Barton pitched the final 1.2 innings, allowing a hit and a walk while getting a pair of strikeouts. Jake Spychalski started the game for Grove, allowing two hits, two walks and two runs (one unearned) to get the win.

But it was fellow senior pitcher Ty Phillips who carried the bulk of the load both on the mound and at the plate. Phillips went 3.1 innings, working around four walks and three hits allowed to allow just one run while also picking up a pair of RBIs. His single in the first inning scored Spychalski with the second of Grove’s two runs to start the game.

Scottie Spicer started the rally with a one-out single, stealing second and advancing to third on a passed ball before scoring on Spychalski’s single for the first run of the game.

After Phillips drove in Spychalski to make it 2-0, the Bulldogs (0-1) bounced right back with two runs of their own. Brett Pritchett drove in Bryce Rutherford with a single, and Trey Baker later scored on a groundout by Brodie White to tie the score.

Grove would get two back in the top of the second with some small ball. Trent Lyle led off the inning by getting hit by a pitch then stole second and third. Walks by Spicer and Spychalski loaded the bases before Lyle scored on a passed ball. A sacrifice fly by Phillips scored Spicer to make it 4-2.

Barton would single with two outs in the fifth and score on Brent Hall’s double to make it 5-2. Jay would get one back in the bottom of the inning when Baker scored on an error, but the Bulldogs stranded two in that inning and left three more in the seventh to end the game.

Layne Graham went the distance for the Bulldogs, allowing eight hits and four earned runs while striking out 11. Jay will play a doubleheader against Locust Grove and Vinita beginning at noon on Saturday on their home field.

Grove will play Tulsa Hale on Monday at home and at Hale on Tuesday in a pair of District 5A-3 contests.