of the game to end the inning. In the bottom of the 5th, La Plata would seize momentum. Tucker Noah leadoff with a single to right and take second on an error. Ryan Jackson would then put runners on the corners with a bunt single. McHenry would drop down a bunt forcing an error tht would plate Noah. Fleak would add another steak to his day with a RBI single to right scoring curtesy runner Matt Lewis. La Plata now held a 5-2 lead after five innings of play. In the 6th, McHenry kept up his dominance with a strikeout of the side. In the bottom of that inning Zach Carr opened it with a bunt single and stole second base. Pipes would send him home with the 6th run, on a base hit to right. Tel Wheeler would take his base on a catcher interference call and Tucker Noah would join him and Pipes on base with a walk. Ryan Jackson brought home Pipes with a single to shallow right and McHenry was kind enough to walk Wheeler home with a base on balls. Tucker would later score on a wild pitch giving La Plata a 9-2 advantage. One last chance for the Eagles in the final inning would amount to a two out walk and no runs. The date was set for a quarterfinal matchup the next night with Northeast Nodaway Blue Jays. O Fallon Bound! The track for the machine now pointed toward O Fallon and the Blue Jays was all that stood in the Bulldogs way. Northeast had advance after a win against St. Joseph Christian and that win kept the Bulldogs home for another night in La Plata. The Blue Jays had posted a record of 12-4 and sported a high octane offense which had scored double digit run totals in 5 out of their last 6 games. The problem for the Blue Jays is that they had not faced a pitching staff and defense that took the field on Wednesday night. On the mound for La Plata would be Trevor Pipes, the Blue Jays greeted Trever with a base hit to open the game. La Plata would then flash some leather with a crisp 6-4-3 double play to clear the bags. Another single would drop into center, but Trevor got his bearings and shutdown the Blue Jays. In the bottom of the inning, Pipes shot a line drive up the middle for a hit. Wheeler put two runners on, with a groundball into left field sending Pipes to third. Tucker Noah would draw first blood with a Sac Fly to right scoring Pipes. The Bulldogs would hold a 1-0 lead after the first inning. Pipes held the Blue Jays to a one out walk in the top of the second bringing the Bulldogs up to bat. The first two batters would make outs, so La Plata needed a two out rally. Justin Wood kicked it off with a single to center and moved up a base on a bunt single by Zach Carr. Pipes was then intentionally walked, which loaded the bags with Bulldogs. Wheeler took some exception and made the Blue Jays pay with a RBI infield base hit to go up 2-0. Tucker Noah then took one for the team, with a hit by pitch to lead by three. The Ryan Jackson put the cherry on top with a two run single into left and with a sea of red cheering the Bulldogs on, the lead had ballooned to 5-0. Northeast started the 3rd with a double to left. Two ground balls would move the runner to third and then home to make the score 5-1. Pipes would strikeout the final batter of the inning to kill the rally. Pitching took over for both teams as the next seven batters failed to reach. Pipes was unintentionally-intentionally walked with one out in the bottom of the fourth but La Plata could not take advantage. Pipes added to the Blue Jays woes with a strikeout of the side in the top of the 5th. Ryan Jackson looked like he would add to the Bulldog lead with a double to start the home half of that inning. A pop out double play would dampen the rally but Fleak would start it up again, for a moment with a forced error at third. La Plata could not however keep it going so the game progressed to the top of the 6th. The Blue Jays would threaten with a two out single, but a stabbing catch of a line drive by McHenry at short would crush the Blue Jays. In the bottom of the sixth a little insurance would be nice for La Plata. Justin Wood would start the policy with a leadoff walk and one out later Pipes would join him on base. Wheeler would again pack the bags for La Plata with a forced error. With two outs Ryan Jackson would punch the Bulldogs ticket with a forced error to short on a hard ground ball. Two Bulldogs would scamper home giving La Plata a 7-1 lead. Pipes took the mound with three outs between La Plata and the state finals. The first Blue Jay reached base on a walk and would move to second on an error. Trevor shook it off and sent the next Jay down swinging. With two outs to go, Pipes sit down the next batter with his eight strikeout of the game. With one out to go and the crowds chest welling with pride and ready to burst, a weak ground ball rolling out to the mound. Pipes picked it up and grinning ear to ear flipped it to Fleak for the win. La Plata had made reservations for O Fallon. The machine will be pulling into the station on Memorial Day with a wave of red right behind them to cheer on the Bulldogs. Good Luck Dogs and see you there.
