Friendswood offense wakes up to romp past Texas City

May 26, 2009

   

CLEAR LAKE — Those who have followed the Friendswood Mustangs all season knew that it was just a matter of time before an offensive explosion erupted in the playoffs.

    

Friendswood faced a mediocre pitcher against Houston Davis - salvaged only two hits - and faced elimination until they scored a run in the bottom of the seventh to tie up the game and then scrambled for the game winning run in the bottom of the eighth to stay alive and avoid an upset.

    

The Mustangs advanced to the 4A Region III quarterfinals to face district nemesis Texas City. After getting past the Stingarees 9-3 in 10 innings in the first game of the best-of-three series...Texas City came back with a 2-1 win to force a third game.

    

With the season on the line -- head coach Charlie Taylor saw his diamondmen leave no doubt as to the outcome of this game as the Mustangs stampeded to an 18-5 romp. The win keeps Friendswood's quest to repeat as the 4A Region III champions and a return to the 4A state baseball tournament alive.

    

Friendswood faces Nederland beginning on Thursday, May 28 at 7:30 p.m. at UH's Cougar Field in the Region III semifinals.

    

Friendswood pitcher Preston Schulze pitched a complete game to pick up the win. He pitched six innings, allowed only four hits, one walk, while allowing five runs (one earned), and four strikeouts.

    

The Mustangs scored three runs in the first frame and All-Stater Austin Fitzpatrick, who entered the game 0-for-8 in the series, broke out of his slump with a run-scoring sacrifice fly to give Friendswood a 3-0.

    

Friendswood added three more runs in the second inning as All-Stater Michael Ruiz and Kyle Singleton knocked in one run each while Jesse Flores scored on an error to give the 'Stangs a solid 6-0 advantage.

    

But Friendswood was only getting started.

    

Texas City Kyle Kern took over the mound for starter Ryan Harper and he was greeted by a three-run homer by Fitzpatrick over the left field fence giving Friendswood a 9-0 lead.

    

By the fourth inning - Friendswood was up 12-1 as Forrestt Allday knocked in a run and Kevin Thornton joined the fireworks with a two-run single.

    

Texas City did manage to score four runs in the bottom of the fourth to close the gap to 12-5, but the Mustangs punched out the lights of the Stingarees with six more runs to make the final 18-5.

    

The hitting stars for Friendswood included Fitzpatrick who was 2-for-3 with a three-run homer and a two-run double! Singleton stayed hot going 2-for-3 with two RBI's. Forest Allday was 2-for-4 with two RBI's. Thornton was 1-for-2 with two RBIs. Ruiz was 2-for-4 with two RBIs.

    

"We went into the playoffs looking for a No. 2 starter," Taylor said. "Now, we've found three guys that can be our No. 2. I'm not going to be afraid to throw any of them out there."

    

Alex Anastas also got in on the hitting parade as he drove in two runs in the sixth inning while Fitzpatrick,, Allday, and Brandon Hollier each had one RBI.

    

"Our guys respect the Texas City kids," Taylor said. "They know Texas City won't lay down -- they'll play hard the entire game. So they wanted to make that statement to come out and perform like they are capable of."

    

Friendswood will face the Nederland Bulldogs and a hostile Nederland crowd. Friendswood fans need to show up in full force to support the Mustangs.

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