Bridge City baseball off to a fast start

Head Coach Chad Landry and his Bridge City Cardinal baseball team appear to have picked up right where they left off last season by jumping out to an impressive 7-2-1 record thus far. BC’s only two losses came in the final inning of both games with PNG and LCM. The PNG game, a 2-1 loss, on opening night was an extra inning affair that saw four BC pitchers held PNG to one hit for the entire game while striking out 13. PNG scored runs on a bases loaded walk early in the game and a bases loaded wild pitch in the top of the ninth inning.

The loss to LCM also came in the bottom half of the last inning when the Bears took advantage of Cardinal miscues and a big hit for the rally to win in dramatic fashion. The Cardinals have since bounced back with some big wins including one at Baseball USA against Lagrange, a 3A Region finalist from 2011, where Senior Jacob Lemoine showed he was worthy of the attention that the Major League scouts have given him so far. Lemoine polished off Lagrange with a low 90’s fastball and nice curveball that kept the hitters off balance all night.

Other highlights from the early season include an impressive no hitter from Junior Hayden Guidry against Lumberton in the Orangefield/ Certa Bearden Tournament this past weekend. BC’s pitching depth has been a strength so far during the early season tournaments. Juniors Preston Pittman and Daniel Faulk, Sophomores Blaine Mcelduff and Bryson Macfarland, along with Freshman Chase Shugart have handled the extra load of innings that tournament play requires nicely.

Keeping innings down early in the season is a key to reducing fatigue and stress before the real district play begins. BC has been very fortunate to be so deep in talent on the hill this season, a factor that should certainly help the Cardinals navigate through a tough 21-3A district.

On the offensive side of the ball Mitchell Hubbard and Cameron Dishon have both been a thorn in the side of opposing pitchers. Hubbard has just about hit anything that moves and is driving in runs at a steady pace while Dishon continues to get big hits when needed.

Other Cardinals contributing to the offensive output are Juniors Hayden Guidry and Bryce Sampere along with Sophomore Hunter Uzzle. The Cardinals are averaging a whopping eight runs per game so far while giving up only four per contest, a ratio that will certainly keep a smile on Coach Landry’s face.

Defensively Bridge City has been mixing up the look while waiting for two of their key players, Matt Menard and Zach Smith, to return from injuries. Juniors Nick Portacci and Hayden Guidry have handled the chores at 3rd base while Sampere has moved between Shortstop and Second Base with Seniors Chance Lemoine and Taylor Skinner alternating at Shortstop and Second Base as well.

Preston Pittman and Jacob Lemoine handle the duties at first base when needed while Hunter Uzzle takes over at catcher. The Cardinal outfield boasts two guys who can cover plenty of ground in Seniors Mitchell Hubbard in Right field and Cameron Dishon in Center along with Sophomore Keaton Langston in left. The Cardinal defense has played well and will only get better when Menard and Smith are healthy again and back in the lineup.

The Cardinals head for Lagrange this weekend to take on Giddings and Yoakum on Friday with another game on Saturday. The opponent for Saturday will be determined by team’s records from Friday’s games. Next week the Cardinals take on Huntington on Tuesday the 13th and Kirbyville on the 15th, both games are in BC, before Hardin Jefferson comes to town on the 23rd to kick off district play.