This week in Bison Baseball

Second baseman Jesus Davis, who had an outstanding defensive game against Centerville, makes the tag for an out. Van'Go'photo The Bison baseball team hit the road last week, travelling to Anderson-Shiro, New Waverly and Centerville in the second round of District 21-AA action.

VS ANDERSON-SHIRO

Buffalo and Anderson- Shiro faced off in a make-up game on Monday, after being rained out last week. Travis King started on the mound for BHS, but the Bulldogs got his number early and Ryan Read relieved him after one out.

The Bison found themselves playing catchup early in the game, after the BHS defense allowed A-S four first-inning runs. Buffalo's Aaron Bell got on with a single in the top of the third and scored, closing the gap to 4-1, but A-S got that run back in the bottom of the 5th, taking a 5-1 lead. BHS scored Logan Beard in the top of the sixth.

In the bottom of the inning, McNair took over the pitching duties but the Bison let A-S put three more runs on the board. Entering the seventh inning trailing 8-2, BHS tried to mount a rally. Bell scored his second run and Aurelio Dominguez came across to bump the Bison score to 4, but that's where the Bulldogs shut them down.

Hitting for the Bison were Bell (three singles), Travis King (a double and a single), Kyle Roark (a double), Kirby McNair (two singles) and Harley Eakin (two singles).

VS NEW WAVERLY

On Tuesday the Bison had to face the New Waverly Bulldogs with a home field advantage, and came out on the short end of a 10-0 contest. Bell, King and Read hit singles for the Bison. The pitching duties were shared by Bell and Beard, who threw one strikeout apiece.

VS CENTERVILLE

The Bison/Tiger rematch in Centerville was moved to Saturday evening to avoid a conflict with the annual livestock show sale on Friday night.

The Bison faced the Tigers' Devon Smith on the mound. Buffalo drew first blood when Bell walked and stole second to get into scoring position. Travis King stepped up and slapped a tworun homer to give Buffalo the early lead.

Ryan Read was the starting pitcher for the Bison and struck out the Tigers' first two batters. Centerville's Jose Villareal scored, running for #22. BHS' Alfredo Carrazco caught a fly for Out #3, leaving two men stranded.

In the top of the second inning, Carrazco was stranded at second, and Centerville went down in three.

Buffalo increased their lead in the third when Read singled to left, stole second and third on an overthrown ball. Bell hit deep to right, but was robbed by a beautiful catch by the right fielder. Pinch runner Jorge Herrera tagged up and scored Run #3.

The ball game turned in the bottom of the third as the Tigers put together a huge inning. Cody Bonilla singled through the infield, Smith was hit by a pitch, and Clay Hardee knocked one out of the park to give CHS a 4-3 lead. A few plays later, with two outs on the scoreboard, Shay Stout hit a ball just over the short left field fence bringing Justin Smith and Will Mahaffey across home plate with him. Before the Bison could stop the bleeding, Bonilla connected for yet another two-run homer. Travis King relieved Read and threw a strikeout to end the inning.

Neither team scored in the later innings. Buffalo mounted a good threat in the top of the sixth, loading the bases with only one out, but Smith struck out the next two batters to leave ducks on the pond... and the Bison hopes for a rally dead in the water. Centerville took the win, 9-3.