Error and wild pitch gives the Bearkats all they need
It’s been five years since the last time these powers met. On their way to the state and Mythical National Championship in 2006, The Highlanders swept aside the Bearkats in the regional semis at Texas A&M in the best-of-three series, 8-0 and 10-0. But this year history took a turn in favor of Klein, which resulted in a 1-0 win.
Klein’s Phillip Holeman led off the bottom of the tenth inning with a routine ground ball to second baseman Lance Miles who threw off target to first baseman Robbie Goldschmidt, forcing him off the base as Holeman reached first base. The Woodlands Pitcher, Michael Clemens who relieved Brickhouse struggled with his control, tossing one of three wild pitches to home plate as Holeman trotted down to second base. Hayden Jefferson followed with a sacrifice Bunt moving Holeman to third to set up the winning run when Clemens threw his final wild pitch of the game.
“We just came out there and did the same thing. We just wanted to score, we just wanted to put a point on the board,” said Evan Rutta, Klein’s Pitcher. “We finally got it in the tenth inning.”
The Klein Bearkats (26-10) survived a tenth inning classic pitchers dual to outlast The Woodlands 1-0 in the Class 5A Region II Semifinals, in game one of the best-of-three series on Thursday night at Cougar field.
The Woodlands Coach Ron Eastman said, “It was a fun game to watch, but it put some more gray hairs on me. The kids played great, both teams played great. We knew coming in we were going to have a tough three game series against these guys. Obviously they knew the same thing. It was a great ball game, you couldn’t ask for a better high school game. You just had the feeling that something had to give to get a run. Nobody was hitting the ball real hard. Fortunately they got the lead off guy on with an errant throw and then they score on a wild pitch but other than that it was a great ball game.”
The game featured some dazzling defense and great pitching.
The Woodlands (28-6-2)picked up a hit in each of the first three innings before going quietly in the top of the 4th when Evan Rutta retired the first three batters he faced in Alex Dunlap, Charlie Warren and Garrett Hope in order.
Both teams had opportunities but neither could string together consecutive hits which had a lot to do with the great pitching and defense.
In the top of the 9th the Highlanders chances of grabbing the lead slipped away after getting two base runners aboard. Elliot Richoux and Dunlap were hit by pitches. Landon Merka sacrificed Richoux to second base before Warren lifted a deep fly ball to left field which advanced Richoux to third but Rutta fought back to force Hope into ground out to end the inning.
Likewise, the Bearkats in the bottom of the 9th would put two runners on base with no outs. Mitch Nau drew a walk, Jared Simbles singled up the middle. A wild pitch moved both runners to second and third but Clemens worked his way out of a jam to retired Rutta, Connor Belvin and Jonathan Fuller to delay what was to come.
“You got two pitchers who pitched there tail off, both guys were extremely tough. It’s a tough game for anyone to lose because it was a well played game,” said Klein’s Coach Barry Smith. “I’m so proud of my guys and the way Evan Rutta pitched. He pitched his tail off tonight and just competed to win. We did what we could at the plate, right now we’ll take a win anyway we can get it whether it’s a passed ball or home run.”
Brickhouse (7-3), who got the no decision concluded his brilliant day with 13 strike outs, 4 hits and 3 walks in lasting eight full innings. Opposition, Evan Rutta (11-1)pitched 9 innings, allowing no runs with 7 strike outs, gave up 5 hits also had a no decision.
“Both sides of the field is very talented, Brickhouse came out and pitched an excellent game. He gave up only four hits, that’s good,” said Rutta.
Clemens never gained full command of his pitches during the short relief period.
Game two is set for a 7:00 pm start at Cougar Field with the game three to played at The Woodlands at noon on Saturday if needed. Slated starting pitchers for game two, are Andrew Godail (The Woodlands)and Cory Ray for the Bearkats.
It’s been five years since the last time these powers met. On their way to the state and Mythical National Championship in 2006, The Highlanders swept aside the Bearkats in the regional semis at Texas A&M in the best-of-three series, 8-0 and 10-0. But this year history took a turn in favor of Klein, which resulted in a 1-0 win.
Klein’s Phillip Holeman led off the bottom of the tenth inning with a routine ground ball to second baseman Lance Miles who threw off target to first baseman Robbie Goldschmidt, forcing him off the base as Holeman reached first base. The Woodlands Pitcher, Michael Clemens who relieved Brickhouse struggled with his control, tossing one of three wild pitches to home plate as Holeman trotted down to second base. Hayden Jefferson followed with a sacrifice Bunt moving Holeman to third to set up the winning run when Clemens threw his final wild pitch of the game.
“We just came out there and did the same thing. We just wanted to score, we just wanted to put a point on the board,” said Evan Rutta, Klein’s Pitcher. “We finally got it in the tenth inning.”
The Klein Bearkats (26-10) survived a tenth inning classic pitchers dual to outlast The Woodlands 1-0 in the Class 5A Region II Semifinals, in game one of the best-of-three series on Thursday night at Cougar field.
The Woodlands Coach Ron Eastman said, “It was a fun game to watch, but it put some more gray hairs on me. The kids played great, both teams played great. We knew coming in we were going to have a tough three game series against these guys. Obviously they knew the same thing. It was a great ball game, you couldn’t ask for a better high school game. You just had the feeling that something had to give to get a run. Nobody was hitting the ball real hard. Fortunately they got the lead off guy on with an errant throw and then they score on a wild pitch but other than that it was a great ball game.”
The game featured some dazzling defense and great pitching.
The Woodlands (28-6-2)picked up a hit in each of the first three innings before going quietly in the top of the 4th when Evan Rutta retired the first three batters he faced in Alex Dunlap, Charlie Warren and Garrett Hope in order.
Both teams had opportunities but neither could string together consecutive hits which had a lot to do with the great pitching and defense.
In the top of the 9th the Highlanders chances of grabbing the lead slipped away after getting two base runners aboard. Elliot Richoux and Dunlap were hit by pitches. Landon Merka sacrificed Richoux to second base before Warren lifted a deep fly ball to left field which advanced Richoux to third but Rutta fought back to force Hope into ground out to end the inning.
Likewise, the Bearkats in the bottom of the 9th would put two runners on base with no outs. Mitch Nau drew a walk, Jared Simbles singled up the middle. A wild pitch moved both runners to second and third but Clemens worked his way out of a jam to retired Rutta, Connor Belvin and Jonathan Fuller to delay what was to come.
“You got two pitchers who pitched there tail off, both guys were extremely tough. It’s a tough game for anyone to lose because it was a well played game,” said Klein’s Coach Barry Smith. “I’m so proud of my guys and the way Evan Rutta pitched. He pitched his tail off tonight and just competed to win. We did what we could at the plate, right now we’ll take a win anyway we can get it whether it’s a passed ball or home run.”
Brickhouse (7-3), who got the no decision concluded his brilliant day with 13 strike outs, 4 hits and 3 walks in lasting eight full innings. Opposition, Evan Rutta (11-1)pitched 9 innings, allowing no runs with 7 strike outs, gave up 5 hits also had a no decision.
“Both sides of the field is very talented, Brickhouse came out and pitched an excellent game. He gave up only four hits, that’s good,” said Rutta.
Clemens never gained full command of his pitches during the short relief period.
Game two is set for a 7:00 pm start at Cougar Field with the game three to played at The Woodlands at noon on Saturday if needed. Slated starting pitchers for game two, are Andrew Godail (The Woodlands)and Cory Ray for the Bearkats.