Smith shows power side with two homers, Odom wins third consecutive playoff start
Spring – Against each of its three playoff opponents, the Bearkats have been forced to play three games. In Bi-District, College Park bounced back, winning game two 9-2 to force a game three and in last week’s Area playoffs, Georgetown took game one 2-1 before falling in game two and three, 3-2 and 6-3. Now in the regional quarterfinals, the Bearkats found themselves fighting to stay alive after a 7-6 loss to Tomball in game one.
Facing yet another elimination game, the Bearkats (22-7) erupted for four fourth-inning runs, Sam Odom struck out seven and Alex Smith drove in five runs as Klein defeated district rival Tomball 7-2 in game two of the best-of-three series in the Class 5A Region II playoffs at Klein Oak High School Friday night.
“I think it’s a testament to their character when their backs are against the wall,” Klein’s coach Barry Smith said. The kids continue to compete and don’t give up. It says a lot about them as a person and a team. They know Tomball has a great team and you can’t take them lightly.
The victory setups the rubber game, to be played at Scotland Yard, in the Woodlands Saturday at noon.
Power surprising Bearkat, short stop Alex Smith who drove in five runs on the strength of a two and three-run homers, his second and third of the year. The first, gave Klein the lead for keeps.
Sam Odom shook off an early gofer ball to capture his third win of the season which has all come in the playoffs.
“He’s got the ability (Sam Odom) to pull his hat down over his eyes. He competes and he can smell it at the end and he’ll go after it and get it. He definitely has the bull dog characteristics you’re talking about. He’s done a good job for us,” said Smith.
Klein trailed 2-0, after Nick Banks, who got the win in game one, sent a blast over the right field fence. But a standing room crowd watched the Bearkats display its power to hang a four spot on the board. DH Johnathon Tripp jumped on a fastball, sending his fourth home run of the season deep over the left center field wall. Blake Rhodes singled to left before Smith hit the first of two home runs. Then Garrett Domingue was hit by pitch, Odom got aboard with a walk and Ryan Jackson laid down a sac bunt, advancing the runners to second and third. After, leftfielder Andrew Santacroce’s run scoring infield single gave Klein a 4-2 lead.
Klein also received a great defensive effort when standout centerfielder Jackson turned on the after burners to rob Tyler Schulin of an extra base hit which was slicing toward the gap in left center field.
Tomball (25-8) out-hit the Kats, 7-6 but could never string together enough hits to pose much of a threat after Banks homer.
“We just got beat today,” Tomball’s coach Doug Rush said. They had some key hits. They hit a couple of big home runs. Hits were about even we just didn’t string any of them together. I knew Klein would come out like that. That’s why we play the series. We’ve been swinging the bats good but to be honest, I thought we would need more than two runs and we did.
Cougar’s starter Rex Hill (6-3) was chased from the game in the bottom of the fifth after four and one third innings pitched. His night included six runs, six hits, four strike outs and two walks. However, relief pitcher Robert Dugger wasn’t the answer, losing Rhodes to a walk and surrendered a 3-run shot to Smith who finished the evening 2-out-of-4.
“I feel like our team got the 2-run lead and figured that was it,” Cougar’s pitcher Rex Hill said. I feel like we had the momentum. We had this in the bag, we’re going to win, but Klein is a good team, a really good team. They do not back down. With their backs against the wall today, they have really good hitters that came through for them. They have very good dedicated hitters.
Odom yielded a single in the top of the seventh but quickly retired the next three batters with two ground outs and a strike out.
“I can’t even explain it. When he (Nicholas Banks) hit that home run in the third inning, I didn’t know what to do; we were losing 2-0. We came back that next inning, we just took off. I knew I could go out and do it then,” Klein pitcher Sam Odom said.
Eric Dunbar will take the mound for Tomball in game three. Klein’s likely starter is Nick Pederson.
