The Lexington Bulldogs were at Mount St. Mary starting last Tuesday for regional baseball. They won two games against Blackwell (12-2, 13-7), but lost two to Mount St. Mary (14-0, 23-4) to end their season.

“We played two good games against Blackwell and two bad games against Mount St. Mary. They are picked eighth in the coaches’ rankings; they’re a good team.

“Our bats overcame our lack of pitching and we had confidence against Blackwell,” head coach Matt Dierking said.

The Bulldogs finished with a 27-12 record and will graduate six seniors – Drew Dierking, Hunter Olson, Logan Carroll, Zeke Faulkenberry, Skylar Rollins and Kaden Wells.

“This was a really athletic group of seniors and they will be tough to lose. They have contributed to our success this season,” Dierking said.

Regional tournament

In their first game, a 12-2 win over Blackwell, the Bulldogs collected 10 hits and 10 RBIs.

Dierking and Carroll had two hits apiece.

Dierking, Faulkenberry, James McMillan and Buddy Cormany had two ribbies each.

Blackwell got on the board first with one run scored in the third inning.

Lexington answered with seven runs in the top of the fourth. McMillan singled to score one, Cormany singled to score two, Faulkenberry singled to score two and Dierking doubled to score two.

The Bulldogs would add five more runs through the final three innings to win the game.

Ryan Johnson got the win on the mound. He pitched three and two-thirds innings allowing two runs on three hits and two strikeouts.

Colby Haynes and Preston Ladusau both saw time on the mound in the final innings. They combined for three strikeouts.

Lexington faced Mount St. Mary in their second game, and fell to the Rockets 14-0.

The Bulldogs collected no hits in the loss.

That loss pitted Lexington against Blackwell again, and again, the Bulldogs picked up the win, 13-7.

Lexington collected 10 hits in the win, including two each from Dierking and Carroll.

Carroll led the team with six RBIs – a single in the first that scored two runs, a sacrifice fly in the fourth to score one and a two run home run in the sixth.

Blackwell scored one in the top of the first. But, Lexington answered and took the 3-1 thanks to a McMillan sacrifice bunt and Carroll’s single.

The Maroons retook the lead with a three-spot in the second.

Lexington tied it up when a Blackwell error scored one run in the third inning.

Four runs were scored in the bottom of the fourth that gave Lexington the lead. They added one in the fifth and four more in the sixth to win the game.

The Bulldogs stole 10 bases in the win.

That win sent them back to face Mount St. Mary.

The Bulldogs lost 23-4. Carroll led his team with three hits in the loss. McMillan finished the game with two RBIs.

Despite starting the season with a 1-6 record, the Lexington Bulldogs won 26 of their final 32 games.

“We were picked to finish last in our district and in the end we finished third behind Lone Grove and Washington.

“This team defied expectations and we played with a chip on our shoulder. They took that projection to heart.”

Coach Dierking finished his first season as the head coach and said he’s proud of how the team played.

“They showed a lot of heart and played with confidence and for each other all year.”