Memorial rally for three runs to avenge a late comeback
Pearland – Watching from the dugout last year as the Rangers celebrated their regional championship, Memorial sat around wondering what if. But this year the last words were heard by the Mustangs.
A standing room crowd watch right handed pitcher, Ben Carl battled for six complete innings to help Memorial post a comeback win as they knocked off top ranked Clements 4-3 in the Class 5A Region III Semifinals, in game three of the best-of-three series Saturday at Pearland High School. The Mustangs staved off elimination in game 2 with a 17-16 victory.
The win avenges a lost to the Rangers in last year’s Regional Finals while setting up another rematch against Brazoswood, in the regional finals this time. The Bucs defeated Lamar 5-3, 8-2 to sweep the series two games straight. Memorial (32-8-1) got past the Bucs in last year’s regional semifinals in a very emotional three game series.
For the Rangers it was a dream season that was supposed to stop nothing short of a state championship and a chance at a national title. After losing in the state semifinals to eventual state champion Corpus Christi Carroll 4-3 last season, the aim and focus was to bring home the title this year. According to Rival100, Clements held the No. 2 national ranking.
“We knew coming in, it was going to be a tough series, you have two of the best teams in the state. They swing the bat well, we swing the bat well. It’s hitters friendly park, so we knew runs would be scored,” said Clements coach Dela Santos.
Just one night before, fans witnessed an offensive explosion between the two teams that lasted four hours. Both teams erupted for a combined 33 runs steaming from 34 hits, 17 of which accounted for extra bases. Some say it was the best baseball game they’ve watched.
Beau Rathjen and Davidson walked to base on balls to start the Bottom of the second inning. Kacy Clemens dropped a bunt single just in front of home plate to load the bases. Clements’s pitcher Alec Horvath battled tenderness in his elbow while losing Walker Pennington to a walk which force home Rathjen to give the Mustangs a 1-0 lead.
A heads up play by Ross Sifflemire surprised the Mustangs while helping the Rangers tie the game at 1, when Guill sac bunted up the first base side as Carl fielded the ball and threw to first for one out as Stifflemire rounded second and headed to third safely. A couple pitches later, Stifflemire cross home plate after a wild pitch rolled to the back stop.
Clements (35-5) broke up a tie game in the fourth inning as Blake Johnson led off with a stand up double to right field followed by Sam Wiggins 2-run blast over the left field fence. Wiggins who the Mustangs had no answer for was on fire, adding three home runs in two games.
Burgess run scoring sacrifice fly cut the rangers lead to one, 3-2. Carl continued to battle the Ranger batters, bending but not breaking until delivering a 2-run RBI in the bottom of the sixth to stake out a 4-3 edge. Clemens reached first base with a walked, Pennington unleashed a bunt single to the first the base side. Harris Rome set the stage, sacrificing both runners to second and third. That’s when Carl used his bat to help his cause as he was able to reach out and hit a ball that was up and away to the opposite field over first base down the right field line. And as Coach York has done many time this season, sent in reliable Wayne Taylor to close out the game. Taylor threw seven pitches in relief to seal the deal.
Amazingly Memorial stranded 11 base runners but was able to keep their focus
