The season came to an end last week for Sulphur baseball, as the Dogs fell in the regional championship to Bethany.
Sulphur (21-16) lost to Bethany 13-2 on Friday, wrapping up another solid season for the program.
The Dogs opened the 3-team regional event with a 7-0 win over Clinton on Thursday.
But Sulphur fell to top-seeded Bethany in the regional semifinals later that day, losing 12-1.
Sulphur bounced back with another win over Clinton early Friday, beating the Red Tornadoes 4-1 before falling to Bethany later Thursday.
“We had a good year,” said Sulphur head coach Mike Matlack. “Anytime you can win 20 games, it’s a good thing.”
Sulphur won 20+ games for the second year in a row and returns all but one senior next season.
“There are a lot of things we can build on by bringing a lot of guys back from this year’s team,” said Matlack.
The head coach also spoke about the promising junior high program, as well.
“We have a couple of young guys in the junior high program that are looking to step in and help next year,” he said.
As the Dogs wrap up school and play summer ball this year, Matlack is hoping to take another step forward in 2025.
“We are hoping to have a successful summer and get better so that we are prepared for next spring,” he said.
Sulphur 7, Clinton 0
Bridge Barrett was outstanding on the mound for Sulphur, while the lineup used a big 4th inning to pull away from Clinton last week in the opening game of regionals.
Barrett pitched seven shutout innings, a complete game, allowing just three hits and walking only two, while striking out eight hitters.
Sulphur scored two runs in the 1st but piled on five runs in the 4th to distance itself from Clinton.
Briar Davneport was 3-for-4 with a double and RBI, while Eathin Kennedy was 2-for-4 with three RBIs.
Jett Runyan doubled, while Cash Matlack and Drake Wood each drove in a run in the win for Sulphur.
Bethany 12, Sulphur 1 The Broncos got up early and kept inching away from Sulphur last Thursday in the regional semifinals.
After six runs gave Bethany a 6-0 lead in the first, the Broncos added another run in the 2nd and 3rd each.
Sulphur got on the board in the bottom of the 4th with a run, but Bethany scored in each of the next three innings.
The Bulldogs had just three hits, as Matlack, Kennedy and Barrett each singled.
Sulphur 4, Clinton 1
After trailing for most of the game, Sulphur tied it up in the 5th and took the lead in the 6th to stave off a season-ending loss last Friday to Clinton.
Clinton led 1-0 through four innings before the Dogs tied it up in the bottom of the 5th.
Davenport drove in Runyan on a groundout to knot the game at 1-1.
The Dogs added three more runs in the 6th to give themselves a 4-1 lead and the pitching held on.
Cooper Cole and Kennedy started the 6th with singles before Wood moved them to 2nd and 3rd with a sacrifice bunt.
Barrett delivered with the goahead hit, scoring both on a 2-run single during the next at bat.
Runyan and Davenport singled shortly after before Maddax Mo- bly walked with the bases loaded to make it 4-1.
Kennedy closed the door in the 7th, finishing off a complete game for Sulphur.
The senior allowed just four hits and walked one, striking out five.
Barrett and Runyan were both 2-for-3 and Mobly walked twice in the win.
Bethany 13, Sulphur 2 It was more of the same on Friday, as Bethany took an early lead and Sulphur could never catch up, ending the Bulldogs season.
Bethany scored two in the 1st and six more in the 2nd to go up big early.
Both teams scored a run each in the 5th and 6th to make it 10-2 before the Broncos added three more in the 7th.
Barrett was 3-for-3 and Wood was 2-for-4 in the loss.
Kaden Seitz was 2-for-3 and Matlack had an RBI single.
