PEARLAND DAWSON — Dawson evened their District 23-6A record at 3-3 after blasting Alief Taylor (13-3) and Alief Hastings (11-1) in league action.
The Alief schools (Taylor, Hastings, Elsik) offer little resistance with their baseball teams and the same goes regarding their softball programs.
In an eight team district, all Dawson has to do is to defeat the Alief schools for a guaranteed fourth place in district and a playoff spot. Of course, the Eagles don't want to be just satisfied making the post-season as they want to compete for a district title.
At the present time, there are still two teams (Pearland, George Ranch) that are undefeated in district, but that changed Tuesday (late) when the two had a head-to-head meeting to see which one will take sole possession of first place in 23-6A.
Dawson beat Taylor 13-3 while riding the arm of pitcher Tyler Langston who allowed four hits, two runs while striking out four and walking two. Zachery Mack pitched one frame allowing one hit, one run, striking out two and walking one.
Taylor took an early 1-0 lead in the first frame and then Dawson's offense took over the game as they answered in the top of the second with three runs for a 3-1 lead.
The Lions scored in their half of the second to close the gap to 3-2, but Dawson answered with four runs in the top of the fourth and six more in the fifth for a commanding 13-2 advantage.
Taylor managed a run in the bottom of the fifth, but the Eagles closed out the game leading 13-3 as the 10-run mercy-rule ended the game after five innings.
Leading hitters for Dawson included: Jalen Freeman (2-for-4, two runs, one RBI), Mack (1-for-3, one run, one RBI), Luke Haas (2-for-4, one run, two RBIs), Jarret Tadlock (2-for-2, three runs), and Carter Ostrom (1-for-2, three runs, one RBI).
In another 10-run mercy-rule contest, Dawson beat Alief Hastings 11-1 in five innings to even their district record at 3-3.
The Eagles banged out 12 hits for 11 runs led by Jacob Carriere who was 2-for-3 with one run scored and three RBIs including a double.
Jalen Freeman was 3-for-3 with a double and three runs scored while Jarrett Tadlock added a third double for two RBIs.
Dawson jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the opening frame while the Bears got a run in their half of the first.
But the Eagles blanked the Bears the rest of the game while adding two runs in the second, three runs in the fourth, and three runs in the fifth to close out the game 11-1.
John Rawlinson picked up the will as he allowed no hits on one unearned run with seven strikeouts. Tadlock stepped in relief in the fifth and allowed no runs and no hits while striking out the side. The pair combined for the no-hitter.