The Bulldogs roughed up two Centralia pitchers, but the Panthers rallied to bring some late drama to Mexico’s 10-7 win at Green Field on Thursday night.

Centralia took advantage of a Bulldogs error and a passed ball in the top of the first. But the Bulldogs scored three in the third, two more in the fourth and continued to bludgeon Panthers pitching through the sixth to establish what looked like a comfortable 10-4 lead.

But Mexico’s bullpen walked four. An error, a wild pitch, a couple more that skipped past the catcher and a sacrifice fly and suddenly Centralia looked dangerous – at least to some.

“I was never worried,” said Jesse Fennewald.

Fennewald was 3 for 5 on the night, scoring three and driving in three. He started the third inning outburst when he reached on an error and stole second.

Daeye Miller rapped a base hit to center, sending Fennewald home. Miller promptly stole second and was joined on the bases when Landon Kleinsorge drew a walk. Tyler Thoenen drove a single down the right field line, scoring Miller and sending Kleinsorge to third.

Thoenen took off for second and when Centralia catcher Adam Hatton threw to second, Kleinsorge scurried to the plate, completing a double steal.
If there was a theme on the night it was thievery on the base paths. The Bulldogs stole 12 times, getting nabbed in the act just once.

“Somehow we made all those steals,” Fennewald said, shaking his head.

Centralia added another unearned run in the fourth. Jack Romine struck out, but reached first when the ball eluded the catcher. After a steal and a walk, Evan Bruns laced a single to right, plating Romine.

But Mexico responded in the bottom half of the inning. Ty Sims slapped the first pitch through the infield to get things going. Fennewald singled and drove in a run, Miller got an RBI on a grounder to short and Josh Forbis hit a sacrifice fly to left.

Logan West and Bruns scratched two back for the Panthers, driving in Hatton and Romine.

Hits by Tristan Playter, Fennewald and Miller helped add to the toll in the fifth. And back to back doubles by Thoenen and Andrew Runge made it a 10-4 affair.

Forbis – Mexico’s starter – had to be removed after the sixth as he approached the pitch count limit. That’s when trouble flared.

Centralia scored three runs without a hit and had Romine in scoring position with just one out. Will Dobyns came on to stem the tide and on a 3-2 pitch West hit a low bounder to third. Thoenen scooped and threw to first, almost drawing Playter, Mexico’s first sacker, off the bag.

“I know my first baseman – he can stretch,” Thoenen said. “That was nerve wracking. The ball took a bad hop.”

Dobyns fanned the next hitter and the threat – as well as the game – was over.

“That’s what’s expected of me,” Dobyns pointed out. “I just have to place the ball. I have a good defense behind me.”

The win put the Bulldogs season mark at 7-6. They were scheduled to host Hannibal on Tuesday.

Bulldogs pound Thunderbirds, silenced by Owls

Last Monday Mexico plied the wood. Last Tuesday the Bulldogs ran into a buzz saw.

Jesse Fennewald went two for three on the home turf Tuesday. But no other Bulldog reached base as Marshall blanked Mexico 7-0.

“They had a really good pitcher on the mound,” rued Daeye Miller. Adding to the consensus that the Owls’ Ben Haug is likely to be the toughest hurler the team will face all season.

Haug fanned 13, walked none and apart from Fennewald’s hits and fly balls by Miller and Ty Prince, kept the Bulldogs locked in the infield.
And yet it was a tight game.

“We were in it the entire time,” said Mexico catcher Ty Sims.

Prince started on the hill and except for a first inning run, held the Owls at bay. Going into the fifth inning the score remained 1-0. But the visitors plated two in the fifth and three more in the sixth to seal the win.

On Monday Mexico made the short trip to North Callaway, packing their bats and Fennewald’s pitching arm, coming home with a 10-0 shutout. going.

In the second, Prince launched a homer to left, Fennewald singled and Miller drove another two-bagger – he would collect three on the night – to give the Bulldogs a 6-0 cushion.

Tyler Theonen, Josh Forbis, Quayvon Belcher, Tristan Playter and Landon Kleinsorge contributed to the hit parade. Meanwhile Fennewald silenced the Thunderbirds, giving up a lone Bryce Clark base hit.