CUBS DROP OPENER IN REGION FINAL
The Brenham Cubs hope Saturday’s weather holds out long enough to get two games in at Firemen’s Park.
The Cubs (27-10) will need to win two Saturday if they’re to advance next week’s State Tournament in Round Rock.
George Ranch (33-7) overcame a 5-0 Cubs lead to beat Brenham Thursday night at Constellation Field in Sugar Land, 6-5 in the opener of the best 2-of-3 to decide the Region III/4A title.
The Cubs looked to be in firm control of the game, after stringing together six straight hit in a five-run fifth inning.
But that 5-0 lead was short-lived as the Longhorns used six hits and some shaky Cubs’ defense in the bottom of the fifth to even the score at 5-5.
The Cubs broke open a scoreless tie in the top of the fifth as Jacob Stegent singled to score Caleb Hill. An error in the outfield allowed Tyler Watts and Matt Zettle to race home for the 3-0 lead.
Back-to-back run-scoring singles by Ryan Newman and Teddy Hoffman extended the lead to 5-0.
But George Ranch fired right back with five runs of their own.
With the score 5-1 with two outs, the Longhorns’ Kyle Owens drove home two runs with a single off Cubs’ starting pitcher Blake Wellmann. Garrett Gray the doubled home two runs, followed by a run-scoring single by Jon Kastens.
The score remained tied 5-5 until the bottom of the seventh when Stone Garrett led off with an infield single off Dylan Lester (0-2). A walk to Owen brought in Cubs’ closer Teddy Hoffman. A wild pitch sent runners to second and third, followed by an intentional walk to load the bases.
Brady Burns then hit a high chopper to first…Stone beat the throw to the plate ending the game and giving the Longhorns a one-game lead.
Game-two is set for Saturday afternoon at 12:00 at Firemen’s Park. If the Cubs win, game-three will follow about a half-hour later.
The winner of the series advances to the State Championship Tournament next Thursday and Friday at Dell Diamond in Round Rock.
Saturday’s games can be heard live on KWHI and www.kwhi.com beginning with the pre-game show at 11:30.
CUBS | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 1 |
LONGHORNS | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 11 | 2 |
CUBS
Blake Wellmann, 4.2 ip, 7 hits, 5 runs, 1 er, 0 bb, 3 k’s
Dylan Lester, L (0-2), 1.1 ip, 3 hits, 1 run, 1 er, 1 bb, 1 k
Teddy Hoffman, .1 ip, 0 hits, 0 runs, 0 er, 1 bb, 0 k
Sam McElreath, 3-4, run
Jacob Stegent, 1-2, run, rbi, sb
Teddy Hoffman, 1-3, rbi
Ryan Newman, 1-4, rbi
LONGHORNS
Grant Page, WP, 7 ip, 9 hits, 5 runs, 3 er, 1 bb, 0 k’s
Kyle Owen, 1-3, run, 2 rbi
Garrett Gray, 1-3, 2b, run, rbi
Jay Kastens, 2-3, rbi