Bearkats four-run first inning and Jeffries game saving catch ends Cavaliers season
Klein – A 9-2 lost to College Park in game two didn’t sit well with last year’s state finalist Bearkats. As frustrations mounted, Klein regrouped in the deciding game three and found a way to advance to the next round of the playoffs.
Klein scored three of four runs off three wild pitches and Sam Odom struck out eight batters in the Bearkats 5-3 victory over College Park in game three of the best-of-three series in the Bi-District round of the playoffs Friday night at BearKat Park.
The victory moves Klein into the Area round of the playoffs where they will get the winner of Austin/Georgetown game next week.
The Bearkats (19-5) got all it needed in the bottom of the first inning and watched College Park stage a furious rally with four straight singles.
Andrew Santacroce and Reese Jeffries got aboard with walks. Johnathon Tripp fielder’s choice left runners on first and third with Santacroce out at second. Soon after, a throwing error gave Klein its first run, when Cavaliers short stop Dakota Parsons fielded a routine grounder and threw low and away toward second base as Jeffries trotted to home plate to give the Bearkats a 1-0 lead. Then DH batter Conner Belvin’s looping single just inside the right field line loaded the bases. After, the Bearkats received a generous gift, three straight wild pitches from a struggling David Ellington, led to three Klein runs, to cap 4-0 inning.
Odom, who did an exceptional job on the mound, while scattering seven hits and a walk, was strong throughout. Four of those hits came during a fourth inning Cavalier rally.
“It was amazing. I just went out there and played my heart out. I threw strikes and did what I could. Having the early run support was the best thing for us,” Odom said.
With one out, Parker Stevens singled to left. Tyler Vaughan and Layton Zinsmeister followed with singles to load the bases. That setup Garrett Beard’s 2-RBI single, trimming the lead, 4-2. Right after, Parsons in-field single left the bases loaded, once again. Linsmeister scored on Alex Young’s sac fly to center, to pull the Cavaliers within one run, 4-3 with runners on second and third. One play later, the rally ended, when Klein’s third baseman Reese Jeffries speared a scorching line drive off the bat of Kevin Barnes, robbing him of an almost certain 2-RBI double to end the threat.
Not able to mount anything afterward, College Park finished its season (17-8-1).
“Its just a heartbreaker. Its the last game of the season. We did what we could, we fought. It just didn’t happen, we gave it our all,” Baylor’s signee Mitchell Price said.
Klein added an insurance run in the sixth and Odom closed the game by striking out Baylor’s commit Mitchell Price.