The Bowie Jackrabbits could not get past the evil empire Brock in their bi-district series on Friday and Saturday.
The Eagles won the series 2-0, winning close games with the scores 5-1 and 3-2, with the second game ending on a hit batter with the bases loaded in the seventh inning.
Bowie came into the series as underdogs despite being used to playoff success. Finishing fourth in the district meant a matchup with another school that is a district champion, but not just any due to district set-ups.
Brock, the school that finishes among the top of the Lone Star Cup standings every year, as it seems there is not one athletic team that is not at the very least destined to have a long playoff run.
The baseball team is no exception, ranking fifth in the state in 3A this year. While the list of teams whose seasons have been cut short is too many to list, the most painful example was the Jackrabbits magical baseball run ending in the regional final two years ago to this same Eagles’ program.
Both teams have wildly different rosters and even have different coaches from then, but every program in the area knows the history of facing a Brock team in the playoffs and the history.
Since 2018, the only Bowie teams to have beaten a Brock team have been the boy’s basketball team in 2018 and the girl’s basketball team in 2021.
The Jackrabbits hosted game one on Friday and started senior Troy Kesey on the mound.
Bowie started the game well. After shutting down the Eagle’s batters, Kesey hit a two out triple. Later in the inning after Hayden Rodriguez drew a walk, courtesy runner Andrew Sandhoff scored after a passed ball to put the Jackrabbits up 1-0.
Brock answered in the second inning.
With the bases loaded and one out after a single and two hit batters, a groundball resulted in an error that allowed not just one run, but for two to come in while no out was made. The Eagles led 2-1.
After another walk loaded the bases it looked like it might get worse, but a double-play was turned to get out of the jam.
The team’s exchanged a scoreless third inning before Brock got a two-out rally going in the fourth inning. After a leadoff double, Kesey retired the next two batters. Two singles followed that drove in two runs to put the Eagles up 4-1.
Brock would get one more run in the sixth inning. With two walks and a sacrifice bunt laid down, the next batter hit a fly ball deep enough to right field that it scored one run to put the Eagles up 5-1.
After a hit batter followed, Sandhoff came in to pitch in relief. He walked the next batter to load the bases, but induced a fly ball to left field for out three.
Bowie tried to get something going when Kesey hit a one out single in the sixth inning. Unfortunately, his pinch runner was caught stealing and the next batter lined out to second base.
The Jackrabbits did not get anything going in the final inning and Brock wrapped up a 5-1 win in the first game.
The second game was played in the early afternoon on Saturday at Brock, with a possible game three being scheduled to follow if needed.
Bowie started its ace pitcher Edmond De Leon in the most important game of the season.
The Jackrabbits threatened to score in the first inning, loading the bases up with one out. Unfortunately, the next two batters could not get them home.
Bowie was able to in the second inning. Cooper Hammer drew a leadoff walk. After a sacrifice bunt, single by Tucker Jones put runners at the corners with two outs. Rayder Mann then came through with a single that drove in Hammer to put the Jackrabbits up 1-0.
Brock threatened to retaliate in the same inning, loading the bases up with no outs thanks to two singles and an error at second base.
The defense held with a fielder’s choice out at home, a pickoff throw at third base and groundout at second base.
The Eagles came back in the third inning. After a one out walk, a later stolen base put the runner in position to score when a later batter hit a two out double to tie the game at 1-1.
The teams exchanged a scoreless fourth inning, with the only highlight being Brock advancing a runner to third base, but failing to score.
With two outs in the top of the fifth inning, Kesey drew a walk and Rodriguez followed with a single. Kesey advanced to third base to put runners at the corners.
Executing a steal at second base caused an error by the catcher that allowed Kesey to score and put Bowie up 2-1.
The Eagles were not going to led the Jackrabbits get away with that. In the same inning, Brock batters led off by drawing a walk and getting hit by a pitch.
The defense responded by catching a harmless fly out to left field and by getting the fielder’s choice out at third base for out two.
Unfortunately, the next batter singled up the middle to drive in one run to tied the game at 2-2.
The Eagles looked to take the lead in the sixth inning as they led off with a single. Thankfully, Bowie covered the bunt and pulled off a double-play.
It was good because the next batter hit a single that he was able to stretch into a triple thanks to an error in right field. De Leon then came through with a strikeout for out three.
The Jackrabbits had a great opportunity in the seventh inning to retake the lead. Boston Farris led off and got on base thanks to an error by the shortstop.
Jones followed by drawing a walk.
After a change a pitcher from Brock, a sacrifice bunt was laid down that advanced both lead runners in scoring position for Bowie. Kesey was then intentionally walked to load the bases up with one out.
Unfortunately, the next two Jackrabbit batters struck out to end the chance.
The Eagles led off with a single. After the lead batter stole second base, the next batter was retired on an infield fly ball. The third batter drew a walk and De Leon had to be replaced due to pitch count.
The next batter was intentionally walked to load the bases up with one out, hoping the next few batters would be much less threatening.
Before it could get too far, with the count at one ball and one strike, the next batter was hit by a pitch. The runner on third base scored to end the game.
Brock won the game 3-2 and the series 2-0.

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