Tigers still in playoff hunt after 6-2 loss at Breck

BRECKENRIDGE – Jacksboro is in the midst of a big final week of the District 7-3A ledger, with a 5-5 record and wanting to get into the postseason.

Despite a 6-2 loss here April 19, Tiger Coach Blake Belcher said his team could still make the playoffs even with a loss to Henrietta at home Friday night. Still, Belcher was less than thrilled with his squad’s performance.

“We had too many walks and hit batters (on the mound),” Belcher said following the 2:34 contest. “When we hit the ball it was normally right at somebody when we had runners in scoring position.”

Tiger pitchers walked eight and hit five Buckaroo batters, which is part of the reason Breckenridge needed only three hits to go to 7-3 in the loop while Jacksboro drops to 5-6. The visitors also made four errors in the field.

Breckenridge scored a first inning run but the damage could have been worse as the Bucks left the bases full following a Josh Pierce strikeout of Ashton Reyes. Buckaroo pitcher Flaudio Davilla retired the first six batters he faced before Taber Dunn roped a single to open the third. Dunn was retired on the play.

Breckenridge used a hit and three miscues in the third to extend the lead to 4-0, stranding another three runners in the process as reliever Jordan Yount struck out Evan Moore to prevent further damage. For the game, Breckenridge stranded 12, seven in scoring position.

The Tigers got on the board in the fourth Peyton Kinman singled and Christian Wiggins drew a walk. With two out, Lando Belcher singled to left to get the Purple on the board. but a fly to right stranded a pair on the base paths.

The Bucks scored their final two runs in their fourth, aided by three walks. The Tigers had chances to get back in the game in the fifth.

Dunn stroked his second single of the game with Aaron Harmonson coming through with a hit as well. Kaleem Howard was hit by a pitch to fill the pond with one out. It wasn’t to be as a popout and tagout of a runner kept the score 6-1.

Jacksboro got one of the runs back in the sixth. Belcher walked, swiped second and came home on a catcher’s error following a strikeout.