The Bowie Lady Rabbits lost their two-game district series to Jacksboro last week.
The Lady Tigers won 16-6 by run-rule and 9-2 several days later to give the Lady Rabbits their first district losses of the season.
After many tournaments and games featuring non-district games that technically don’t count, Bowie entered the stretch of the season last week where only district games are left.
The format this year includes teams facing each other twice within the same week. Officially district play has already started. The Lady Rabbits beat Vernon both in late February and early March in-between tournaments and other non-district games, but last week started what will be the format until the end of the season.
The first game was at Jacksboro on March 18.
The first three innings saw both teams take advantage of a close strike zone that resulted in several walks. Unfortunately for Bowie, some fielding errors allowed the Lady Tigers to get the lead, but the Lady Rabbits were hanging close down 8-5.
After Bowie scored one run in the top of the fourth inning to cut the lead to 8-6, Jacksboro extended its lead, hitting a two-run triple and then scoring three runs in a two out rally that also included a fielding error.
The Lady Tigers were up 13-6 and it seemed like the Lady Rabbits, who had always had a good response, were too discouraged to this time.
For the only time in the game, Bowie failed to get any batter on base. The inning was over in only 11 pitches.
Jacksboro was up to bat and was looking to end the game early.
Three fielding errors helped the Lady Tigers along to scoring the three final runs, ending the game with the score 16-6 due to run-rule.
Despite the final score, Bowie knew it could hang with Jacksboro if it could clean up its defense. The Lady Rabbits had three days to work on it before meeting the Lady Tigers again on March 22, with Bowie hosting the game.
Unfortunately, the Lady Rabbits did not start the game on the highest note. Jacksboro’s lead-off batter hit an inside the park home run to give the Lady Tigers the early 1-0 lead.
Thankfully, Bowie recovered well, retiring the next three batters with little drama. In the first at-bats, the Lady Rabbits loaded the bases up with only one out. Unfortunately, Bowie could not get a base runner home and trailed 1-0 after the first inning.
After a scoreless second inning by both teams, Jacksboro added three runs in the third inning, with two coming on a fielding error. The Lady Tigers led 4-0.
It was three up and three down for both teams in the fourth inning before some bats got going again.
Jacksboro benefited from two fielding errors that led to runs and an RBI single to up its lead to 7-0.
Thankfully, the Bowie bats got going on a two-out rally. Three straight singles loaded the bases up with two outs before Victoria Watson scored on the base paths thanks to a passed ball. That would be all as the Lady Rabbits cut the lead to 7-1.
Two fielding errors led to two more runs from the Lady Tigers in the sixth inning to up the score to 9-1.
In the seventh inning, Serenity Klump hit an RBI double to drive in a run with one out in hopes it could spark a huge comeback attempt. Unfortunately that would be the last thing for Bowie. The next two batters were retired and the game ended.
Jacksboro won 9-2.

To read the full story, pick up a copy of the weekly edition of the Bowie News. For more pictures from the first game at Jacksboro, click here https://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=bnews1&AID=6873813&T=1