Bulldogs Fall in First Round of Districts

The Hampton-Dumont-CAL Bulldogs faced off with a familiar foe in the first round of the district playoffs, going up against conference rival, Webster City Lynx in Hampton.  The Bulldogs and Lynx had split the regular season series 1-1, with both teams earning a win as the home team and the Bulldogs earning themselves the fourth seed in the class 3A district 2.  The Bulldogs entered the game with a 15-14 record and the Lynx at 15-15.  Both teams had faced tough competition early in the season.

Senior Brayden Johnson would take the mound first for the Bulldogs.  The Lynx then scored one run on an RBI double in the first inning, but the Bulldogs answered with an RBI double of their own from senior Marco Guerrero scoring Tony Valenzuela from 2nd.  The Lynx added two more in the top of the second.  Johnson then started to really settle in, throwing quick innings in the 3rd and 4th.  The Bulldog offense threatened, but could not push any runs across.  The 5th inning would see Johnson exit, and sophomore Jaxon Moats enter with the bases loaded.  The Bulldogs ended up giving up 3 runs before getting themselves out of the jam.  The Bulldog offense then managed to scratch a couple runs across in the 5th and 6th innings, but would not punch out enough to catch the Lynx, and the Bulldogs fell 6-3, ending their season with a 15-15 record.  After the match up. Coach Lokenvitz talked about his senior players with adoration particularly about the steps they had helped the program take.  “These kids played a lot of varsity baseball over the past few years and helped build this program up to be better than when they came into it.  That’s all you can really ask for from a group of kids.  These young men are going to leave here and do great things in the future,” Coach Lokenvitz added.  

Three Bulldog senior players also received All-Conference honors for the North Central Conference.  Brayden Johnson would receive 2nd team honors as a pitcher.  Marco Guerrero would receive 2nd team honors as an infielder.  Tony Valenzuela would receive 2nd team honors as a utility/designated hitter for the Bulldogs.  Fellow senior Will Sackville would also receive All-district honors as an outfielder for the Bulldogs.