Bowling Greens Tyson Steelman dives back to first base to beat the tag from Warren Centrals Michael Cowles during their baseball game Tuesday at Warren Central High School. The Dragons defeated the Purples 3-2. Photo by Clinton Lewis

Just one day earlier, Warren Central coach Rick Alfonso wondered whether his baseball team even deserved to be on the same field as Bowling Green High School. What a difference a day makes. After going through five pitchers Tuesday night, Alfonso got a stellar performance from Jon Whitaker as the Dragons rallied for a 3-2 victory at Warren Central. That is one of the best high school games I have seen in a while, Alfonso said. I thought the kids played hard. You have no idea how much respect I have for David Nole and the Bowling Green team. They played hard. They wanted it. Theyve got some big-time players. Im really proud of the way we competed tonight. Even if we would have lost, I would have still been proud of the way we competed. In a game where runs were more scarce than a Detroit Tigers win, both teams had limited opportunities for the first five innings. The Purples (5-4) almost struck first in the top of the fourth. Center fielder Brit Vincent was at third base with two outs when catcher Brad Booker stepped up to the plate. Booker scorched a line drive to deep center field, but Dragons center fielder Nick Butler made a run-saving catch, leaping at the last minute and snaring the baseball firmly in his glove. Booker got his revenge two innings later. The Purples loaded the bases with one out, forcing Alfonso to bring his infield in. Booker took advantage, sliding a line drive just out of the reach of shortstop Derek Alfonso to give the Purples a 1-0 lead. Derek Alfonso got the run back and a little extra in the bottom of the inning. Back-to-back walks gave the Dragons runners at first and second with one out. The runners advanced to second and third on a double steal and Derek Alfonso laced a two-RBI single to right, making the score 2-1 in favor of Warren Central. Derek Alfonso scored two batters later on a bloop single by first baseman Michael Cowles as the Dragons extended their lead to 3-1.Cowles hit proved to be crucial when the Purples made it interesting in the seventh. Back-to-back errors put Bowling Green baserunners at first and second. They advanced on a sacrifice by right fielder Drew Krutza. Aaron Johnson was next and was hit by a curveball, loading the bases. Rick Alfonso went to Butler to close the game, and the right-hander responded. Vincent hit a sacrifice fly to make the score 3-2 and Matt Ransdell hit a harmless grounder to third base to end the game. Nole said the difference in the game was that Bowling Green left too many runners on base. The Purples stranded seven runners, while the Dragons only left four on base. The bottom line is they executed and we didnt, Nole said. We get guys at second and nobody out and dont score. Bases loaded and one out and we dont score. That kind of makes it hard. Every night, it seems like we have two-thirds of the game working, but were always missing something. Its still early in the year and we have a lot to work on. Whitaker got the win for the Dragons. He pitched 6 1/3 innings, allowing five hits and one earned run. I was sick of losing to them, Whitaker said. Im sick of losing to anybody, but tonight, I just wanted it more. My adrenaline was pumping and I just didnt want to lose. I didnt throw the best game, but my defense was there for me. Ransdell was impressive on the mound for the Purples, going six innings, but allowing three runs. Bowling Green will play at Glasgow on Thursday; the Dragons will play in the Franklin-Simpson Invitational beginning Friday. Bowling Green 000 001 1-2 5 0Warren Central 000 003 x-3 4 2