The Jena Giants started district play this past week. It would be a good matchup to start district play as the Giants would play the defending district champions from a year ago in the Buckeye Panthers. The Giants split the series with the Panthers a year ago but the Giants would end up finishing third in district after losing two to Caldwell.
On Tuesday, March 19, Buckeye would travel to Jena in Game One of the series. The game would end up being a pitcher’s duel as Jena senior pitcher Paxton Willis and Buckeye junior pitcher Adam Brodnax would both pitch well. Willis would end up pitching 5.1 innings giving up one earned run on four hits with a strikeout. Errors would prove costly for the Giants as they would commit five errors in the game and Buckeye would score three unearned runs off of the errors. Brodnax would pitch a shutout and Buckeye would go on to win 5-0.
Brayden Oakes would lead the Giants at the plate as he would have three of the four Giants hits in the game.
On Wednesday, March 20, the Giants would travel to Buckeye to take on the Panthers in Game Two. This game was supposed to be played on Thursday but was moved to Wednesday due to the threat of severe weather.
Buckeye would get on the board first as they would score a run in the top of the first. The Giants would answer in the top of the third as Cayden Mursch would come in to score on a sacrifice fly from Brayden Oakes. Buckeye would retake the lead with two runs in the bottom of the third. The Giants would pick up another run in the top of the fourth but would be unable to pick up any more runs after that. Buckeye would go on to win 5-2.
Calex Campbell got the start for the Giants as he went 3.2 innings giving up four runs on seven hits with four strikeouts. Brayden Oakes, Zerrick Jones and Jacob Pentecost would lead the Giants with 2 hits each. Jones and Oakes would both have a double in the game as well.
The Giants are now 10-7 overall on the season. This week the Giants will be at Bunkie on Thursday and on Saturday will have a home game against Bunkie. You can hear the Thursday game on 102.7 KJNA starting at 6:00 p.m. with first pitch.
If you are not in the listening area then you can tune in on the MIXLR app by searching for KJNAFM or go online at www.kjnafmjena.mixlr. com.
