The Bowie Jackrabbits lost a close non-district game, playing at noon on Friday at home against Paradise.
The Wildcats won 4-3 in a game where they led the entire time with the Jackrabbits nipping at their heels.
Bowie came into the game following two tough losses to open district against Jacksboro and Iowa Park. The Jackrabbits were hoping they could play well, get a win and get back on track with mostly a district schedule ahead of them this season.
Paradise got on the board in the top of the first inning. A leadoff single against starting pitcher Troy Kesey was rescinded when he picked him off for an out during the next at-bat.
A single followed with the next batter. Trying to prevent him from stealing second base resulted in an error that allowed the runner to advance to third base. After a walk, a groundout allowed the runner to come in and score to put the Wildcats up 1-0.
It looked like Kesey was in trouble again in the second inning. The leadoff batter got on base after a dropped third strike. A walk and single loaded the bases up with no outs.
Kesey induced a fly ball into shallow left field that did not bring any runners home for out one. Catcher Tucker Jones then picked off the runner at third base for out two. Finally, a groundball to third base resulted in out three to get out of the jam.
Three fielding errors in the outfield allowed Paradise to score two runs in the third inning to go up 3-0.
Bowie’s bats had no success until the bottom of the fourth inning when Jones led off with a double.
A sacrifice bunt moved him to third base and Rayder Mann drove him as he grounded out to the shortstop. The Jackrabbits cut the lead to 3-1.
The Wildcats got the run back in the fifth inning. With one runner on base and two outs, a single got two runners on base.
They then executed a double-steal. A fielding error at catcher allowed the lead runner to come in and score to put Paradise up 4-1.
Bowie had its most successful offensive inning to follow in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Edmond De Leon led off with a double. Two batters later Seth Mann hit a single to put runners at the corners. Cy Egenbacher followed with a single to right field that drove in one run.
Cooper Hammer then loaded the base with a groundball single down the third base line. Jones then hit a single to right field that drove in one run to cut the lead down to one run.
Unfortunately for Bowie, the next batter then hit into an inning ending double-play. The Jackrabbits trailed 4-3.
Kesey and the defense shut down Paradise in the final two innings, allowing only one base runner to get on with a walk in the seventh inning. Bowie’s bats did not have much more success.
Kesey hit a one out double in the sixth inning to try and start something, but besides eventually reaching third base and being 90 feet away from tying the game, the Jackrabbits could not get him home.
The Wildcats held on to win 4-3.

To read the full story, pick up a copy of the mid-week edition of the Bowie News.