Portageville Bulldogs advance to Bootheel Tourney championship

CARUTHERSVILLE, Mo. - The Portageville Bulldogs held off a valiant effort by the Senath- Hornersville Lions to advance to the Bootheel Conference Championship game, winning by the narrowest of margins 5-4.

The Lions players had just faced that same squad four days earlier at home and held their own against Portageville. The team lost a very close game 4-2, and had a number of chances to win, but left the bases loaded twice.

The Lions' squad entered the game Tuesday feeling very confident it could compete with a better team, by playing sound baseball, taking advantage of opportunities and not giving extra outs.

The "Star of the Game," Portageville's Mason Adams bats Tuesday.Photo by Tim Caldwell

The score was nip-and-tuck the whole game, back and forth.

Senath led 1-0 and 2-1 after the first two innings. Both teams were tied at three after four.

But Portageville took the crucial lead after six innings, 5-4.

The relief pitcher and winner for the Bulldogs, Mason Adams on the bump Tuesday.Photo by Tim Caldwell

The bottom of the Bulldog lineup stepped up by going five-for-nine, reaching base six times and scoring three runs.

Huston Partin went two-for-three, and Jayquan Bogan went three-for-three with three solid singles. Portageville entered the bottom of the sixth trailing 4-3, when with one out, Mason Adams singled in Huston Partin and Jayquan Bogan to take the lead 5-4.

Garza, the pitcher for Senath, retired Conner Johnson on a pop-up with two runners in scoring position to keep the lead at one run going into the top of the seventh inning.

In the top of that inning with one out, Christian Small legged out an infield single to offer Senath life. Amador Luna struck out with Small advancing into scoring position at second. Glacian Johnson, the next batter hit a soft line drive into the hole between third and shortstop that looked like it was headed into left field for the possible tying run, when Mason Adams made a diving shoe-top catch to end the game.

Conner Johnson started for the Bulldogs, but experienced control issues and only pitched 2/3 of an inning.

Mason Adams, the star of the game, got the win in relief going the last 3-1/3 innings.

The starter for Senath-Hornersville, Christian Garza.Photo by Tim Caldwell

Adams not only collected the win but drove in the winning run and made the game-saving catch. Senath's Christian Garza pitched six strong innings allowing only five runs (four earned) on nine hits, two walks and three strikeouts. He was the hard luck loser.

Senath-Hornersville, now 11-6, faces East Prairie on the road at noon Saturday, May 4.

The Portageville Bulldogs, now 23-6 because of the rainout will play the backend of a doubleheader against the Campbell Camels for the conference championship immediately following this game.