By Dustin Kent

Published: March 24, 2008

The Marianna High School Junior Varsity baseball team lost 9-4 to East Gadsden Saturday at Bulldog Field.

Colby Johnson got the start on the mound for the Bulldogs, went three innings, gave up four runs on three hits, two walks, and three errors committed behind him. Johnson fanned seven batters.

Gabe Sanchez came on in the fourth and faced four batters, two reached on errors, one walked and the other was hit by a pitch.

Three runs were charged to Sanchez. Dylan Halstead was brought on in relief and allowed one fielder’s choice before retiring the side to get out of the inning. Halstead finished the game, giving up two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out three.

Marianna plated one run in the bottom of the first inning.  Following a ground out to third by Halstead, Johnson drew a walk and stole second. Alex Bigale followed a walk to Jaren Bannerman with a single to load the bases. Zack Smith went down swinging before Brandon Massengill picked up an RBI when he was issued a free pass.  Cameron Oliver flied to the shortstop to end the inning.

The Bulldogs added a run in the second inning.  Buddy Baxter got things going with a free pass as did Gabe Sanchez.  Halstead flew to centerfield for the first out and a quick throw doubled up Baxter. A single by Johnson scored Sanchez and Bannerman walked for the second time in the game to put runners at the corners. A fly out to right field by Bigale ended the inning.

Two runs crossed the plate for the Bulldogs in the third inning.  Zack Smith took one for the team and stole second.  Massengill’s bunt attempt failed for the first out of the inning. Oliver flied to deep centerfield before Baxter’s single plated Smith. Sanchez singled to put runners on the corners. A passed ball scored Baxter and moved Sanchez to third but a fly out to third by Halstead left one stranded.

Alex Bigale was the only base runner in the fourth inning.  Flyouts by Johnson and Bannerman started the inning before Bigale took first when he was hit by a pitch. Smith flied to right field for the third out. 

Paul Gochenaur started the fifth inning with a hard hit ball to short but was out on a rocket throw to first. Jaryd Deese went down looking before Baxter reached on an error but was left stranded when Zach Gilmore went down on strikes.

Halstead led off the sixth with a single and moved to second on a single by Johnson. Stevie Blanchette went down swinging before Bigale flew out to short doubling up Johnson to end the inning. 

In the seventh inning, Anthony Williams sent one back to the mound and Paul Gochenaur challenged the arm of the shortstop again and lost. Curt Stephens was issued a walk but was left stranded when Baxter ground back to the pitcher to end the inning.

The Bulldogs were scheduled to be back in action on Monday at Bulldog Field as they host Mosley. Results of that game were not available at press time.