Published: May 05, 2008 01:10 am            

Navarro drops season finale to Apaches, 9-7

The Navarro Bulldogs ended their regular season with a loss Saturday at Mike Carter Field in Tyler.

A late game rally came up short for the Bulldogs, falling to Tyler Junior College 9-7.

Navarro’s Bryan Bingham suffered his first loss of the season, allowing five earned runs in three innings on the mound.

The Apaches got on the scoreboard early as Randall Moore sent a two-run home run over the center field wall in the bottom of the second inning.

Tyler struck again with a two-run homer to center by Aaron Dalton.

The Apaches added one more run in the third on an RBI-single by Caden Crawford.

Not letting up, the Apaches scored two additional runs in the fourth.

Tyler pushed its lead to 8-0 in the sixth with Dalton’s second home run of the game.

Navarro (46-9, 25-3 Region XIV) put itself back in the game in the top of the seventh.

After a lead-off single by Ross Hubbard and double by Caleb Marx, Jordan Kopycinski was able to bring Hubbard across home plate on a single to right field.

With Jaron Shepherd drawing a walk to load the bases, the Apaches walked Zach Grichor to score the Bulldogs second run of the night.

An RBI-single to left field by Justin Howard and a Kyle Livingstone sacrifice fly cut the Navarro deficit to 8-4.

Tyler answered back in the bottom of the seventh inning, driving in a run on an RBI-single by Crawford.

Kopycinski put the Bulldogs’ deficit back to four runs in the top of the eighth with an RBI-double to left field.

Navarro continued to rally in the ninth.

Livingstone made his way to first base after being hit by a pitch and with two outs Hubbard came up big, sending a two-run homer over the right field wall.

But Tyler ended Navarro’s comeback, striking out the next Bulldogs’ batter for the final out.

The Bulldogs will begin the Region XIV Tournament Saturday, May 10 at Northeast College in Mount Pleasant.



Tyler 9, Navarro 7

Navarro 0 0 0 0 0 0 412 — 7 12 3

Tyler 0 4 1 2 0 1 10x — 9 13 1



WP: Page Cooper

LP: Bryan Bingham (11-1)

Leading Hitters: N: Justin Howard 3-5 RBI, 2B; Ross Hubbard 3-5 2R, 2RBI, HR; Jordan Kopycinski 2-3 R, 2RBI, 2B; Caleb Marx 1-4 R, 2B. T: Aaron Dalton 2-4 2R, 3RBI, 2HR.

Records: Navarro 46-9, 25-3 Region XIV.

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.