Bulldogs go 3-1 at season opening tournament

The Douglas Bulldog baseball team kicked off its season last week winning three of four games at a tournament in Phoenix.

The Bulldogs began the tournament on Thursday beating North High School 7-4.

Grant Watkins was the winning pitcher going five innings and giving up two runs off eight hits while fanning eight and walking one. Ozzie Aleman threw two innings in relief and was tagged for two runs.

Watkins hit 2 for 4 this game while Nick Ortega and Brian Lomeli each were 1 for 3. Blaze Rose was 1 for 4.

Douglas’ baseball coach Gilbert Rojas said Watkins had a good outing on the mound and his performance combined with some clutch hitting by the Bulldogs propelled them to the win.

Douglas, who had just five hits in the game, scored three runs in the third inning and three more in the fifth.

On Friday Douglas played two games. The Bulldogs dropped game one to Campo Verde 12-2.

Kirt Cormier went four innings and was tagged for five runs. Fernando Rojas threw two innings and was tagged for seven runs.

Campo Verde led Douglas 4-2 going into the fifth when, according to Coach Rojas, “things just fell apart.”

Roberto Velasquez hit 2 for 2 for Douglas. Lomeli, Aleman and Leo Montano each were 1 for 2.

The Bulldogs came back that afternoon and thumped Carl Hayden 10-2.

Lomeli was the winning pitcher this game going four innings and giving up no runs off one hit while fanning five and walking six. Ortega threw two innings in relief and was tagged for two runs off two hits.

Cormier and Fernando Rojas each hit 2 for 2 this game. Rose was 1 for 3, Watkins and Lomeli were both 2 for 4, Velasquez and Jesus Cisneros each were 2 for 3.

The Bulldogs scored four runs in the first inning and three in the second jumping out to a 7-0 lead.

According to Coach Rojas the team just rolled after taking a 7-0 lead and the coach said his team swung the bats well.

On Saturday the Bulldogs 10 run ruled Buckeye winning 14-4.

Velasquez was the winning pitcher followed by Aleman and Marcus Gonzalez. Velasquez and Aleman each threw two innings; Gonzalez one. The three pitchers held Buckeye to four runs off six hits while fanning six.

Velasquez, Rose and Leo Montano each hit 2 for 3 this game. Jesus Valenzuela was 2 for 2, Ortega 2 for 4, CJ Estrella, Francisco Romo, Cisneros and Aleman each were 1 for 1; Watkins was 1 for 3.

Coach Rojas said all in all this tournament was a good start to his teams season.

“We swung the bats well and pitched well for the most part,” he said. “Overall I was pleased with our effort.”

The Bulldogs are back in action this week taking part in another tournament this time in Tucson at Amphi High School.

The Bulldogs will play Santa Rita today, Amphi and Riverside, CA on Thursday and a opponent to be determined on Saturday.