Tomball vs Montgomery/Game 1 Tomball wins 4-2/Game 2 Tomball wins 16-4 advances

[Monkeynuts]

Montgomery coach Chris Morris has opened his team’s last two series on Friday, knowing the Bears would play in a compressed two-day window in hopes of advancing in the Class 4A baseball playoffs.

That won’t be the case this time against Tomball.

The Bears (30-5-1) face Tomball (30-4) in a best-of-three Region III-4A series starting Thursday night at Tomball. They’ll play at home on Friday night, with Game 3, if necessary, to be played at College Park High School on Saturday night.

That gives Morris some flexibility with his pitching strategy, which he acknowledged Monday.

“I’ve been talking with our coaches about it all day,” he said. “I’m still not sure which way we’re going to go.”

Right-hander Collin Garrett has been the Bears’ Game 1 starter in playoff series against Kingwood Park and Nederland. He struggled against Kingwood Park and came out of the game early, only to return the next day to lead Montgomery to an 8-0 victory over the Panthers.

Garrett returned to form against Nederland, however, pitching into the seventh inning and yielding only three hits in a 3-1 victory over the Bulldogs. Ty Boland battled out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh to get the save in that game.

In Game 2, right-hander Mason Mize was in control until giving up five runs in the fourth inning, but the Bears’ bats were on fire on a windy day at Clear Lake High School. Montgomery hit five home runs to eliminate Nederland with a 15-5 run-rule victory.

“Tomball’s got some good left-handed hitters, so I’d imagine Boland is going to come into play on the mound,” Morris said. “I feel good about the way we’re playing. We’ll look at all three pitchers — Collin, Ty and Mason — and take it from there.”

Morris had a chance to scout the Cougars in their three-game quarterfinal series with Ridge Point. Ridge Point won Game 1, claiming an 8-6 victory, before Tomball outscored the Panthers 19-0 in the final two games of the series.

“They ran into a good pitcher in that first game, but they still swung the bat well,” Morris said. “They’re a good ballclub. Solid pitching, good defense. They can swing the bat. This should be a big challenge for us this week.”

Tomball’s Nick Banks has signed with Texas A&M and provides his team with left-handed power. Senior right-handers Robert Dugger and Eric Dunbar stopped Ridge Point with back-to-back shutouts, both allowing just two hits as the Cougars advanced in the playoffs.

Morris is familiar with Tomball coach Doug Rush from his time with the Waller Bulldogs, one of Montgomery’s longtime district rivals. But Montgomery has yet to face the Cougars, a former Class 5A team, in the playoffs.

“Coach Rush and I both wanted a chance to get to play at home,” Morris said. “I like having Game 2 at the house, in case that is an elimination game. I’d like to put our guys in as comfortable a position as possible. Some coaches like having Game 1 at home, but this works out pretty well for us.

“We’re playing well, and Tomball is playing well. It’ll be a great playoff atmosphere.”

Morris is particularly pleased with the way the Bears are playing defensively.

“Against Nederland, that’s as good as we’ve played defensively all year,” he said. “We made the routine plays, and we made some tough plays, too. That gives a team a lot of confidence.”

Go get em Bears!!!!

http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/courier/sports/montgomery-resumes-its-playoff-run-against-tomball/article_56e88aab-2ff8-52ec-b25a-728534a1c5ba.html

[Bud Kilmer]

Wasnt boland the staff ace last year ?

[Monkeynuts]

Yes, he was the closer mostly during this year and now the #3/closer during the playoffs. He has the ablility to step it when needed and his power at bat has really come on recently (has always hit for a good average). He has signed to play for Seminole JC in Oklahoma also.

[bh89-2]

Let's face the facts here, Montgomery has not played anyone yet.  Nederland sucks, and Montgomery comes from a weaker district, we all know that.  Tomball is about to open up a can of.......well you know. 

That being said, if we (BH) gets past Foster Tomball may do the same to us. 

[BellBiz30]

[quote name="Smoking Baby Again" post="1406935" timestamp="1369223491"]
Let's face the facts here, Montgomery has not played anyone yet.  Nederland sucks, and Montgomery comes from a weaker district, we all know that.  Tomball is about to open up a can of.......well you know. 

