Behind the Plate: Jesuit Baseball Splits Series with JJ Pearce

During the week of spring break for Jesuit Dallas, one could find the Jesuit baseball team hitting batting practices and throwing bullpens on the field here at Jesuit. A week off of school doesn’t mean a week off of baseball.

Spring break means the start of district for the Rangers, where their undefeated record serves nothing but intimidation for their opponents. The Rangers face off with one of two district rivals, JJ Pearce. Pearce won the district last year in a climactic winner take all game versus the Rangers. Now last year’s district winner and runner up face off to start off the Jesuit district schedule. 

Game 1: 3/12/24  @Pearce 

Jesuit Loses: 3-4 

As the boys exited the bus at Pearce, they were greeted with a rowdy crowd gathered to watch the matchup between these two great teams. Despite being on spring break, the crowd filled all the stands and the side nets around the field.  Junior ace Dillion Brandt took the mound for the Rangers. The game started as a pitchers duel as there were barely any baserunners and no runs scored until the fourth inning. The Pearce batter hits a fly ball into the outfield for a sacrifice fly to plate the first run of the game. The Rangers followed up that run as they scored two runs of their own courtesy of some smart baserunning and situational hitting by sophomore Braxton Barber. Pearce exploded in the bottom of the fifth scoring three more runs to put them ahead again and knocking Brandt out of the game.

Brandt ended the game allowing four earned runs, striking out seven batters, and giving up seven hits. The Rangers ended up picking up one more run to bring the score within one run. Then senior Joe Allen came into pitch, striking out all three batters he faced and giving the Rangers a comeback opportunity in the top of the seventh inning. With multiple runners in scoring position, the Rangers couldn’t complete the comeback,

losing 3-4 for their first lose of the season. Senior Cam Davis, Braxton Barber, and senior Tristen Bird all tallied two hits in the game.

“We didn’t do the little things and it came back to bite us in the end” – Cam Davis ’24 

Game 2: 3/13/24 Wright Field

Jesuit Wins: 10-5

After suffering their first bit of adversity for the year, the Rangers return to defend Wright Field. Junior Asher Levy had the tall task of stopping the Mustang offense. Pearce led off the game with a three run homerun in the top of the first. No other runs scored until the fourth inning once again. Pearce built their lead up by one more run to make the score four to zero. Asher Levy ended his day in fourth. He was relieved by senior Jaxx Rigelsky.

Jaxx came in and threw the remaining four innings, allowing only one hit and striking out seven batters, shutting down the Mustang offense. The Rangers took this as a cue to score nine runs in two innings. Powered by Braxton Barber’s four RBIs, the Rangers took a commanding five run lead. This lead powered the Rangers to win the game and split the series at one game for each team. Sophomores James Jorgensen and Braxton Barber both recorded two hits. 

” It was a great team win that showed that we aren’t just going to lay down when things get tough” – Jaxx Rigelsky ’24 

The Rangers will take on Lake Highlands at Wright Field on Tuesday, the 19th at 7:00 PM. Be sure to log onto the Jesuit website and follow the Rangers Sport Broadcast or come out to the field to support them!

Stay tuned for The Roundup‘s weekly baseball reports and other sports news!