Scoop27
05-21-2015, 10:00 AM
Two District 28-4A baseball teams are alive in the Region IV quarterfinals.
The Brazosport Exporters (18-10), under first-year coach Ken Schulte, will take on Sealy (17-8) in a best-of-three series starting today.
The Sweeny Bulldogs (23-6) will face El Campo (24-4) in a best-of-three set beginning today at Lamar Consolidated Mustang Field in Rosenberg.
Brazosport is in the regional quarterfinals for the first time since 1997 after taking down La Vernia and Columbus. Their focus is now set on the Tigers.
In the playoffs, the Exporters have outscored their opponents by 11 runs, 28-17, a feat they were not able to accomplish during district play.
“Our identity is pitch well, play solid defense and find a way to manufacture runs,” Schulte said. “We’ve been able to do that, and we’ve been outhit, but we have not been outpitched. We’ve made a few defensive mistakes — not many, but our opponents have made more. We’ve just been able to get people on base and move them around.”
The Exporters are riding a four-game win streak behind the arms of Michael Traylor and Aaron McIntyre.
“What’s benefited us is experience,” Schulte said. “Now when we get to a fourth inning of a 0-0 game, nobody is panicking or pressing and trying to do to much. The kids have gotten comfortable with it. The things that had been happening to us are now happening to our opponents.”
Like the Exporters, the Tigers finished third in the district standings. And just like Brazosport, Sealy went through a rough patch in district play.
But the Tigers enter the weekend series on an eight-game win streak.
“They are a good baseball team, but we are not going to focus too much on that,” Schulte said. “Our kids understand what they can do and know what they must do to win. This is not about Sealy, but it is about us.”
In the playoffs, the Tigers have outscored their opponents, 17-4.
Sealy has a pair of good pitchers in its ace, Xaiver Teague, and its No. 2, Will Cerny. Freshman Justin Eckhardt, who comes in a relief role and also plays center field, is a weapon on the mound, as well.
The winner moves on to the region semifinals to face either Hidalgo or Rockport-Fulton.
SWEENY VS. EL CAMPO: A pair of district champions go toe-to-toe, as the Bulldogs and Ricebirds square off.
“It should be a good matchup,” Sweeny coach David Luster said. “Hopefully we can take care of business in two games, but it will not surprise me if it goes three games with two good ball clubs like this.”
The Bulldogs have played four of their five playoff games at home, which is one reason why they practiced in Angleton on Wednesday. The team also took the opportunity to play on grass rather than turf.
“We have to get back into that mode of taking a road trip and playing on some grass,” Luster said.
The Bulldogs are coming off a 2-1 series win against Taylor (9-1, 0-3, 6-0). El Campo swept Wimberley (8-3, 6-3).
Sweeny has outscored its opponents by a 35-5 margin in the postseason, while El Campo has achieved a 37-16 advantage.
“I haven’t seen them play at all, but knowing their head coach, I kind of know what kind of baseball they play,” Luster said. “They put pressure on you and will make you throw the ball around the field hoping you make mistakes. If we can play mistake-free baseball, we should have a pretty good shot.”
As a team, El Campo is batting .388 with only two home runs for the season. The Ricebirds are quick on the bases with 99 steals, and their pitching staff has an ERA of 2.75.
Leading El Campo’s offense is Andrew Saucedo, who has a .529 average, 36 hits, 28 RBIs, 26 runs, four doubles, a .590 on-base percentage, is slugging .588 and is 12-for-12 on steal attempts.
They also have three other batters who are hitting better than .400 — Chad Quinn, who has a .447 average with 34 hits, 37 runs, 21 RBIs, three doubles, two triples and 19 steals; Clayton Harp, who is hitting .430 on 34 hits with 30 runs, 41 RBIs, eight doubles, three triples, one home run and 11 steals; and Brock Brandl, who is batting .449 batting with 22 hits, 11 runs, 19 RBIs and three doubles.
On the mound for the Ricebirds, Bryland Crivellari is 5-1 with a 2.62 ERA and 26 strikeouts; Collin Quinn is 4-0 with a 2.43 ERA and 32 strikeouts; and Harp is 4-0 with a 2.56 ERA.
“The thing about baseball is you don’t get to watch film or judge,” Luster said. “You just have to throw strikes and make the routine plays. And if we do that, we have a pretty good chance.”
Senior Mitchell Ullom will be pitching for the Bulldogs today.
