BUDE — Led by Ben McDowell, Blaine Abernathy and Jordan Hunt, the Franklin County Bulldogs moved one step closer to winning the Region 7-3A championship as they defeated the North Pike Jaguars 4-1 Thursday night.

The game was originally scheduled for last Tuesday, but bad weather forced the game to be postponed until Thursday after getting in just a half of an inning. Both teams went into the game sporting 8-0 records in division play.

Franklin County jumped on North Pike starting pitching early with three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Abernathy hit a two-run home run and McDowell added an RBI double.

The Bulldogs struck again in the bottom of the fourth to make it a 4-0 game. On the mound, McDowell had good command of his pitches. He allowed just three hits, struck out eight and walked three in a complete-game win. The Jaguars’ only run off him occurred in the top of the fourth.

Hunt was Franklin County’s other two hits with a single and a double.

With the win, Franklin County improved to 14-3 overall and 9-0 in region play while North Pike dropped to 8-1.

The two teams are scheduled to play each other today at North Pike with the varsity game at 7 p.m. — if the weather is permitting.

All the Bulldogs have to do is win or make sure the Jaguars do not win by more than three runs to clinch the Region 7-3A championship.

Monterey 20, Epps 3

EPPS, La. — Beau Shivley provided much of the offense for Monterey as they soundly defeated the Panthers in three innings Thursday afternoon in a District 3-B game.

Shivley went 3-for-4 with four runs batted in, including a two-run double during a 12-run scoring barrage to start out the game for the Wolves. Monterey had just six hits in the game, but was also the beneficiary of at least five errors and several walks by Epps’ pitching.

Austin Lipsey picked up the win for Monterey (8-10, 3-1) as he pitched two innings of no-hit ball while striking out three and walking two. Reggie Clark suffered the loss, giving up 16 runs on five hits, five walks and one hit batsman and he somehow struck out four.

Monterey improved to 7-10 overall and 3-1 in District 3-B with a big home game coming up next Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. against district-leading Forest.