6/7/17: When you set out on a journey you almost always have a destination in mind. If a goal is set, you know in the end what you wish to accomplish. Every year, as each baseball team takes the field they have the same goal and destination in mind. For some teams that path is easier and for others it borders on the impossible. La Plata came into the spring with the aspirations of extending their season past Districts and then hopefully into the first few days of June. The path would have many twists and turns but with the help of strong leadership the final destination was always kept in sight. For those of us that love Baseball it s hard to put into words the timeless beauty of the game. The sounds, the smells and the simply feel of a glove brings us back through the ages. The flow of the game drifts through you makes you one with everyone that has taken the field before. The glove, the bat and the ball become extensions of the player, you don t feel them, you feel through them. I can t think of a bad day to play baseball but like the sport itself it conjures images of a warm afternoon in the sun. It is a game that sets its own pace but can be decided in a millisecond or in inches. How many times have you felt the sensations of what baseball means to you, with the simple mention of the word? The smells of the grass, the leather of a glove or the taste of a hotdog. Can you hear the pop of the ball in the glove, the crack of a bat or the clicking of spikes as the walk across the ground? I ask you to set back with me and feel the warmth on your face and take in the game. The La Plata Bulldogs had taken their journey this spring across the roads and highways of Northeastern Missouri. The Bulldogs had set forth a schedule that would challenge them and would make them better as each inning passed by. The journey had taken them to Kahoka, Centralia, Harrisburg and New Franklin to battle larger schools or programs known to be of quality. They hosted teams such as Westran, Sturgeon, Schuyler County and Madison and battled more familiar foes such as Green City, Novinger and Atlanta. Through it all the Bulldogs became a team that was forged by not just their victories but their defeats. At the end of the regular season their record of 13-4 did not reflect the growth of the team. The Bulldogs played host at Districts and swept aside Brashear in the first round. In the second round, La Plata would defeat Bevier to take the District title in a much anticipated matchup of two strong teams. In Sectionals the Bulldogs would throttle Northwestern and run rough shot of the Blue Jays from Northeast-Nodaway in the Journey to State quarterfinals. The ticket was stamped for O Fallon and the final four of the Class 1 Baseball Championship. A convey of red descended on CarShield Field on Memorial Day in O Fallon as the Bulldogs were set to take on the Tigers of Wellsville. The Tigers would enter the game with a deceptive record of 10-11 having played a tough schedule like the Bulldogs. Wellsville won the toss and would send the Bulldogs to the dish to begin the game. Trevor Pipes would leadoff for the Dogs with a forced error on the shortstop and then would steal second. Tucker Noah would come to the plate, one out later and hit a groundball that took three Tigers to handle and allowed Pipes to race home as Head Coach Josh Woodward wheeled his arms at the third base coaching box. The Bulldogs had drawn first blood and had done it in a typical aggressive fashion. Ryan Jackson and Gunner McHenry would follow with an infield singles but the inning would end with a 1-0 lead. La Plata would send to the mound Gunner McHenry who had been a rock on the bump for the Bulldogs and had shown improvement throughout the year. The first Tiger would reach on an error and then Wellsville would take the lead with a booming homerun to left by Isaac Ussery. Then after one out, an error and two singles loaded the bases with Tigers. McHenry showed his mettle and sent down the next two batters swinging to end the threat. Tristan Lynch would lead off the top of the 2nd with a base hit to center and promptly stole second. Justin Wood then dropped down a sacrifice bunt that would advance Lynch to third. Zach Carr would complete the cycle with a squeeze that would score Tristan and tie the game at 2-2. Pipes would force another error with a hard ground ball but the Bulldogs would have to settle on a tie. In the bottom of the inning Wellsville s number nine hitter sent a ball into the gap and raced around the bags toward third. The relay appeared to nail him at the bag but he was ruled safe on a triple. One out later, Ussery kept up the torment with a RBI single and the lead. The Bulldogs trailed 2-3 going into the third inning of play. With one out, Ryan Jackson singled and was replaced at first by Curtesy runner Matt Lewis. McHenry would push him to second with a forced error and Zach Fleak would load the basses with a walk. The next play would be dizzying, Lynch would shoot a ball into right that would send Lewis and McHenry home with the lead. Fleak would be gunned out at home and then Lynch would be caught trying to take third for the final out. In the end the Bulldogs had regained the lead with a score of 4-3. In the bottom of the 3rd, two Tigers
