Baseball Recap: Jasper Takes a Loss

Jasper extended their losing streak to 13 on Tuesday, dropping their season record down to 6-17 in the process. They were a single run away from ending the streak, but they lost a 5-4 heartbreaker at the hands of the West Orange-Stark Mustangs. The Bulldogs were given a dose of their own medicine in this game as the Mustangs apparently hadn't forgotten their defeat the last time these teams played back in March of 2024.

Gage Foster was a force to be reckoned with on the mound despite the final result: he didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only one hit while striking out six over 4.2 innings pitched. Furthermore, he didn't allow a single earned run, the first time he has blanked an opponent since back in March.

Payton Brooks

Runs

02/22/25 @ Kountze	3
04/22/25 vs West Orange-Stark	2
03/04/25 vs West Brook	2
02/27/25 vs Center	2
02/21/25 @ East Chambers	2
+ 7 more games

On the hitting side, Jasper saw five different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Payton Brooks, who went 1-for-3 with two runs. Brooks is becoming a predictor of the Bulldogs' success: when he posts at least two runs the team is 4-1 (and 2-16 when he doesn't).

As for West Orange-Stark, their win ended a 16-game drought on the road dating back to last season and puts them at 3-18-1. The game was the first time they have beaten Jasper on their field since March 6, 2020.

On West Orange-Stark's side, Ja'Mikeal Davis was a major factor while hitting and pitching. He pitched two innings while giving up no earned runs off one hit. What's more, Davis posted four strikeouts, the most he's had since back in February. He was also solid in the batter's box, getting on base in two of his three plate appearances with one stolen base and one run. That run was his first of the season.

While Jasper had to take the loss, they won't have to wait long to give it another shot: the pair's next game is a rematch scheduled at 7:00 p.m. on Friday.