Pain is temporary: Dawson holds on to defeat Valley Mills 6-4 in Game 1 of regional series

By Shawn Edwards

HILLSBORO May 17, 2008 12:14 am

— The Dawson Bulldogs were able to battle through the bean balls for a win Friday at Hill College in Hillsboro.
In a game where 11 batters were hit by a pitch — six of them Bulldogs — Dawson took the lead early and was able to hold off Valley Mills for a 6-4 victory in Game 1 of the Class 1A, Region II Quarterfinals best-of-three series.
“I don’t know that I have seen that many hit batters in a game,” coach Brian Gaylor said. “But I think that is people willing to get on base anyway they can — on both sides.
“At this point in the playoffs, no one wants to go home.”
After two scoreless innings the Bulldogs managed to get things started in the third.
Brody Clay was able to reach base after being hit by a pitch, followed by Dylan Nesmith drawing a walk.
It was Bubba Medrano that was able to bring in his Bulldog teammates, sending a ball over the wall in left-center field for a three-run home run.
Medrano went 2-for-3 at the plate with three RBIs, two walks and two stolen bases.
A Jerome Tennison single gave Dawson its second hit of the night, which was quickly followed by the third as Dustin Sanders brought Tennison across home plate with a single to right field.
The Eagles responded in the bottom of the fourth.
With a sacrifice by Manny Perez and an Erik Johnson RBI-single, Valley Mills cut its deficit in half.
Garret Trammell gave the Eagles an additional run in the fifth, scoring from third base on a wild pitch.
With Dawson ahead 4-3 in the top of the sixth, Zach Edwards was able to lessen the Eagles threat as he was able to score from third on a throwing error to first base.
Valley Mills, however, would not go away. The Eagles made it a one-run game again as Trammell was able to drive in Johnson with a single into the gap in right field.
The Bulldogs needed some insurance in the seventh inning, and the combination of Alex Shaw and Valley Mills’ pitcher Landon Winn provided it.
Shaw reached first base on a throwing error and sacrifices by Clay and Nesmith advanced him to third.
A wild pitch by Winn sailed to the backstop, allowing Shaw to hustle across home plate.
Valley Mills had the tying run at the plate in the bottom of the seventh inning with two outs, but Medrano was able to strike out the final batter for the save.
“We kept taking the pressure off of our pitcher and then putting it right back on him,” Gaylor said. “I think winning this one puts the pressure on them.
“They are a good enough mix of a team that they can be kind of deadly in this situation.”
Game 2 is scheduled for 12 p.m. today, with Game 3 following 30 minutes after the conclusion of Game 2, if necessary.

Class 1A, Region II Quarterfinal
Game 1
Dawson 6, Valley Mills 4
Dawson 0 0 4 0 0 1 1 — 6 6 0
V. Mills 0 0 0 2 1 1 0 — 4 4 2

WP: Dustin Sanders
LP: Trey Vannatta
S: Bubba Medrano
Leading hitters: D: Zach Edwards 2-3 2B, BB, SB, R; Bubba Medrano 1-3 2BB, 2SB, R, HR, 3RBI; Jerome Tennison 1-2 SB, R; Dustin Sanders 2-3 SB, RBI. VM: Garrett Trammell 1-3 BB, SB, R, RBI; Erik Johnson 1-2 SB, R, RBI; Landon Winn 1-3 R.
Records: Dawson 24-1.

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