would reach on a single and a walk but McHenry would end the inning on a called strike three. The Bulldogs would go down in order in the top of the 4th sending Wellsville back to the plate. The inning opened with a single and then the fourth RBI of the game by Ussery on a double. He would come home to score on another single to give Wellsville the lead 4-5. Lynch would come in to pitch for La Plata and would surrender a walk but held the Tigers in check. Tel Wheeler would open the 5th by dropping a single into center. Wheeler would steal second and advance one out later on a groundball by Ryan Jackson. McHenry would fire a clutch two out single into center and tied the game at 5-5. In the bottom of the 5th after a walk put one Tiger on, Ussery added another RBI with a double to left and the lead 5-6. A base hit would make the advantage two, a walk and a wild pitch would make it three and a final single would extend the lead to 5-9. The Dogs would need to scrap back and it started in the top of the 6th with a single by Lynch. A pickoff at second damped the Bulldogs mood but then a single by Justin Wood flared it back up. The Bulldogs were unable to advance him and the score remained unchanged. Wellsville had a runner reach in the bottom of the ending but he was left standing at third to end the inning. La Plata needed four runs to keep their hopes alive in the final inning. The first two Bulldogs were unable to reach but a last gasp of hope came on a two out single by Ryan Jackson. It was not to be the year to be number one for the Bulldogs in the record books, as the game and score ended with a 5-9 La Plata loss. Even though the Bulldogs were not going to host the championship trophy, they had an opportunity to be one of only two teams that would end the season with a victory. On a sun drenched Tuesday afternoon the Bulldogs were set to take out their frustrations on the Hurley Tigers. Hurley entered the game with a record of 15-5 and had lost the night before to Bell City by a score of 1-3. La Plata would be the home team for this contest and sent Trevor Pipes to the mound. A one out walk and a single, put two runners on for Hurley. The Tigers would put one run across with a groundball but a nice catch in foul territory by Fleak would end the inning. Pipes would try to get the run back with an opening walk but the Bulldogs were not able to match the Tigers first inning run. Pipes sent Hurley down one-two-three in the top of the second but La Plata could not take advantage in the bottom of the inning, despite a walk to Lynch. Pipes repeated the feat again in the top of the 3rd, but this time the Bulldogs took advantage in the home half of the inning. Zach Carr was hit by a pitch and went to first to open offense. Pipes then sent Zach to second with a single to left. Wheeler then packed the bags for La Plata with another hit by pitch. Tucker Noah rolled a two RBI single to left giving La Plata the lead. One out later Wheeler would race home with the third Bulldog run on a wild pitch. After the second out on a tag at home, Lynch kept up his hot hitting with a triple over the center fielders head scoring two more Dogs. Tristan would make it 6-1 scoring on a wild pitch. Zach Carr would add a single but the Bulldogs would settle on a six run outburst. Hurley would cut the lead in half with two runs in the top of the 4th to make the score 6-3. In the bottom of the 4th Wheeler would reach on an error to leadoff but La Plata could not take advantage. In the top of the 5th the Tigers would keep up the comeback with three runs to tie the game at 6-6. The game moved to the bottom of the inning were La Plata would unleash the offense. Fleak would stroll to fist on a walk to kick off inning. Lynch would then steak to third for his second triple scoring Fleak. Justin Wood sent Lynch home with a single to left. Zach Carr would then join Wood on base after being hit by a pitch. Pipes would keep the line moving with a RBI single to center. Zach would bring home the next run on an error to make the score 10-6 and Wheeler would reach on another Tiger error. Tucker Noah would reach a milestone in the next at bat with a triple to center that would score two and tie him for the all-time single season RBI record at La Plata. Ryan Jackson would then send Tucker home with a double to left that bounced on the warning track and into the bleaches for a ground-rule double. McHenry and Fleak kept up the unrelenting offense with a walk and hit by pitch to load the bases. Lynch would add the fourteenth run on a fielder s choice to short. With two outs Zach Carr hit a hard ground ball to short that was thrown away at first, scoring McHenry and Lynch with the winning runs. The La Plata Bulldogs had capped off a great season with a flurry of runs to end the game early. La Plata would hold up the third place trophy to the chorus of cheers from Bulldog Nation. Congratulations Bulldogs and we look forward to the journey with you next year.
This Keepsake brought to you by the following Sponsors: CONGRATULATIONS! La Plata Community Betterment Committee GREAT JOB BOYS! Teamwork... Coming together is a beginning, Keeping together is progress, Working together is success. -Henry Ford You make us proud. Great day to be a Bulldog. Congratulations from the Norton and Wood Family.
This Keepsake brought to you by the following Sponsors: Great Job Bulldogs! Congratulations La Plata Bulldogs Gary Simmons 660.332.7034 RYAN ROBUCK Congratulations bulldogs! $ 5 off A PURCHASE OF $50 OR MORE Expires 8/31/17 One coupon per customer. Must present coupon at time of purchase. 101 Vine St Macon, MissourI
This Keepsake brought to you by the following Sponsors: great job bulldog baseball Christy s Auction Service COL. DAVID A. CHRISTY, Auctioneer PO Box 136, La Plata, MO 63549 660-332-7188 or 660-341-4531 Great Job Bulldogs! Rabbi and Lynette East INSURE CAREFULLY, DREAM FEARLESSLY. CALL FOR A FREE QUOTE. American Family Mutual Insurance Company, S.I. and Its Operating Companies 6000 American Parkway, Madison WI 53783 Visit amfam.com for details. 006441 Rev. 1/17 2017 David Fiedler Agency, Inc. (660) 385-6471 Macon, MO dfiedler.com
This Keepsake brought to you by the following Sponsors: 2 Chronicles 15:7... But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded. HARD WORK PAYS OFF! D-Zines by T Flowers, Gifts and Wedding Rentals Macon 660-385-2163 Tyena Bealmer Owner La Plata 660-332-7636 Laurie Love, CPA 202 E Sanders St, La Plata, MO 63549 660-332-7904 Bulldog Pride! La Plata RII School