Published: May 12, 2008 11:58 pm            

Navarro eliminated with loss to Wharton, 5-4

MOUNT PLEASANT — The Navarro Bulldogs’ quest for a Region XIV baseball championship again ended prematurely.

The Bulldogs were unable to hold on to their one-run eighth-inning lead as Wharton rallied late to take a 5-4 victory Monday at Northeast College in Mount Pleasant.

After winning their first game 10-0 over Blinn Saturday, Navarro fell to Alvin 10-6 in the semifinals Sunday night en route to its early exit.

Navarro (47-11) was the first to get on the scoreboard Monday.

A Jeff Jones single to center field in the top of the second inning drove in Brett Parsons from second base to give the Bulldogs a 1-0 advantage.

The Pioneers quickly tied the game with an RBI-single by Daniel Meyer in the bottom of the inning to score Cody Ross from second base.

Meyer went 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs and two RBIs, while Ross was 2-for-3 with two runs.

Wharton (27-26) took over the lead in the fourth inning.

After starter Kirk Pritchett struck out the first two batters he faced in the inning, the Pioneers went on a hitting streak, knocking four consecutive singles to the gap in center field to score two runs.

Pritchett allowed four runs and nine hits in 7 1/3 innings on the mound.

Navarro brought the game back to a tie in the fifth inning.

A two-RBI single to center field by Zach Grichor scored Brock Holt and Jaron Shepherd.

The Bulldogs added one more run in the seventh as Justin Howard singled to left field to bring Holt across home plate.

Down 4-3, Wharton rallied back in the bottom of the eighth inning.

RBI-singles by Meyer and Ryan Phenix put the Pioneers back on top by one run headed to the final inning.

With two outs Grichor drew a walk, but Navarro was unable to bring in the tying run as the Bulldogs year came to an end.



Wharton 5, Navarro 4

Navarro 0 1 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 — 4 9 1

Wharton 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 2 x— 5 11 1



WP: Kurt Leer (2-0)

LP: Logan Chitwood (2-1)

Leading hitters: N: Zach Grichor 2-4 2RBI, BB; Justin Howard 1-5 RBI; Brett Parsons 1-3 R, BB; Brock Holt 1-5 2R; Jeff Jones 1-4 RBI. W: Daniel Meyer 3-4 2R, 2RBI; Joel Ansley 3-4 RBI; Cody Ross 2-3.

Records: Navarro 47-11; Wharton 27-26.

        

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