The winner will get either Sinton or Robstown in the regional semifinals.
The Brazosport Exporters (18-10), under first-year coach Ken Schulte, will take on Sealy (17-8) in a best-of-three series starting today.
The Sweeny Bulldogs (23-6) will face El Campo (24-4) in a best-of-three set beginning today at Lamar Consolidated Mustang Field in Rosenberg.
Brazosport is in the regional quarterfinals for the first time since 1997 after taking down La Vernia and Columbus. Their focus is now set on the Tigers.
In the playoffs, the Exporters have outscored their opponents by 11 runs, 28-17, a feat they were not able to accomplish during district play.
“Our identity is pitch well, play solid defense and find a way to manufacture runs,” Schulte said. “We’ve been able to do that, and we’ve been outhit, but we have not been outpitched. We’ve made a few defensive mistakes — not many, but our opponents have made more. We’ve just been able to get people on base and move them around.”
The Exporters are riding a four-game win streak behind the arms of Michael Traylor and Aaron McIntyre.
“What’s benefited us is experience,” Schulte said. “Now when we get to a fourth inning of a 0-0 game, nobody is panicking or pressing and trying to do to much. The kids have gotten comfortable with it. The things that had been happening to us are now happening to our opponents.”
Like the Exporters, the Tigers finished third in the district standings. And just like Brazosport, Sealy went through a rough patch in district play.
But the Tigers enter the weekend series on an eight-game win streak.
“They are a good baseball team, but we are not going to focus too much on that,” Schulte said. “Our kids understand what they can do and know what they must do to win. This is not about Sealy, but it is about us.”
In the playoffs, the Tigers have outscored their opponents, 17-4.
Sealy has a pair of good pitchers in its ace, Xaiver Teague, and its No. 2, Will Cerny. Freshman Justin Eckhardt, who comes in a relief role and also plays center field, is a weapon on the mound, as well.
The winner moves on to the region semifinals to face either Hidalgo or Rockport-Fulton.
SWEENY VS. EL CAMPO: A pair of district champions go toe-to-toe, as the Bulldogs and Ricebirds square off.
“It should be a good matchup,” Sweeny coach David Luster said. “Hopefully we can take care of business in two games, but it will not surprise me if it goes three games with two good ball clubs like this.”
The Bulldogs have played four of their five playoff games at home, which is one reason why they practiced in Angleton on Wednesday. The team also took the opportunity to play on grass rather than turf.
“We have to get back into that mode of taking a road trip and playing on some grass,” Luster said.
The Bulldogs are coming off a 2-1 series win against Taylor (9-1, 0-3, 6-0). El Campo swept Wimberley (8-3, 6-3).
Sweeny has outscored its opponents by a 35-5 margin in the postseason, while El Campo has achieved a 37-16 advantage.
“I haven’t seen them play at all, but knowing their head coach, I kind of know what kind of baseball they play,” Luster said. “They put pressure on you and will make you throw the ball around the field hoping you make mistakes. If we can play mistake-free baseball, we should have a pretty good shot.”
As a team, El Campo is batting .388 with only two home runs for the season. The Ricebirds are quick on the bases with 99 steals, and their pitching staff has an ERA of 2.75.
Leading El Campo’s offense is Andrew Saucedo, who has a .529 average, 36 hits, 28 RBIs, 26 runs, four doubles, a .590 on-base percentage, is slugging .588 and is 12-for-12 on steal attempts.
They also have three other batters who are hitting better than .400 — Chad Quinn, who has a .447 average with 34 hits, 37 runs, 21 RBIs, three doubles, two triples and 19 steals; Clayton Harp, who is hitting .430 on 34 hits with 30 runs, 41 RBIs, eight doubles, three triples, one home run and 11 steals; and Brock Brandl, who is batting .449 batting with 22 hits, 11 runs, 19 RBIs and three doubles.
On the mound for the Ricebirds, Bryland Crivellari is 5-1 with a 2.62 ERA and 26 strikeouts; Collin Quinn is 4-0 with a 2.43 ERA and 32 strikeouts; and Harp is 4-0 with a 2.56 ERA.
“The thing about baseball is you don’t get to watch film or judge,” Luster said. “You just have to throw strikes and make the routine plays. And if we do that, we have a pretty good chance.”
Senior Mitchell Ullom will be pitching for the Bulldogs today.
The winner will get either Sinton or Robstown in the regional semifinals.