CUB BASEBALL OPENS AREA ROUND SERIES WITH AN EXTRA INNING WIN OVER PNG

It took nine innings to do it, but the Brenham Cub Baseball Team picked up a 3-2 victory over the Port Neches-Groves Indians last (Thursday) night in Game One of their best of three series.

Brenham got the scoring started in the bottom of the first inning. Owen Finke reached on a single to centerfield. He would later advance to second on a wild pitch, move to third on a balk, and then scored on another wild pitch to give the Cubs a 1-0 lead.

It would stay that way until the top of the fifth inning as Brenham's Luke Hardy and PNG's Luke Williams traded off putting up zeroes on the scoreboard.

The Indians tied the game at 1-1 following an RBI triple by Dylan Brown that scored Logan Asebedo.

Brenham got the run back in the bottom of the fifth inning. Brooks Roznovsky drew a walk. After Ethan Aschenbeck laid down a sacrifice bunt, a throwing error by PNG led to Roznovsky advancing to third base. The next batter, Finke, brought him home on a sacrifice fly to give the Cubs a 2-1 lead.

The Indians tied the game for a second time in the top of the seventh inning. Lawsen Gary singled, and he moved to second following a walk to Jude Gohlke. Then, Brown came up, and he drove Gary home with an RBI single to make it 2-2.

The game wound up going the ninth inning before the Cubs pulled out the win. Brayden Steele singled to get the frame started. Two batters later, Evan Curtis slugged a double to right field, which allowed Steele to reach third base. Bleu Cienega came on to run for Steele, and he would wind up scoring the game winning run on a wild pitch.

Luke Hardy got the start on the mound and pitched seven strong innings for Brenham. Sterling Scheffer threw two scoreless innings of a relief, and got the win.

The Cubs take a 1-0 lead in the series. Game two is tonight (Friday) at 7pm at Reckling Park on the Rice University in Houston. Stephen Draehn and Tommy Lane will have live coverage beginning with the pregame at 6:30pm on 1280AM, 101.7 FM, and the KWHI.com Main Feed.

If Brenham wins, they move on to the Region Semifinals next week against the winner of the of Houston Waltrip and Georgetown.

If PNG wins, they will play a third and deciding game on Saturday at 1pm at Crosby High School. (12:30pm pregame on KWHI)

HITTING

Brayden Steele 2-3 single, double

Landry Mendoza 2-4 two singles

Owen Finke 1-3 single, run, Sac Fly RBI

Luke Hardy 1-3 single, walk

Evan Curtis 1-1 double

PITCHING

Luke Hardy 7 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 K

WP Sterling Scheffer 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K