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Lady Tigers cage Bulldogs in Jasper
BATTER, BATTER WATCH OUT – Eliana Oseguera (11) dominated the circle, allowing just one hit while facing 19 batters and closing the game with strikeout, pop fly, strikeout, slamming the door on Jasper.
Dylan Busby | The Silsbee Bee
Dylan Busby dylan@silsbee-bee.com The Silsbee Bee SILSBEE — The Silsbee Lady Tigers delivered a dominant performance Friday night, overwhelming Jasper 21-0 in a district matchup that ended by mercy rule after five innings. From the opening inning, Silsbee’s offense and aggressive base running created problems the Lady Bulldogs could not solve. The Lady Tigers finished the night with 15 hits and repeatedly pressured Jasper’s defense with their speed on the base paths. Silsbee’s ability to steal bases and advance runners proved especially effective as Jasper struggled to control pitches behind the plate, allowing the Lady Tigers to take extra bases throughout the game. The offensive barrage included several standout performances. Sadiey Rodriguez provided one of the game’s biggest highlights with a triple, helping spark the Lady Tigers’ scoring surge. Later in the contest, Kayleigh Rountree electrified the Silsbee dugout with a two-run inside-the-park home run, racing around the bases to extend the Lady Tigers’ growing lead. By the middle innings, the matchup had the feel of what could only be described as an unstoppable force meeting a very movable object. Silsbee continued piling on runs while its defense kept Jasper from generating any momentum. Defensively, the Lady Tigers were equally sharp. Silsbee played clean in the field, limiting mistakes and consistently shutting down Jasper’s attempts to put runners on base. In the circle, Eliana Oseguera controlled the game from start to finish. The Silsbee pitcher worked efficiently throughout the night, allowing just one hit while facing 19 batters. Oseguera closed out the contest in quick fashion in the fifth inning, retiring the final three Jasper hitters in 11 pitches. Her final sequence included a strikeout, a pop fly and another strikeout, sealing the run-rule victory. With the offense producing consistently and the defense playing solid behind her, Oseguera never allowed Jasper to threaten. Silsbee’s balanced performance, aggressive base running, strong hitting and steady pitching, kept the Lady Tigers firmly in control from the first inning through the final out. The 21-0 victory adds another impressive result to Silsbee’s season as the Lady Tigers continue building momentum in district play. If Friday’s performance was any indication, the combination of speed, power and pitching gives Silsbee the ability to overwhelm opponents when the team is firing on all cylinders.
DON’T LET HIM GET ON BASE, because that man is dangerous. Mason Castolenia (2) leads the Raiders in stealing bases if his bat can get hot this he could be an offensive weapon for the Raiders this year.
Brent Guidry | The Silsbee Bee
Young Raiders finding their identity before district
Dylan Busby dylan@silsbee-bee.com The Silsbee Bee LUMBERTON — With district play approaching, the Lumberton Raiders baseball team is continuing to develop a young roster while building momentum early in the season. Head coach Jeffrey Bennett said the Raiders entered the year with significant turnover after graduating 10 seniors and eight starters from a team that reached the regional finals the previous season. That transition has created opportunities for younger players while the program works to establish its new core. “Anytime you lose that many seniors from a team that went to the regional finals, there will always be growing pains with a new, young group,” Bennett said. Through the first 11 games of the season, several Raiders have already stepped forward as key contributors. Junior outfielder Luke Cody, one of three returning starters, has led the team offensively and currently sits as Lumberton’s leading hitter. Bennett said Cody’s consistency at the plate has helped anchor the lineup early in the season. Another player beginning to find his rhythm is Mason Castolenia, who Bennett described as the table setter for the Raiders offense. “Mason has been swinging it well the last few games, and hopefully he gets hot,” Bennett said. Behind the plate, freshman Kohen Sandberg has stepped into a major role for Lumberton. Early-season injuries opened the door for the young catcher, and Bennett said Sandberg has taken advantage of the opportunity. “He has taken over the catching responsibilities and run with it,” Bennett said. On the mound, Colton Harwell and Connor Glaze have begun to establish themselves as the Raiders’ top pitching options as the season progresses. Lumberton has dealt with several injuries early in the year, leaving the team short-handed on the mound, but Bennett said getting pitchers healthy could make the staff a strength moving forward. “If we get them back at full strength, our pitching will be the strength of our team heading into district play,” he said. As district competition approaches, Bennett expects the Raiders’ returning starters to play a major role. Those players include junior pitcher/first baseman Talon White, junior outfielder Luke Cody, and senior pitcher/third baseman Colton Harwell. Additional contributors include junior Madden Dean, who can play pitcher, catcher or outfield, and junior Mason Castolenia, who also sees time at shortstop. Despite the youth and roster turnover, Bennett said the expectations inside the Lumberton program remain the same. “The standard here at Lumberton is that we compete on a daily basis and are in contention for a playoff spot as we move throughout district play,” Bennett said. The Raiders will continue working to find their identity as a group, but Bennett said the goal is clear: show up every Tuesday and Friday during district play ready to compete. If Lumberton can continue to develop and get healthy, Bennett believes the Raiders have a chance to earn one of the district’s four playoff spots in what he described as a tough and competitive district race.
