BUDE – Tommy Arnold treated it like any other game. He gave hisbest, hoped for the win and wished for a near-perfect game. But,instead of wishing Thursday night, Arnold made it a reality. Arnoldthrew a perfect game against the Hazlehurst Indians, enroute to a13-0 Region 7-3A victory. Arnold gained the win by striking out 12of 13 batters and allowed no hits or errors.

“I just did my best tonight,” said Arnold after the game. “Ididn’t really know I threw it (perfect game) until after the game,when the announcement was made. Overall, it was just a great teameffort that gave me the chance to win it.”

Arnold, a 6-1, 180-pound senior from Meadville, improved hisrecord to an unblemished 5-0 mark. He allowed the ball to be inplay three times. His teammates kept him out of trouble and inperfection with excellent Bulldog defense.

“Tommy pitched a great ball game tonight,” said Bulldog coach EdZumbro Jr. “It’s very hard to throw a perfect game like he did. Hedidn’t allowed one hit , walk or error in five innings of play.Tommy’s a good young man and he’s earned everything he didtonight.”

With Arnold setting the tone on the mound, the Bulldogs (20-7)knew they had to set the tone at the plate. So in turn, the Dawgsflexed their home-based swamp muscles with back-to-back five runinnings to gain a 10-0 lead after two.

The Dawgs used key singles by seniors Bert Smith, Vance Windomand junior Dewayne Mitchell to highlight the run fest. Franklinadded three more runs between the third and fourth to take command13-0. After that, the game was called after four and a half,because of the 10-run rule.

“This was a good win for us,” added Zumbro. “We’re now 10-0 indistrict and I’m proud of that.”

Zumbro played everyone on the Bulldog roster en route to theshutout. He was led by Windom at the plate with a double and asingle. Smith and Mitchell added two singles apiece. SophomoreChase Evans finished with a double.

For the Indians, Greg Short suffered the loss with threewalks.