SPEEDING BULLETS
Team ends season second in state
Staff Reports

The Bullard Bullets, along with their coaches, take time to pray before Friday's state championship game. -- Photo courtesy of Tracy Duplechin

After winning almost every game they played this past season, the Bullard Bullets baseball team advanced to state last week - only to be defeated by the Belton Rebels in a tough match last week.

"We had a good run," said Coach Wayne Thomas. "And we're pleased with the boys and all they've accomplished this year."

The team was named 2007 State Runners Up. The Rebels got some hits early on bringing them up 9-1 going into the fifth inning. Jesse Duplechin hit a ground ball out to center field bringing in three runs to making the score 9-4.

Top of the sixth inning brought the Bullets holding back Belton with in a triple play by Britt Thomas.

This was not be the first time the team, who has been together for almost 10 years, has advanced to the state competition.

"We have come a long way," Thomas said.

The Bullets' winning streak began early in May, when they defeated the National Division rivals Troup Gators at home. Following another win against the Whitehouse Wildcats and a victory in a hometown showdown opposite the Bullard Panthers, the team scored their first shutout against the

The Bullard Bullets are: front row, from left, Matthew Brooks, Leonard Geisleman, Bo Hamby, Cory Rowland, Jesse Duplechin, Drew Gurley, and Naylan Phelps. Back Row, from left, are: Coach Wayne Thomas, Britt Thomas, Dirk Eberhart, Brannon Beaton, Coach Mike Duplechin, Trevor Rumbelow, J.P. Hendrix, and Coach Pat Hendrix.

Whitehouse Hawks.

After what Thomas

deemed a "flawless 12-0 win," they ruled again, beating the Whitehouse Rangers in Bullard.

"The Bullets pulled off an unbelievable win. Talk about a team effort," Thomas said. "The Bullets won 8-2, and beat a team that has never lost a regular season game, ever."

June brought the same good results when the Bullets defeated the Troup Apaches and won another shutout against the Whitehouse Hawks.

Abump in the road came in mid-June, when they lost their first game of the season to the Troup Gators.

"The Bullets came out a little flat and paid the price," said Coach Pat Hendrix said. "They took the loss well and learned

from it."

The Bullets won three

more games to the end of the season: a third shutout against the Jacksonville Jaguars, a tight game against the Whitehouse Yellowjackets, and a win against hometown rivals, the Bullard Longhorns.

With great pitching, hitting, and team contribution the entire season, the Bullets achieved an almost flawless season, with the help of their coaches, Thomas, Hendrix, and Mike Duplechin.

"As with Major League players, these players have come and gone," Duplechin said. "But one thing has remained true- these coaches know how to bring a team together."

A play by play of the season can be read on the Bullard Bullets official website, www.leaguelineup.com/bullard bullets