Jerseys eliminate Brahmas
BEEVILLE - "That's Baseball" is the best way to describe the Hallettsville Brahmas' two losses to Falfurrias played at Joe Hunter Field.
Brahma pitchers issued 17 walks and hit three batters in the final two games.
Hallettsville won the first game in nine innings Thursday night, 1-0.
But the Jerseys won Game 2, 2-1, after getting only one hit.
In Saturday's rubber match, the Jerseys scored four runs in the first inning on three walks and two hits before the Brahmas even came to bat.
In the botom of the first, Brock Bludau, who was the starter and losing pitcher, walked on four pitches. After Andrew George popped out, Jorian Wilson hit the first pitch he saw and hit an opposite field home run over the left field fence to cut the lead 4-2.
The Brahmas trimmed the lead to 4-3 in the second inning on a run-scoring single by Bludau after a Tanner Wagner double.
The Jarseys made it 6-3 with two runs in the third inning with both runs scoring on a dropped fly ball. Bludau was then relieved by Weston Loudon who recorded the final out of the inning.
Hallettsville (28-5) again got close and whittled the lead to 6-5 with two runs in the fifth inning.
Andrew George walked and scored on a double by Tanner Wagner. Wagner eventually scored on a wild pitch.
But a two-run homer by Derek Vasquez in the fifth inning made it 8-5. Ironically, prior to the home run, Vasquez had only one hit in the series.
The Brahmas saw an eleventh hour rally fall short in the seventh inning.
Bludau drew a lead-off walk and after Andrew George lines out to second, Wilson was hit by the pitch. Carter Blaha walked. Loudon was also free-passed before the final out was made.
Loudon pitched very well in relief and went 4.1 innings and the only hit allowed was a Vasquez homer. He walked three and hit a batter.
Falfurrias, 28-10-1, will now meet Corpus Christi Loudon in the state quarterfinals.
Brock Bludau 1-2, RBI, BB; Andrew George BB, R; Jorian Wilson 1-3, HR, 2 RBI; HBP, Tanner Wagner 1-4, 2B, R; Carter Blaha 102, 2 BB; Weston Loudon 1-2, RBI, 2 BB
Jerseys 2, Brahmas 1
The Friday night 2-1 loss was really tough.
The Jerseys' lone hit was a two-run double by Derek Chavera, in the top of the seventh inning.
The Brahmas out-hit the Jerseys 5-1, but what was really frustrating was the Brahmas stranded nine base runners, five in scoring position. They left the bases loaded in the sixth inning before scoring in the bottom of the seventh when Preston Wagner doubled with one out and scored on a base hit by Brock Bludau. However, the next two batters popped out.
Jorian Wilson (4-2) started on the bump and had control issues with nine walks. He did not give up a hit and struck out nine.
Andrew George took the loss.
Brock Bludau 1-2, Sac, BB, RBI; Jorian Wilson BB; Tanner Wagner 1-4; Carter Blaha 1-1, BB; Weston Loudon 1-3; Preston Wagner 1-2 2B, R.
Brahmas 1, Jerseys 0 (Nine innings)
The Brahmas took a hard-fought win over Falfurrias Thursday night.
Konnor Kopecky was the hero and winning pitcher. He drove in the winning run besides pitching two shutout innings. He allowed one hit and recorded four strikeouts.
Hudson Chenard reached on an error to start the ninth inning. He eluded a pick-off attempt and stole second. Austin Heinrichs grounded out to move Chenard to second prior to Kopecky hitting a 1-2 pitch to center for a single.
Chenard was the starting pitcher and threw seven innings, ceding five hits, walked two and struck out seven.
The Brahmas produced seven hits and the Jerseys five. Hallettsville left nine runners on base and Falfurrias six.
Chenard pitched out of a jam when he allowed lead-off singles to Ben Benevidas and Nathaniel Jaramillo. Catcher Carter Blaha caught an attempted bunt before Chenard retired the next two batters on infield outs.
The Brahmas had runners on first and second with one out, but both were left stranded.
Two more runners were left on base in the seventh inning.
Brock Bludau 2-5; Andrew G eorg e 1-4; Jorian Wilson 1-3, 2 BB ; Tanner Wagner 1-5; Carter Blaha 1-4; Weston Loudon HBP; Konnor Kopecky 1-1, RBI.