Jul 30, 2010
Nederland ends Friendswood's drive to repeat as region champs
June 1, 2009
HOUSTON — This time last year -- Friendswood was getting all of the clutch hits at the right time and pulling out last inning victories. But that same mojo didn't happen for head coach Charlie Taylor and his diamondmen this year in their quest to win their second straight 4A Region III championship and return to the state baseball tournament.
The Mustangs faced a tough Nederland Bulldogs squad that mirrored the talented boys from Friendswood. Only this series -- the 'Dogs were able to get the timely hits and strong pitching that allowed them to sweep the 'Stangs 6-3 and 7-6 at UH's Cougar Field.
In the first game -- Nederland fell behind early 2-0 when Forrest Allday ripped an RBI double in the second inning and then got a fourth inning home run by Austin Fitzpatrick, his second roundtripper in as many games.
But that wasn't enough support for Friendswood pitching ace Kyle Burris (14-2) who suffered only his second loss of the season.
Nederland's aggressive offense finally began to make contact against Burris which resulted in two runs in the fifth inning to knot up the game.
Trevin Sonnier put the Bulldogs in the lead in the sixth inning with an RBI double.
The seventh frame proved to be the beginning of the end for Friendswood when two infield errors allowed three more runs for the Bulldogs and a 6-2 lead.
Burris was taken out of the game in the sixth after allowing 10 hits and eight strikeouts.
In the bottom of the seventh, Friendswood tried to get their cold offense going as Allday singled and Kevin Thornton smashed a double, but Allday was thrown out at third -- though it appeared reached the base under the tag. Jordan Johnson singled up the middle to plate Thornton to cut the lead to 6-3, but the Mustangs lost some momentum with Allday's out.
Brandon Hollier flied out to centerfield and Michael Ruiz grounded out for the third out ending the game.
"We left a lot of opportunities out there," coach Taylor said. "We had guys in position to do something, but we couldn't capitalize on those opportunities."
Friendswood had a 3-1 lead in the fifth inning and rallied for a 6-4 lead in the top of the sixth inning, but in the end, the Nederland Bulldogs scratched their way to a 7-6 win to end the Mustangs' hopes of returning back to the state baseball tourney.
The Mustangs took a 3-1 lead in the third when Kyle Singleton stroked a single with the bases loaded that brought home two runs and a third run scored on an error by the Nederland outfielder.
However - Nederland scored three runs in their half of the third for a 4-3 lead.
After courtesy runner Matt Kennemer scored on a wild pitch to tie up the game at 4-4 -- Cody Bergeson smashed a two-run double for a 6-4 Friendswood lead.
But once again, Friendswood couldn't hold the lead as Nederland scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth which would be the final 7-6 score.
Griffin Davis pitched four innings, allowed three runs, and struck out five. Michael Ruiz stepped in relief and took the loss.
"We told them coming in that we would need seven runs to win," head coach Charlie Taylor said. "We felt like (Nederland) would get the six they had been averaging. But they ended up with seven and that was enough to beat us."
Despite the disappointing loss, the Friendswood Mustangs had a season to be proud of as District 24-4A champions.