CUBS’ SEASON ENDS AT TOMBALL MEMORIAL, 4-3

All it took was one bad inning to bring to an end the Brenham Cubs’ 2015 baseball season.

The Tomball Memorial Wildcats scored all four of their runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, on their way to a 4-3 win and a two-game sweep over the Cubs in the Region III/5A Quarterfinals.

The Cubs (22-9) built a 2-0 lead with a run in each of the third and fourth innings.

Zach Barnes gave the Cubs a 1-0 lead in the third inning with a squeeze bunt that scored Rayne Richard.

In the top of the fourth, Jack Baker—who was running for Ryan Newman—stole third and scored on a throwing error by the Wildcats’ catcher Tannon Symm.

Symm got the Wildcats (19-13) on the board in the bottom of the inning with a single that scored Brylan Elmore on a close play at home plate.

With the bases loaded, Gavin Shukanes sent a sinking liner into center field. The Cubs’ Jaquay Cross tried to make a shoe-string catch, but the ball skipped past Cross all the way to the fencing, plating three runs.

Brenham rallied in their final at bat, when Richard led off with a double and later scored on a wild pitch.  Cross and Sam McElreath each walked with two outs, but were stranded in scoring position when Newman grounded out to second base to end the game.

Cubs head coach Lanny Williams was obviously disappointed with the loss.  “We didn’t get the hits when we needed them.  That’s been a problem most of the year for us.  We get guys on base but we don’t finish.”

The Cubs left six runners on base—five in scoring position.

“Dylan (Lester) pitched well enough to win…we just didn’t help him out.”

Williams, though, was pleased with the season as a whole, “I’m so proud of these guy, they’re great.  Our season just ended a little too early.”

Dylan Lester (L 7-4), 6 ip, 5 hits, 4 runs, 2 er, 0 bb, 4 k’s
Rayne Richard, 1-2, 2b, 2 runs
Jacob Stegent, 1-2
Caleb Hill, 1-3
Ryan Newman, 1-3
Zach Marshall, 1-3