It was a close battler Friday night in Bowie when Nocona came to town.
There was no drama filled final inning or late lead change, but a 5-2 win is not much of a lead the Jackrabbits ever felt comfortable with until the final out.
The Indians had an early bid to score the games first run in the top of the first. Jeremy James drew a walk and was able to steal second to get in scoring position. Logan Barnes hit a line drive to center field.
James was waived in to score, but a great throw from Bowie’s Rylan Dorman to catcher Keck Jones was so good that there was no play at the plate as James was tagged out. The Jackrabbits got out of the inning next batter.
Bowie was able to score the first run in the bottom of the first. A drawn walk, a single and a hit batter loaded the bases with only one out. Riley Partridge was able to deliver with a line drive into the outfield to score one runner to go up 1-0.
Nocona’s Tanner Cable was able to get out of the jam by striking out the next batter and forcing a ground out to minimize the damage.
After a pop up, the Indians next two batters were able to hit singles to get on. The second batter hit, a line drive up the middle right at Jackrabbit pitcher Payton Price. The ball hit his pitching hand as he was trying to field it, injuring several fingers. Riley had to come in to pitch and try to get Bowie out of the jam. He was able to strike out the first batter and force a ground out to get out of the inning with Bowie still up 1-0.
Nocona was able to tie the game in the top of the third. James was able to get on with a walk again with one out. Barnes looked like he was about to ground out to third base, but an errant throw allowed both runners to advance to second and third.
The next batter struck out, but Braydon Ohagan was able to deliver with two outs with a line drive to single to score James and tie the game at 1-1. The next batter grounded out to end the inning tied.
The game would not stay tied for long. In the bottom of the third, Bowie’s Taylor Pigg and Jones were able to draw leadoff walks. Pigg was able to get on third with a steal and a wild pitch.
The Indian’s Cable was able to strike out a batter, but another wild pitch allowed Pigg to score from third. Another walk led to Coach Casey Jones changing pitchers to James.
The Jackrabbits Weston Partridge was able to hit into a fielder’s choice for the second out, but scoring Jones to push the lead up 3-1. Next batter Chance Tomlinson hit a triple to score Riley to push the lead up to 4-1 before the inning ended two batters later on a pop up.
Nocona cut the lead down in the top of the fourth. A leadoff walk from Jose Ogeda was worked into scoring position with a steal and a sacrificed bunt. Trent Womack was able to get him home while grounding out to second base to cut the lead down to 4-2. Bowie got out of the inning next batter.
The teams exchanged a scoreless fifth inning with no base runner getting on before heading into the sixth.
A two out single from Ogeda led to nothing for the Indians. The Jackrabbits Dorman was hit by a pitch with one out to get on.
He was able to get on second due to an errant throw with two outs and then stole third. Next batter Pigg came through with a single to drive him in to make the lead 5-2 before Nocona got out of the inning.
The Indians needed to score at least three runs to keep the game going. A leadoff single from Womack looked promising.
Bowie’s Riley was then able to strike out the next batter and force two straight ground outs to his brother at third, Weston, for the final two outs.

To read more, pickup a copy of the weekend edition of the Bowie News.