Lexington Herald-Leader (KY)
May 31, 2003
Section: Sports
Edition: Final
Page: C1
BULLDOGS PITCH IN FOR TITLE
TAKING HOME THE CHAMPIONSHIP
DUNBAR’S THIRD COMPLETE GAME OF 43RD DISTRICT BEATS HENRY CLAY 2-1
Mike Fields, Herald-Leader Staff Writer
Paul Dunbar is the No. 1 high school baseball team in Kentucky because it does a lot of things well. But Coach Mickey Marshall has said all spring the Bulldogs’ greatest strength is a deep and talented pitching staff.
There should be no doubt about that after Dunbar won the 43rd District title yesterday. Powered by Matt Byzet’s four-hit pitching, the Bulldogs held off Henry Clay 2-1 at Tates Creek.
It was the third complete-game performance in the district by a Dunbar pitcher. Robby Reeves blanked Bryan Station 5-0 in the opener, and Josh Ellis stymied Tates Creek 8-4 in the semifinals.
In the three victories, the Bulldogs’ pitchers allowed only 12 hits (all singles) and had 21 strikeouts.
“We’ve had strong pitching all year,” said Byzet, a senior right-hander who is 7-0. “Sometimes we have trouble scoring runs, but it seems we always get good pitching.”
That’s certainly been the case against Henry Clay this season. Dunbar has dumped the Blue Devils in three close wins — 3-2, 4-3 and 2-1.
“Three games in a row we’ve had a chance to beat them,” Henry Clay Coach Herb Hammond said. “Maybe the fourth time will be a charm.”
The Devils and Dunbar could meet again because both teams advance to the 11th Region Tournament at Woodford County next week.
The district final started Wednesday but bad weather forced it to be suspended after one inning.
Forty-eight hours later, the teams resumed play and Dunbar scored quickly. Brett Hunt drew a walk, went to third on a throwing error and came home on Boo Morrow’s sacrifice fly.
The Bulldogs added another run in the sixth when Craig Dunn singled and eventually scored on another Henry Clay throwing error.
The Devils had a chance to tie it in the bottom of the sixth. Terry Mullinix drew a two-out walk and Cory Hodskins singled. Brooks Morgan followed with a bloop single to left and Mullinix scored.
But Austin Traut, pinch-running for Hodskins, was thrown out by Boo Morrow trying to advance to third.
“It’s hard to beat anybody three times, especially a really good team like Henry Clay,” Marshall said. “This is a big win for us. It keeps our momentum going into the region.”
The victory improved Dunbar’s record to 10-0 against its city rivals this season.
Dustin Morrow was named tournament MVP. He had seven hits in three games and reached base nine of 11 times.
“I just do what I can,” the senior first baseman said. “We only used three pitchers in the district, so that shows where our real strength is.”
Paul Dunbar 010 001 0–2 7 2
Henry Clay 000 001 0–1 4 2
Matt Byzet and Kevin Paddock. Ben Webster, Johnson Whitehead (6) and Terry Mullinix. W–Byzet. L–Webster.
Records–Paul Dunbar 33-3; Henry Clay 19-10.
All-tournament — Dustin Morrow (MVP), Craig Dunn, Josh Ellis and Matt Byzet of Dunbar; Alden Crissey, Brooks Morgan and Collin Cowgill of Henry Clay; Kevin Tiller and Trent Fucci of Tates Creek; Tommy Warner and Chaz Roe of Lafayette; Adam Serafini and Willie Mays of Bryan Station.
Baseball
11th Region at Woodford County
When: Play begins Monday; times and pairings will be determined Sunday
by MATT BARTON – Brett Hunt slid past Henry Clay catcher Stanley Marcinek to score on a sacrifice fly, giving Dunbar a 1-0 lead in the second inning of the 43rd District finals. The Bulldogs went on to beat the Devils for the third time this season.