CUBS CLINCH PLAYOFF SPOT WITH WIN OVER RUDDER

The Brenham Cub Baseball Team is going back to the playoffs. The Cubs clinched a playoff berth last (Tuesday) night with an 11-5 victory over the Rudder Rangers in Bryan.

Brenham got on the board with three runs in the top of the second inning. Landry Mendoza led it off with a walk. Cannon Credeur came up next and slugged an RBI double that brought Mendoza home with the first run of the ballgame. Grady Gee hit a double of his own that scored Credeur. Dalton Hart singled home Gee later that inning to make it 3-0 Cubs.

Rudder fought back with three runs in the bottom of the third inning, two of which scored on errors, to tie the game at 3-3. The Rangers then added a go-ahead run in the bottom of the fourth inning to take a 4-3 lead over Brenham.

The Cubs tied it 4-4 with a run in the top of the fifth inning. Brody Tucker led it off by getting hit with a pitch. Brady Rau came in as a courtesy runner. After Drake Bentke walked and Mendoza was hit by a pitch, the bases were loaded. Luke Hardy hit a fly ball, and that was dropped in the outfield, which allowed Rau to score.

In the top of the sixth inning, Brenham put seven runs on the scoreboard. The Cubs had three singles in a row from Gee, Evan Curtis, and Caleb Maurer to load the bases. Austin Maurer came in to run for Curtis. Hart hit the fourth single in a row score Gee. Tucker reached on an error that allowed both Maurer brothers to come home to give Brenham a 7-4. Bentke was intentionally walked, and Mendoza reached on a fielder's choice that allowed Hart to score. Two batters later, Credeur hit a two-run triple to score Tucker and Mendoza. Gee reached on an error that gave Credeur the chance to come home with the 11th run.

Rudder tacked on one more run in the bottom of the sixth, but that would not be enough.

Dawson Keim went the first five innings to get the win. Luke Hardy and Brayden Steele came out of the bullpen to help secure the win.

The Cubs are now 18-10-1 on the season and 7-4 in district.

Brenham and Rudder will face off one more time this Friday night at 7pm at Fireman’s Park. KWHI will have live coverage beginning with the pregame at 6:35pm on the KWHI.com Sports Alternate Feed.

It was also learned after the game that College Station beat Lake Creek 2-1. That means the Cubs still have a shot at the District Championship. If Brenham defeats Rudder on Friday, and College Station defeats Lake Creek again, the Cubs would clinch a share of the District Championship.

In other District 17-5A action from last (Tuesday night,) Montgomery knocked off Huntsville 10-3.

HITTING

Dalton Hart 3 for 5 three singles, run, two RBIs

Cannon Credeur 2 for 3 double, triple, two runs, three RBIS

Evan Curtis 2 for 2 two singles, walk, HBP

Grady Gee 2 for 4 single, double, two runs, RBI

Brody Tucker 1 for 4 single, HBP, run, two RBIs

Caleb Maurer 1 for 4 single, run

PITCHING

WP Dawson Keim 5 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 1K

Luke Hardy 2/3 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

Brayden Steele 1 1/3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K

DISTRICT SCORES

College Station 2 Lake Creek 1

Montgomery 10 Huntsville 3

A&M Consolidated bye

DISTRICT STANDINGS

1.) Lake Creek, 8-3

2.) Brenham, 7-4

2.) College Station, 7-4

2.) Montgomery, 7-4

5.) A&M Consolidated, 6-6

6.) Huntsville, 4-7

7.) Rudder, 0-11