Late Homer lifts Brazoswood

Easter’s three run homer spoils Klein return to title game
 
Round Rock – 19 years ago most of the Buccaneer players were not born, that was the last time Brazoswood won the state title.  
A team Known for their squeeze bunts, The Brazoswood Buccaneers executed an upper decker.  
Will Easter’s 2-run homer keyed a sixth inning rally that sent Brazoswood to the state title game with a 4-3 win over Klein in the Class 5A State Semifinals at Dell Diamond Friday afternoon.  The win vaulted the Bucs into the title game where they will face Lubbock Coronado who run ruled last year’s state champ Corpus Christi Carroll, 10-0 in five innings.  
Brazoswood (33-8) won championship in 1992.  
Easter’s home run signified another definition of comeback wins that have come frequent for the Bucs this season.  They were down 5-2 in game one and two in the regional finals against Memorial before sweeping the series.
 “When I saw it clear the fence I said we got a chance,” said Brazoswood Coach Bobby Williams.  “I’m so proud of our kids they haven’t given up all year long.  Every time we get behind which is fairly often early on, I tell them we got them right where we want them let’s start playing ball now.  This group doesn’t panic, they don’t get tight, and there a lot more relaxed then most teams I think.”  
Another year of sadness for the Klein Bearkats who led most of the game, out hitting the Bucs 10-4 but suffered a severe blow on Easter’s long ball.   The swing may have never happened in the inning hadn’t second baseman Hyden Jefferies not botched a grounder.   It would’ve been the first out of two that followed.
Klein’s Coach Barry smith said, “It’s really tough right now, disappointing, I thought we played well enough to win.  It’s just one of those things, the kid hit a pitch.  Other than that I thought our pitcher did a great job all day long.  It’s just the game of baseball.  Everybody comes here with the goal of winning the state championship, so it leaves a bitter taste in our mouth but I know we have time to reflect on it.  You know, I’m proud of these guys and what they were able accomplish.”  
Connor Belvin and Fuller reached base with consecutive singles before Phillip Holeman added a run scoring single as Klein led 1-0.
Rutter got Blake Jones to ground out, ending the bottom of the second after rendering two straight walks.
Crimmins crossed home plate to give Klein (31-11) a 2-0 cushion on Rutter’s sac fly to left field.
With the hit and run on, Dalton Perry ripped a single as John Ermis sprinted around second to third base.  Then Michael Pyeatt’s sac fly produced the Bucs first run of the game.
Jefferies scored Klein’s third run when Andrew Santacroce doubled to the warning track in center field
Things stayed locked at 3-1 until Easter’s sixth innings heroics.   
Brandon Bergen (16-0) set a new school record with the most wins by a pitcher.  Bergen has been solid all season for the Bucs.  He pitched seven innings and recorded seven strike-outs.  He showed moments of bending but help from his teammates kept him from breaking.
“I wanted to throw strikes to give my team a chance to score runs and keep them from scoring runs.  It worked out well.  When teams get a couple of hits off me, I just go out there and don’t let it get to me.  I don’t show them it’s getting to me.  I know I have more innings that need to be pitched.  I just keep going out to do what I have to do.  When asking him about being 16-0.  That’s pretty cool.  I’m hearing that’s the school record for a pitcher 16-0,” Said Brandon Bergen Brazoswood’s pitcher.
 In the loss, Evan Rutter (13-2) showed why Rice has interest in him. He only gave up 4 hits, 4 runs (only one run was earned) seven strike-outs in six innings; three of which came on one swing.
He’s a great pitcher (Evan Rutter), he has a great slider, he has a real good off speed pitch and he was hitting his locations and actually that pitch wasn’t a mistake that he threw Will.  It was an inside fast ball Will just turned on it.  He’s a great pitcher,” said Brazoswood Coach Bobby Williams.
A&M commit Mitchell Nau led Klein with three hits.
In the second semifinal, Lubbock Coronado upset last year’s state champ Corpus Christi Carroll 10-0 in a five inning run rule decision.   The Mustangs known for their offensive production scored four runs in the top of the first ending.
“The defeat of Carroll, last year’s state champs gave us a lot of confidence,” said Brayden Blackwell.   “We hit the ball so well, that’s what coach has always taught us to do that.”