PANAMA CITY, FL - For the second year in a row, no. 1 Bozeman hosted Port St. Joe in the 1A district 4 championship game. PSJ beat Bozeman 12-2 in route to the state championship last season, so Bozeman was looking for vengeance. The Bucks started senior ace, Cade Parker (FAU) on the mound and PSJ sent sophomore southpaw, Carter Dorsch. 

After a scoreless first, Bozeman began the home half of the 2nd by putting the first three hitters on base via single, bunt hit, and base on balls. Dorsch hit a batter to bring home the first run of the game but two crucial strikeouts had Dorsch and PSJ on the verge of getting out of a jam down just one. However, the Bucks would not be denied as leadoff hitter Brock Langlotz, (2020 OF) ripped a two-run single to center. Two batters later, catcher Chad McCann greeted Dorsch with a two-run base hit of his own to widen the Buck lead to 5-0 after 2 innings.

Meanwhile, Parker continued to put up zeroes on the board. He showed good control of both sides of the plate, mixing between FB, CB, and didn’t walk a single batter. The Tiger Sharks mounted a threat in the top of the 2nd, with back-to-back two out singles for right fielder, Cam Harmon. He fisted a ball into shallow right but Charlie Red was playing him perfectly as he dove behind second base to make the grab and preserve the shutout. 

It wouldn’t get any closer from there. As Parker continued to get better, the Bucks offense did too. After two more runs in the 4th knocked Dorsch out of the game, Bozeman jumped on new PSJ pitcher, Jacob Hopper, in the 5th. Needing three runs for the 10 run-rule to come into effect, the Bucks recorded four consecutive base hits after a leadoff walk to put the final nail in the coffin and claim the 1A District 4 Championship, 10-0 over Port St. Joe. 

Bozeman will host the loser of Jay vs Northview (Bratt) and PSJ will travel to take on the winner of district 3 next Tuesday in the first round of the FHSAA playoffs.

Related Content