That being said, if we (BH) gets past Foster Tomball may do the same to us.
[/quote]Well good morning!  ;D ;D ;D

[bh89-2]

[quote name="BellBiz30" post="1406956" timestamp="1369228671"]
[quote author=Smoking Baby Again link=topic=112126.msg1406935#msg1406935 date=1369223491]
Let's face the facts here, Montgomery has not played anyone yet.  Nederland sucks, and Montgomery comes from a weaker district, we all know that.  Tomball is about to open up a can of.......well you know. 

That being said, if we (BH) gets past Foster Tomball may do the same to us.
[/quote]Well good morning!  ;D ;D ;D
[/quote]

There is a reason the preacher gives a morning and afternoon service....... ;D ;D  Educate all the fine East of the Trinty folks he can. 

[bronco pride]

From what i have heard this is a 1 game series. I havent seen either team play so i was wondering who benefits the most from a 1 game series.

[EAGLE07]

[quote name="bronco pride" post="1407711" timestamp="1369332745"]
From what i have heard this is a 1 game series. I havent seen either team play so i was wondering who benefits the most from a 1 game series.
[/quote]

I believe it's a three-gamer, tonight, tomorrow, Sat.

[Peppermint Patty]

Tomball vs. Montgomery
Game 1  Thursday 7pm @ Tomball
Game 2  Friday 7pm @ Montgomery
Game 3  Saturday 7pm @ College Park (if nec)

[bronco pride]

On the bh foster thread it said a 1 game series. Glad its going 3.

[BrenhamFan]

[quote name="Smoking Baby Again" post="1406935" timestamp="1369223491"]
Let's face the facts here, Montgomery has not played anyone yet.  Nederland sucks, and Montgomery comes from a weaker district, we all know that.  Tomball is about to open up a can of.......well you know. 

That being said, if we (BH) gets past Foster Tomball may do the same to us.
[/quote]

I guess you're right..... 

The Woodlands
Kempner
Brenham 2X (who is BH's only post season loss)
Magnolia 2X

Nobody impressive on that list....  ::)

[Peppermint Patty]

Game 1 Final
Tomball. 4
Mont.      2

Edwards with a 3R walkoff HR for the Cougars.
Tomball leads series 1-0

[Monkeynuts]

Ishmael Edwards unloaded a three-run home run to left field with two outs in the seventh inning to send Tomball to a dramatic 4-2 victory over Montgomery on Thursday night.

Edwards crushed a 2-2 pitch from Bears left-hander Ty Boland for the game-winner. Montgomery (30-6-1) will get a chance to tie the best-of-three series on its home field at 7 p.m. Friday.

A third game, if necessary, will be held Saturday night at College Park High School.

Boland turned in an outstanding effort, giving up five hits while striking out nine batters and walking four.

“We played well, Ty pitched well,” Bears coach Chris Morris said. “(Edwards) got the big hit. We had a chance to beat them at their place, and we didn’t get it done.

“Tomball’s a very good team.”

The Cougars (31-4) rallied when Montgomery committed its only error of the night to lead off the seventh. Then Nick Banks, Tomball’s dangerous leadoff man, drew a walk with one out.

Boland struck out Anthony Lucas for the second out, but Edwards turned on the offering from Boland for the home run.

“It was a changeup and Ty left it up a little bit,” Morris said.

Bears left fielder Bodhi Bell said he knew the ball was going over the fence once it left Edwards’ bat.

“Yeah, clearly, it was gone,” he said. “It happens. It’s part of baseball. That’s why it’s a three-game series.”

Cougars reliever Braeden Holub, who retired all four batters he faced, was the winning pitcher.

Morris said sophomore right-hander Collin Garrett will be the Bears’ starting pitcher in Game 2.

“We knew it was going to be packed, a real playoff atmosphere,” Morris said. “We went with Ty in this game. We’re a veteran team and they’ve played in a lot of big games.

“They’ve always been able to bounce back.”

Montgomery came back from a 2-1 loss in Game 1 to take a three-game series from Kingwood Park in the area round.

Tomball struck for one run in the bottom of the first inning. Boland gave up a leadoff single to Banks, and Lucas lined Boland’s first pitch into left field for another single.

A sacrifice put two runners in scoring position, and Dillon Menville’s RBI grounder brought Banks across the plate.

