Dodgers ride arms to three wins over weekend

SENATH, Mo. -- Dunklin County Post 303 manager Jamie Johnson said before the season that one of his team's major strengths was its pitching.

That was quite obvious over the weekend, as the Dodgers won three of their four games, getting complete games from their starters in all three victories.

Post 303 swept District XIV Jackson 5-0 and 11-1, respectively on Saturday before splitting with Paragould 7-Up on Sunday, winning the opener 4-2 and dropping the nightcap 11-10.

The Dodgers (12-8, 2-0 District XIV) have won nine of their last 11 games.

"We've had a pretty good run here lately," said Johnson.

The weekend's biggest win came in the opener against Jackson, as Post 303 stayed perfect in district play behind a three-hit shutout by Shane Branum. In seven innings of work, Branum allowed just one walk while ringing up eight strikeouts.

"That's a great effort by Shane," Johnson said. "He really did an outstanding job of getting ahead of hitters. He had all three pitches working."

Dunklin County scored four times in the bottom of the second inning. Kaleb Canoy doubled home Dylan Stockton and Austin Jackson to open the scoring, while Heath Horvath hit a sacrifice fly to score Aaron McCaig. Dustin Hunter capped the rally by doubling home Canoy.

Post 303 pounded out eight hits in the win, led by Hunter, who was 3-for-4 with two doubles and a RBI. Canoy was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and Horvath finished 1-for-3 but drove in a pair of runs.

"The kids are playing well," said Johnson. "They know how important conference games are. Right now we just want to stay on track and win as many conference games as we can."

In the nightcap Saturday, McCaig went the distance, striking out eight and allowing just three hits and one walk in the win.

Horvath finished the contest 2-for-4, while Hunter hit a solo home run and Matt Fouts had the big blow, an inside-the-park grand slam.

The Dodgers also drew nine walks in the contest.

Post 303's run of strong pitching continued in Sunday's opener, as Hunter tossed a complete game to down 7-Up. Hunter scattered five hits and one walk while allowing just two runs -- both unearned -- and striking out a pair.

"The ballgame with Paragould was a really good game," Johnson said. "It was a good clean baseball game."

Garrett Stockton had a big day, going 2-for-2, walking twice and driving in a run. Horvath was 2-for-4 with a double and RBI, while Aaron Booker drove in a run on a sacrifice fly.

Ironically, Sunday's nightcap was a slugfest, as Paragould pulled out an 11-10 win over the Dodgers.

Dunklin County rallied from an 8-5 deficit to tie the score at 9-9 in the bottom of the sixth inning, but 7-Up tacked on two runs in the top of the seventh and held off a comeback in the bottom of the inning.

Pot 303 pounded out 17 hits in the loss, as Booker, Branum and Sloan Richardson each had three hits in the contest.

"It was one of those games where they just scored more runs that we did," said Johnson. "But I was really proud of the kids -- they never quit competing. They just kept playing."

The Dodgers travel to Charleston this evening to kick off a six-game road swing that includes doubleheaders at Cape Girardeau (Thursday) and Perryville (Friday).