Surprise, Surprise
Chandler Bulldogs capture District Crown, advance to State Tournament

Chad Wilson Photo WINNING RUN-- Relief pitcher Blake Ralson slides under the tag of the Red Storm's Raul Gutierrez to score the winning run during the sixth inning of the District Five Championship game held at Winchester Park in Chandler last Friday.

Mother Nature must have been a fan of the Chandler Bulldogs last Friday night as she held back the rain long enough for the Bulldogs to win the TTAB District Five championship.

Scattered showers rumbled through the Chandler area around 5:00pm but the crew at Winchester Park was able to get the playing field ready in time for two local rivals to clash for the chance to advance to the State Tournament.

For the second time in the tournament the Bulldogs faced off against the Chandler Red Storm. During the regular season the Red Storm defeated the Bulldogs 14-7 and 6-5 to finish in first place with a 12-0 record in the Freshman BMC league.

Bulldogs first year head coach Randy Chapman credits the 14-7 loss in May, their first loss of the season, as the turning point on the Bulldogs season.

Chad Wilson Photo TTAB DISTRICT 5 CHAMPS-- The Chandler Bulldogs are the 2007 District 5 champions after finishing the District Tournament 4-0. Members of the team are (Front Left-Right) Jake Boyd, Wyatt Bynum, Blake Ralson, Taylor Beall, Ryan Covington, Steve McGhee (Back) Ryan Chapman, Patrick McCarthy, Aaron Sherman, Mitchell Penny and Daygan Darst. Coaches are Bryan Ralson, Andy Bynum and Head Coach Randy Chapman.

Finishing the season in second place and with a league record of 10-2 the Bulldogs picked up three players from other BMC teams not advancing to the playoffs. Those players were; Jake Boyd, Aaron Sherman and Ryan Covington.

With the addition of the three players the Bulldogs opened the District Tournament with a 4-3 win against Troup.

Playing against the Rusk Bulls in the second tournament game the Bulldogs scored a team tournament high with 13 points to defeat the Bulls 13-8.

Riding high after back-toback wins the `Dogs met the Red Storm in round three of the tournament. With a total team effort the Bulldogs defeated the previously unbeaten Red Storm 9-8.

Chad Wilson Photo POSTGAME CELEBRATION-- After Blake Ralson scored the winning run (above) teammates dogpiled him to celebrate their District Championship.

Needing just one more win to claim the district title the Bulldogs hosted the Storm on Friday.

The Bulldogs broke the game open in the bottom of the second inning as Ryan Chapman singled to give the Bulldogs a 4-3 lead.

Before the Red Storm stepped back to the plate in the third inning the `Dogs mounted a three point lead, 6-3.

Down, but not out the Red Storm scored one run in the third inning off the bat of Willie Miller to cut the lead to 6-4.

A fourth inning rally by the Storm was erased when the Bulldog's Taylor "Hammer" Beall turned an unassisted double play.

With just six outs remaining in the game and their season the Red Storm rallied to score three runs in the top of the fifth inning.

In what Coach Chapman called one of the best team performances he has ever seen the Bulldogs rallied to score two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to retake the lead.

Trailing 8-7 the Red Storm looked to be finished as the first two batters of the sixth inning went down on strikes.

After a triple to right field Raul Gutierrez was intentionally walked before pickup player Chris Davis doubled to centerfield to give the Storm a 9-8 lead.

As the dugout for the Bulldogs grew louder in the bottom half of the sixth inning the fight in the `Dogs also grew.

With one out Aaron Sherman drew a five pitch walk and advanced to second on a ground ball out that bounced off Red Storm pitcher Raul Gutierrez's leg.

Down to their final out Blake Ralson advanced Sherman to third with a hit to centerfield before Jake Boyd was intentionally walked to load the bases.

A passed ball tied the game at nine before Beall was intentionally walked to once again load the bases.

With Wyatt Bynum at bat the Red Storm shifted their defense in hopes of finding a force out at any base.

Bynum showed patience at the plate and was quick to move out of the way as Blake Ralson raced home on a passed ball for the winning run.

Just as Ralson was called safe under the tag of Gutierrez the Bulldogs raced out of the dugout to celebrate their 9-8 win and district championship.

The 14-team State Tournament will be held in Whitehouse during the week of July 23-27. The Bulldogs are the only BMC team that advanced to a State Tournament.

During the tournament Ryan Chapman led the team in hitting going 7-11 with a .636 average. Taylor Beall was 6-10, .600 while Ralson batted .583 with 7 hits. Mitchell Penny recorded 5 hits in the tournament and posted a .455 average.

Shortly after the celebration concluded the rain began to fall in Chandler once again.

For more information on the Bulldogs visit leaguelineup. com/bmc or texasteenage.org.