The Bears’ Gunner Vaught tied it with one swing of the bat in the top of second.

Vaught smashed Robert Dugger’s first pitch for a leadoff home run that fell just inside the left-field foul pole.

Dugger retired the next four batters he faced, but Montgomery’s Will Fox reached on a bloop double to shallow left field with one out in the third.

Boland put the Bears in front 2-1 when he lined a 1-2 pitch into left-center for an RBI single.

Montgomery loaded the bases with one out in the fourth, but Dugger induced a tapper back to the mound from Fox and retired the lead runner at the plate. Jimmy Dominick then grounded out to end the inning.

“We had a lot of good at-bats,” Morris said. “We didn’t score in that inning, but I’m proud of how the kids battled.”

Nate Van Dyke drilled a Dugger pitch into the left-field corner for a one-out double in the top of the fifth, but the senior right-hander retired the next two Bears.

Boland walked Banks with one out in the bottom of the fifth. Then Boland promptly picked him off of first base, with shortstop Garrett Hrozek applying the tag at second.

Tomball 4, Montgomery 2

Montgomery 011 000 0 — 2 6 1

Tomball 100 000 3 — 3 5 1

Records — Montgomery: 30-6-1. Tomball: 31-4.

WP: Braeden Holub (1 1/3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 K, 0 BB)

LP: Ty Boland (6 2/3 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 1 ER, 9 K, 4 BB)

Leaders — Montgomery: Gunner Vaught 1-3, HR; Will Fox 1-3, 2B, R; Garrett Hrozek 2-3, BB; Nate Van Dyke 1-4, 2B; Ty Boland 1-4. Tomball: Ishmael Edwards 1-3, HR, 3 RBI; Nick Banks 1-1, 2 R, 3 BB; Anthony Lucas

[AggiesAreWe]

In game 2

Tomball leads Montgomery 12-4 in the top of the 5th

[Monkeynuts]

MONTGOMERY — Tomball needed a walk-off home run to beat Montgomery in Game 1 of their Region III-4A playoff series.

Game 2 was another story.

The Cougars chased Bears starting pitcher Collin Garrett in the second inning and cruised to a 16-4 victory on Friday night to sweep the series.

“I don’t think it was any lingering effect (from Thursday night’s 4-2 loss),” Montgomery coach Chris Morris said. “We just ran into a quality team. They hit, they pitched, they made all the plays.

“Tomball is going to be tough to beat.”

The Cougars improved to 32-4 on the season and will face Richmond Foster in the regional final. Foster swept Barbers Hill in a best-of-three series.

The Bears, a state semifinalist last year, finish their season 30-7-1.

Montgomery bolted to a 3-0 lead when Tomball made two errors in the bottom of the first inning. But Garrett struggled with his control and the Cougars were quick to pounce in the second.

“Collin just couldn’t locate his fastball tonight,” Morris said.

Two hit batsmen allowed Tomball to load the bases with one out, and Anthony Lucas and Dillon Menville produced run-scoring hits — Menville’s single to center field brought two runs across the plate — before Morris went to his bullpen.

Eric Dunbar, the winning pitcher, greeted Bears reliever Mason Mize with an RBI single to center. Mize gave up a bases-loaded walk before Cougars catcher Casey Smith made it 8-3 with a two-run single to right-center field.

“We had a bad first inning, but our kids played with a lot of confidence,” Tomball coach Doug Rush said. “We had good pitching and 16 hits. We showed some pitching depth in this series.”

Nick Banks, the Cougars’ dynamic leadoff man, belted a Mize pitch over the right-field fence for a leadoff home run in the third. Menville added an RBI single, but Mize avoided further damage.

Montgomery’s Bodhi Bell lined a pitch from Dunbar into center field for a two-run single in the first. Bell walked with two outs to put runners on the corners with two outs in the third, but Jared Eaton grounded out to end the threat.

Ishmael Edwards, who hit the dramatic home run to beat the Bears with two outs in the bottom of the seventh in Game 1, had an RBI single in the fourth. The Cougars scored another run on a Montgomery error in that inning.

Bell had two of the Bears’ four hits.

Tomball added four runs in the top of the seventh against Montgomery relievers Brock Tipton and Gunner Vaught.

Congrats to Tomball on the victory and great season for the Bears. Good luck to all the seniors