BASEBALL: Diamond Doggs face one of state's top pitchers

Austin Meyer earned the start for WBHS and Smith said despite some walking issues, his pitcher is set for a standout spring.

“Austin will be there for us,” the coach said. “I believe in him. He’s a competitor.”

The Bulldoggs certainly had their moments against Heddinger. Grayson Ivey had three hits and drove in four runs while Taylor Keinat added three hits.

“We got what we wanted to out of this game,” Smith said. “We had some quality pitching and that is only going to help us get ready for region play.”

The visiting Wolves jumped out to a 4-0 lead after the top of the third inning but WBHS answered with three in the bottom of the third, keyed by a double from both Dylan Ivey and Grayson Ivey.
Buford tacked on two more runs in the fourth and one each in the fifth and sixth innings. The Bulldoggs pushed two across in the bottom of the seventh but missed a scoring opportunity in the sixth when a double play ended the inning.

In the bottom of the seventh, Grayson Ivey delivered once again to get his team within three but WBHS left two runners stranded. The fact Grayson Ivey has done so well in the early stages of 2011 is something which Smith has noticed and has not been surprised by.

“Grayson is simply more experienced this season and is a year older,” Smith said. “He’s just a sophomore but he plays much older.”

WBHS will host Dacula Friday in a rematch from earlier in the season, won by the Bulldoggs 3-2.

“It’s another AAAAA school who will be very good,” Smith said. “I know they will be ready because they don’t want to be swept by us.”

Game time Friday against Dacula is set for 5:55 p.m.