The Orange Leader

BEAUMONT — The Bridge City Cardinals stunned the Silsbee Tigers in unexpected fashion, 10-run ruling them in six innings with a final of 11-1 at Lamar University’s Vincent-Beck Stadium Thursday night in Game 1 of their best-of-three Class 4A Region III quarterfinal series.

With Vincent-Beck Stadium packed for the game, the atmosphere felt energetic and involved throughout the game and the importance of the game was felt.

Silsbee (25-6) had downed the Cardinals (19-12) two times this year in District 22-4A play with a cumulative score of 21-2.  In this game, that statistic meant absolutely nothing as the Cardinals are playing hotter than they have all year.  The whole lineup was hitting above average and playing smart, good sign for the series ahead.

Game 2 of the series will be back at Vincent-Beck Saturday at 2 p.m. followed by Game 3 if necessary.

Since dropping a 2-1 nine-inning decision to Huntington in Game 1 of their bi-district series, the Cardinals have outscored their opponents 57-6 in their last five games.

Coach Chad Landry gave freshman Peyton Havard the start in Game 1 and the ninth grader showed no jitters.  It was Havard’s first start of the year, but  he threw 24 innings on the season.  With that said in the first few innings where you expect the jitters, he showed his youth with letting runners on, but also showed his maturity in being able to lock it down and limit the outcome to little or none.

Havard would finish the night with four strikeouts, three walks and allowed five hits while allowing one run in six innings pitched.