The Ellis County Press: Ferris Jackets 1-1 in district

Ferris Jackets 1-1 in district
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Editor on 03/27/2008 01:01:00


The Ellis County Press
FERRIS - In their first two district baseball games, the Ferris Jackets won one
close game and lost one close game. They were scheduled to play the Crandall
Pirates on Tuesday, March 18, but it was rained out. Instead, they were forced
to play two games on back-to-back days starting with the Kaufman Lions on
Thursday, March 20 and finishing with Crandall the following day.
The Jackets scored their one and only run against the Lions in the top of the
first inning.
The leadoff hitter Matthew Garcia hit a groundball in the infield to reach first
base.
Kaufman's shortstop made a wild throw that scooted past the first baseman.
Garcia realized the situation and took off towards second.
The catcher, who was backing up the throw, picked up the ball and gunned it to
the second baseman, but Garcia slid in safe.
He advanced to third on a groundball to the right side of the field and
eventually scored on another groundball.
However, the Jackets couldn't manufacture another run while their opponents
managed to come up with two.
There were several runners in scoring position for the Jackets, but they just
couldn't find a way to bring them home.
Despite a great pitching performance by Brett Scott, Ferris lost 2-1. The
following game was a different matter.
Spencer Piner pitched a complete game shutout and the offense did its part to
beat Crandall 3-0 for the first time since 2004.
The game was mainly a pitchers duel until the bottom of the fourth inning when
the Jackets' bats came alive and scored the first two runs of the game.
One hitter who came through in the clutch was sophomore Joseph Rodriguez.
With one run already scored in the inning and Cody Hester on first base
Rodriguez hit the ball into the left-center gap.
Both outfielders misplayed it and the ball rolled past them deep into the
outfield.
Hester sprinted around the bases and touched home plate standing up to give the
Jackets a 2-0 lead.
Chase Parrot tacked on a run in the sixth by hitting his first homerun of the
season.
The win put the Jackets in a tie for third in the district standings.