Jasper heads to state

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Bridge City's Troy Bolton (No. 4, right) gets the ball from Daniel Wiley (No. 5, center) as Jasper's Blake Weller-Alexander (No. 10, left) slides into an out during the regional final baseball game at Lamar University in Beaumont on Saturday, June 2, 2007.


Jasper's Taylor Hart (No. 3, right) dives to first base during the regional final baseball game against Bridge City in Vincent-Beck Stadium at Lamar University.


Jasper's Justin Parsons (No. 4) pitches during the regional final baseball game against Bridge City at Lamar University. Parsons pitched all seven innings although he had pitched on Friday. Only one player made it back to the plate.



Bridge City's Jaden Dillon (No. 23) swings and misses for a strike during the regional final baseball game against Jasper at Vincent-Beck Stadium.



Jasper's Travis Reagan (No. 19) misses a ground ball during the regional final baseball game against Bridge City at Lamar University.



Jasper's Parker Phillips (No. 12, right) looks for the last call of the game during the regional final baseball game against Bridge City at Vincent-Beck Stadium. Jasper won the 3A game, series and title. Jasper advances to play in the state tournament on Wednesday. The Bulldogs will make their first state appearance in 22 years.


Jasper's players and coaches celebrate their win over Bridge City after the regional final baseball game at Vincent-Beck Stadium. Jasper won the 3A game, series and title. Jasper plays Abilene Wylie in a semifinal game Wednesday at Dell Diamond in Round Rock. The championship game is Thursday.

Please read "Both pitchers stood tall..." by Perryn Keys. It's a fine example of quality sports writing.

From a PJ's point of view, it's nice to have two teams in the regional finals. It means the paper is guaranteed a winner and (hopefully) the next state champion. However, it also means some fine kids go home for the last time as baseball stars. Their baseball "career" ends with the last out of their senior high school baseball game.