Dragons off to 1-3 start on diamond

Purcell is off to 1-3 start to the 2023 baseball season.

The Dragons run-ruled Asher 11-3 in one of two games they played last Saturday.

Parker Page got the start and went two innings not allowing any runs while striking out four.

“Parker did a great job in commanding the strike zone,” head coach Cole Sharp said. “He is a competitor and did a good job.”

Boston Knowles tossed 1 2/3 innings in relief.  Knowles gave up three runs and while striking out a pair of Asher Indians.

“Knowles did pretty well overall but just fell behind a couple of times on hitters and they got some clutch hitting in those situations,” the coach said.

Zach Idlett closed out the game and got the win.

“Zach came in while we were down and did a tremendous job in that situation,” Sharp said. “He competed on the mound and attacked the zone early and often and gave us a chance in the end to get the win,” Sharp said.

“Overall we did a good job in finishing out the game.  We approached this game by pitching by committee because of our district games coming up on Monday and Tuesday so we threw everybody at Asher and Newcastle.

“We fell behind in the fourth 3-1 but responded in the fifth and sixth innings in getting a run rule. I  like how we fought back and ended up finishing the game off,” Sharp confirmed. 

The coach said Adrian Dominguez, Parker Page, Cole Smedley and Bryce Blair hit the ball really well.

In the season opener Purcell fell behind Pauls Valley 5-zip but battled back to take an 8-6 lead going into the bottom of the seventh.

The Panthers rallied and eventually posted a 9-8 victory over the Dragons.

“We just need to get off to an earlier  start and finish the game and limit our mistakes,” Sharp said.

Freshman Bryce Blair laced a home run shot in the contest.

“I was pleased with our effort and giving ourselves a chance to win at the end,” Sharp said.

The pitching was spread around to Zach Idlett, Logan Roberts and Drew Kimbrell.

In the nightcap of Saturday’s fund-raising day, Newcastle pinned a 10-6 loss on the Dragons.

Freshmen Deaken Dobbins got the start and pitched three innings and took the loss.

“I thought Deaken did a good job in his first varsity start,” Sharp said. “We didn’t help him out a lot,” the coach continued.

“If you make mistakes against a team like Newcastle they will make you pay and they did.

“But I was proud of the way Deaken competed and pitched. Roberts came in to toss 3 1/3 innings.

“He did a good job until the seventh when he kinda’ lost his control,” Sharp said.

“Overall, Logan came in and attacked the zone and did a good job for us.  Idlett closed out the contest pitching 1/3 of an inning.  He threw one pitch and got a double play to end the inning. As a pitcher that is what you want.”

Newcastle jumped out to a 7-0 lead before the Dragon bats came alive. Purcell battled back slicing the lead to 7-4 but just couldn’t take the lead on the Racers.

The mistakes in that contest were costly.

Blair, Page, Smedley and Jett Tyler led the offense having good games at the plate, the coach reported.

“Overall, I was proud of the way we competed all day showing a lot of fight battling back throughout the day,” Sharp concluded.

On Monday, CHA pinned a 9-7 loss on the Dragons.

Page started on the mound and took the loss.

In four innings of work, Page fanned seven while issuing five walks.

“Parker did a good job, just fell behind a couple times on hitters and they got some clutch hits when we did walk them.

In relief, Knowles was on the bump for a pair of innings.

Sharp said Idlett, Page, Cole Smedley Boston Knowles hit the ball really well.

“Parker Page and Cole Smedley are hitting very well right now for us,” Sharp continued.

“Zach Idlett is doing a good job in the lead off spot, as well.

The Dragons jumped out to a 4-2 advantage.

But CHA game back to stake a 9-4 lead on Purcell.

“We battled back in the seventh but just came up short, 9-7,” Sharp reported. “We keep digging ourselves a hole and can’t overcome it.

“We have to quit doing that in the later half of games because it’s hard to overcome in the end.”

Also, Sharp noted that his staff gave up 10 walks in the contest.

“You will not win very many games walking that many,” he said. “We have to limit the walks to have success.

“I’m proud of the way we show toughness in battling back and showing fight in the end,” he concluded.

Purcell was scheduled to host CHA Tuesday and play in the Chickasha Tournament this coming weekend.

They are ticketed to play Lexington next Monday and Tuesday.