Milford gives Italy all they can handle but the Gladiators win in the end

Image: Senior pitcher Tyler Anderson(11) wills the Gladiators thru the majority of the game against Milford with Italy rallying in the bottom of the seventh-inning to get their third district win 4-3.

Senior pitcher Tyler Anderson(11) wills the Gladiators thru the majority of the game against Milford with Italy rallying in the bottom of the seventh-inning to get their third district win 4-3. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s junior catcher Tyler Vencill(15) holds a Bulldog runner at first-base.

Italy’s junior catcher Tyler Vencill(15) holds a Bulldog runner at first-base. (Barry Byers)

Image: Senior Bulldog pitcher Eric Evans(5) checks a Gladiator runner on first-base. Evans recorded 9 strikeouts against the Gladiators.

Senior Bulldog pitcher Eric Evans(5) checks a Gladiator runner on first-base. Evans recorded 9 strikeouts against the Gladiators. (Barry Byers)

Image: Milford catcher Bryan Fedrick holds a Gladiator runner at first-base with both sides watching each other closely thru several scoreless innings.

Milford catcher Bryan Fedrick holds a Gladiator runner at first-base with both sides watching each other closely thru several scoreless innings. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy right fielder Ryan Connor(4) gets under a fly ball hit to the gap.

Italy right fielder Ryan Connor(4) gets under a fly ball hit to the gap. (Barry Byers)

Image: Senior Eric Carson(2) warms up behind Italy’s dugout.

Senior Eric Carson(2) warms up behind Italy’s dugout. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s fans scatter with a foul ball barreling down toward the bleachers.

Italy’s fans scatter with a foul ball barreling down toward the bleachers. (Barry Byers)

Image: Senior second-baseman Zain Byers(5) secures a popup for an Italy out.

Senior second-baseman Zain Byers(5) secures a popup for an Italy out. (Barry Byers)

Image: Tyler Anderson(11) gets plenty of support from first-baseman Kevin Roldan(16) and the rest of his teammates with Anderson hanging in there against the Bulldogs.

Tyler Anderson(11) gets plenty of support from first-baseman Kevin Roldan(16) and the rest of his teammates with Anderson hanging in there against the Bulldogs.

Image: Eric Evans(5) is backed up by his Bulldog brothers as well with the scoreless battle raging on.

Eric Evans(5) is backed up by his Bulldog brothers as well with the scoreless battle raging on. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s John Byers(18) tries to make a play with a fly ball into centerfield but the Bulldogs make the catch.

Italy’s John Byers(18) tries to make a play with a fly ball into centerfield but the Bulldogs make the catch. (Barry Byers)

Image: Senior Gladiator Zain Byers(5) readies himself for a meeting with Evans.

Senior Gladiator Zain Byers(5) readies himself for a meeting with Evans. (Barry Byers)

Image: Infielders John Byers(18), Ty Windham(12), Zain Byers(5) and Kevin Roldan(16) try to keep Tyler Anderson(11) in the zone.

Infielders John Byers(18), Ty Windham(12), Zain Byers(5) and Kevin Roldan(16) try to keep Tyler Anderson(11) in the zone. (Barry Byers)

Image: During the fifth-inning, Jacarvus Gates(7) puts Milford on the board first with an RBI into right field.

During the fifth-inning, Jacarvus Gates(7) puts Milford on the board first with an RBI into right field. (Barry Byers)

Image: Ryan Connor(4) tracks down a blooper into right field with Milford striking the first blow on the scoreboard.

Ryan Connor(4) tracks down a blooper into right field with Milford striking the first blow on the scoreboard. (Barry Byers)

Image: No worries as Tyler Vencill(15) refuses to allow Milford to burst our bubble.

No worries as Tyler Vencill(15) refuses to allow Milford to burst our bubble. (Barry Byers)

Image: Kevin Roldan(16) is checked out by coaches Jackie Cate and Brandon Ganske after taking a pitch to the face.

Kevin Roldan(16) is checked out by coaches Jackie Cate and Brandon Ganske after taking a pitch to the face. (Barry Byers)

Image: Kevin Roldan(16) shows off his shiner before exiting the game and going to the E.R. in Waxahachie.

Kevin Roldan(16) shows off his shiner before exiting the game and going to the E.R. in Waxahachie. (Barry Byers)

Image: John Escamilla(7) stays hydrated with the game growing in intensity with each passing inning.

John Escamilla(7) stays hydrated with the game growing in intensity with each passing inning. (Barry Byers)

Image: Bailey Walton(17) makes the stretch for an out after taking over at first-base for the injured Kevin Roldan.

Bailey Walton(17) makes the stretch for an out after taking over at first-base for the injured Kevin Roldan. (Barry Byers)

Image: Ty Windham(12) relieves Tyler Anderson on the mound for Italy.

Ty Windham(12) relieves Tyler Anderson on the mound for Italy. (Barry Byers)

Image: Both players get a laugh after Bailey Walton(17) tried to trick the Bulldog runner into stepping off the bag.

Both players get a laugh after Bailey Walton(17) tried to trick the Bulldog runner into stepping off the bag. (Barry Byers)

Image: Sophomore Levi McBride(1) makes contact for the Gladiators.

Sophomore Levi McBride(1) makes contact for the Gladiators. (Barry Byers)

Image: Ryan Connor(4) comes thru for the Gladiators with a walk off hit to score teammate Tyler Anderson from second-base for the game winning run. Italy 4, Milford 3.

Ryan Connor(4) comes thru for the Gladiators with a walk off hit to score teammate Tyler Anderson from second-base for the game winning run. Italy 4, Milford 3. (Barry Byers)

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