Scoop27
04-21-2016, 01:21 PM
From Brazosport Facts
SWEENY — Needing only three hits, the Sweeny Bulldogs took advantage of some Columbia Roughneck miscues and hit batsmen as the District 28-4A leaders romped to a 12-1, five-inning run-rule win Tuesday night.
Sweeny kept its perfect record intact in league play at 8-0 and is 18-3 overall. The win was the 11th consecutive triumph for the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs, coming off a come-from-behind win against Needville, 12-4, on Friday, have been on a roll.
“We are hitting the ball well, getting some good pitching and making plays when we have to,” Sweeny coach David Luster said. “Last week I told the kids about the fourth inning against Needville that there is a reason why we play tough teams in preseason, so that we can react well when we need to in district.”
After a scoreless first frame, the Bulldogs jumped on struggling left-hander Jack Russell in the second. Russell hit a couple of Bulldogs in the first frame and started the second inning by walking Dax McCleary.
With one out, an error on the second baseman on a grounder from Kyle Schaefer put runners on first and second. Mike Wetch then singled to center field, driving in a run for a 1-0 lead. Russell then hit his third batter of the game to load the bases.
A wild pitch to Jacob Mathis drove in a run to make it 2-0, then Russell loaded the bases again by issuing a walk to Mathis. Sweeny starting pitcher Shawn Kelley also walked on four pitches to drive in the third run, leaving the bases juiced.
After the second out by the Bulldogs, freshman Quinton Martin lifted a high fly ball to the gap in center field. The center fielder seemed to have a beat on it but misplayed the ball, allowing all three runners to score and giving the Bulldogs a 6-0 advantage.
“It was pretty ugly all the way around,” Columbia coach Jeff Shank said. “Pitching-wise, walks have hurt us all year and that was a struggle. (We had) at least four errors and we cannot win doing that.”
Sweeny came right back in the bottom of the third and scored five runs on a couple of hits, an error, three walks and a hit batsman. Kelley drove in two runs on a double to right field and Hayden Fails tripled over the center fielder to drive in another and give Sweeny an 11-0 lead.
Kelley was rolling along on the mound, giving up a hit with four strikeouts in the first three frames.
“He is throwing the ball well,” Luster said. “He’s got good command and that is good to have as your fourth or fifth starter.”
The Bulldogs scored another run in the fourth, and the reserves began to come off the bench.
“We got some kids some experience in different positions in case of injuries,” Luster said. “We had some kids move around a bit.”
The Roughnecks did get something going against Kelley in the top of the fifth. They scored a run on a Saylaion Dunlap single to left field that drove in Wade Hill, who singled to start the frame.
That was all Kelley gave up as he finished with the win on the mound on senior night. He allowed one run on five hits and a walk while striking out seven.
Honored on senior night for the Bulldogs were Cody Erikson, Wetch, Mathis, McCleary, Kelley and Fails.
Despite dropping the contest, the Roughnecks (4-4, 11-12) are in a battle for third place with Brazosport. They are one game behind the Exporters.
“Our kids come to compete and play hard but our focus was not very good,” Shank said. “We’ve been like that on and off and it starts with our pitching and if we can throw strikes consistently we are pretty good. (Tuesday) and some of our losses it has been a struggle. But the sun will come up tomorrow and we will get back to work.”
Columbia has a couple of games with playoff implications remaining, including Friday’s home game against Needville and Tuesday’s home matchup with Brazosport at Renfro Field in the regular season finale.
“We are still in this thing, but we have to get back to work and get after it,” Shank said.
SWEENY — Needing only three hits, the Sweeny Bulldogs took advantage of some Columbia Roughneck miscues and hit batsmen as the District 28-4A leaders romped to a 12-1, five-inning run-rule win Tuesday night.
Sweeny kept its perfect record intact in league play at 8-0 and is 18-3 overall. The win was the 11th consecutive triumph for the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs, coming off a come-from-behind win against Needville, 12-4, on Friday, have been on a roll.
“We are hitting the ball well, getting some good pitching and making plays when we have to,” Sweeny coach David Luster said. “Last week I told the kids about the fourth inning against Needville that there is a reason why we play tough teams in preseason, so that we can react well when we need to in district.”
After a scoreless first frame, the Bulldogs jumped on struggling left-hander Jack Russell in the second. Russell hit a couple of Bulldogs in the first frame and started the second inning by walking Dax McCleary.
With one out, an error on the second baseman on a grounder from Kyle Schaefer put runners on first and second. Mike Wetch then singled to center field, driving in a run for a 1-0 lead. Russell then hit his third batter of the game to load the bases.
A wild pitch to Jacob Mathis drove in a run to make it 2-0, then Russell loaded the bases again by issuing a walk to Mathis. Sweeny starting pitcher Shawn Kelley also walked on four pitches to drive in the third run, leaving the bases juiced.
After the second out by the Bulldogs, freshman Quinton Martin lifted a high fly ball to the gap in center field. The center fielder seemed to have a beat on it but misplayed the ball, allowing all three runners to score and giving the Bulldogs a 6-0 advantage.
“It was pretty ugly all the way around,” Columbia coach Jeff Shank said. “Pitching-wise, walks have hurt us all year and that was a struggle. (We had) at least four errors and we cannot win doing that.”
Sweeny came right back in the bottom of the third and scored five runs on a couple of hits, an error, three walks and a hit batsman. Kelley drove in two runs on a double to right field and Hayden Fails tripled over the center fielder to drive in another and give Sweeny an 11-0 lead.
Kelley was rolling along on the mound, giving up a hit with four strikeouts in the first three frames.
“He is throwing the ball well,” Luster said. “He’s got good command and that is good to have as your fourth or fifth starter.”
The Bulldogs scored another run in the fourth, and the reserves began to come off the bench.
“We got some kids some experience in different positions in case of injuries,” Luster said. “We had some kids move around a bit.”
The Roughnecks did get something going against Kelley in the top of the fifth. They scored a run on a Saylaion Dunlap single to left field that drove in Wade Hill, who singled to start the frame.
That was all Kelley gave up as he finished with the win on the mound on senior night. He allowed one run on five hits and a walk while striking out seven.
Honored on senior night for the Bulldogs were Cody Erikson, Wetch, Mathis, McCleary, Kelley and Fails.
Despite dropping the contest, the Roughnecks (4-4, 11-12) are in a battle for third place with Brazosport. They are one game behind the Exporters.
“Our kids come to compete and play hard but our focus was not very good,” Shank said. “We’ve been like that on and off and it starts with our pitching and if we can throw strikes consistently we are pretty good. (Tuesday) and some of our losses it has been a struggle. But the sun will come up tomorrow and we will get back to work.”
Columbia has a couple of games with playoff implications remaining, including Friday’s home game against Needville and Tuesday’s home matchup with Brazosport at Renfro Field in the regular season finale.
“We are still in this thing, but we have to get back to work and get after it,” Shank said.