The Bandera Bulldogs got outrun last week, getting no-hit in a 15-3 landslide win by the Boerne Greyhounds who avenged the 3-2 loss they suffered to the Dogs in their first meeting. “Boerne is a good team, but we didn’t play our game,” sophomore utility player Michael Miller said. “We’re going to keep fighting against Wimberley and Fredericksburg for a spot in the playoffs.”

         The Hounds jumped on the Dogs early scoring nine of the fifteen runs in the first three innings. Junior Nick Palacios was the starting pitcher for the Dogs, and while he held the Greyhounds to just one run in the first inning, his Greyhound counterpart senior pitcher Ross Kennell got Boerne’s scoring started in the second on the way to a three run second.  Kennell tossed five no hit innings, with the only three runs coming in the third on a series of three unusual passed balls for the ace.

“It was a hard loss,” junior catcher Matt Hempstead said. “Now we have to win our remaining games against two very talented teams.”

The Dogs now must win out their remaining schedule to qualify for the playoffs. Fortunately, the Dogs have a long haul between games to prepare. The Dogs will play Wimberley, a team that previously beat the Dogs 9-2, on Thursday away.  Game time is 6:30PM.

            Offensively, the Texans are a young team as well and are led by a trio of juniors. Shortstop Brennen Blakemore, centerfielder Tug McRoberts and catcher Josh Grey, who homered in the last game against the Dogs, lead a team that will be coming off a surprising loss to the Navarro Panthers last week.   Wimberley’s probable pitcher will be senior Dylan Matlock, who held the Dogs to three hits in the last game.

“We got to show up ready to play,” Hempstead said. “The playoffs hang by a thread and Wimberley is the first step.”

With TAKS testing next week, the Dogs will play the final game of the district schedule Friday, April 29^th at home versus Fredericksburg.  That game will be Senior Night for the Dogs’ lone senior, Joseph Cruz.