WCMessenger.com: Andrews hitters are too much for Decatur

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Andrews hitters are too much for Decatur

By Robert Morgan | Published Thursday, June 4, 2009

Down a game in the best-of-three series against the Andrews Mustangs in the Class 3A, Region 1 semifinals, the Decatur boys' baseball team looked to even the series Saturday in Abilene. Unfortunately, it was the Mustangs' bats that came alive as Andrews throttled Decatur, 9-2.

After scoring 10 runs in the late innings of game one, the Mustangs kept rolling in the first inning of game two, scoring three runs on two hits and two errors by Decatur infielders to take a commanding 3-0 lead.

The Eagles made a run in the top of the third inning, scoring their only two runs of the game to cut the lead down to one. Freshman Cody Barlow ripped a single to left, followed by a Brennan Moore walk and an infield error allowing senior Justin Tompkins to load the bases for Decatur. Seniors Chad Harrison and Andrew Gage knocked in a run each in the next two at-bats, but that was all the Eagles were able to muster as Zach Gage grounded out to end the inning.

Andrews answered the Eagle run in the bottom of the same inning, scoring two runs on three hits and a walk to extend their lead to 5-2. Decatur would not get closer.

Mustang pitcher Ryan Diaz kept the Eagles in check the rest of the game, allowing only three hits in the final four innings, none for extra bases, and forcing Decatur to leave the runner stranded each time.

Decatur also struggled defensively, committing four errors, three of them directly resulting in runs for the Mustangs. Tompkins pitched a complete game, allowing 10 hits and striking out two.

Moore went 2 for 3 at the plate, including the only extra-bases hit for Decatur, a double to left field on the first at-bat of the game. Barlow also recorded two hits, and Andrew Gage and senior Zach Gage each had one.

The loss ends the Eagles' season with a record of 21-12. Andrews moved to 22-7 and will face Brownwood for the regional title, with the winner of that game moving on to the state tournament.

In the opening game of the series between Decatur and Andrews, the Eagles came through early in the action as they scored seven runs on six hits and two errors in the first four innings to take the lead twice.

That's when Andrews called on relief pitcher Ozzy Bueno, and he slammed the door shut on the Eagles as he allowed just one hit in the last three innings of the game to lead the Mustangs to an 11-7 win in game one of the Class 3A regional semifinal series in Abilene.

After going down in order in the first inning, Decatur jumped all over pitcher Jesus Saldana in the second. In fact, Chad Harrison and Andrew Gage led off the inning with back-to-back home runs - both on the first pitch - to put the locals ahead 2-1.

That was just the beginning of things for the Eagles as they went on to load the bases on a walk to Zach Gage, an error that allowed Ryan Cangley to get on base, and Perez laid down a perfect bunt single. The Eagles kept things going when Gage walked home after Brennan Moore was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Justin Tompkins came through in the clutch when he ripped a two-run single to left field, which brought in two runs and gave Decatur a 6-1 lead.

Things started to unravel in the third inning for Decatur when Andrews bounced back from a scoreless second inning by posting three runs in the third.

Decatur's second error of the game let to more damage as Andrews scored twice, making it a 6-4 ball game.The game took a turn for the worst for Decatur in the top of the fourth inning when the Mustangs took the lead for good. They used three singles and three walks issued by Jake Connally to move in front 7-6.

The Eagles answered in the bottom half of the inning thanks to a two-out double off the left-field wall by Brennan Moore. The senior scored on an RBI single by freshman Colton Parker to even things up at 7-7.