KFDM COOP Posted May 29, 2008 Report Posted May 29, 2008 Friendswood edges Lamar Consol 4-3 to take Game 1 Win Friday sends Mustangs to state tournament The Friendswood Mustangs are now just one step away from making school history. By scratching out four runs against Lamar Consolidated ace Brady Rodgers and getting a solid pitching performance from their own hurler, senior Stefan Myers, the Mustangs were able to earn a 4-3 win in Game 1 of the Region III-4A championship series on Thursday at UH's Cougar Field. Friendswood (26-8) will look to sweep the series tonight and earn its first state baseball tournament berth. Lamar Consolidated (28-8) needs a win to avoid elimination. Game 2 is at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Cougar Field. "This is huge," catcher Matt McLaren said. "We were hoping Stefan could go up there and get us a win and he did. That gives us a lot of momentum heading into (tonight)." Friendswood was aggressive from the start. After McLaren was hit by a pitch, courtesy runner Jesse Flores stole second then scored after an errant throw by Lamar Consolidated third baseman Ryan Haas on an infield single by Cody Bergeson went into foul territory to make it 1-0 Friendswood. Lamar Consolidated tied it in the second after Myers issued a bases loaded walk to Eli Sepulveda, scoring Cody Robinson to make it 1-1. Friendswood reclaimed the lead in the third when Myers singled to left to score Flores to make it 2-1. The Mustangs added runs in the fifth on an error and in the sixth on an RBI single by McLaren for a 4-1 lead. "We knew coming into the game that we were going to have to get on (Rodgers)," McLaren said. "Once we did, he started getting a little rattled. We knew he pitched a lot last week so we were just trying to get him out of the game." Lamar Consolidated tried to rally in the seventh, picking up a pair after an RBI double by Haas and an RBI single by Cody Abraham. But Myers, who pitched all seven innings and allowed just four hits on the night, got his 10th strikeout of the night on Lamar's Brandon Hollek to end the threat and the game. "Stefan did a fantastic job on the mound," Taylor said. "He struggled at times with some of the things that he was doing but he did a good job keeping them off stride." For Rodgers (13-2) it was only his second loss of the season and the first time this postseason that Lamar Consolidated has dropped a Game 1 in a playoff series. That gives Friendswood a lot of momentum heading into Game 2 when they send Andrew Beasley (8-3) to the hill with a chance to clinch a state tournament berth. "It feels great - this is a great place to be right now," Taylor said. "Hopefully (tonight) we'll do our job. We don't want to take them for granted. Those guys came back against Brenham and we know there's no die in that group."
Guest Wildcat 08 Posted May 29, 2008 Report Posted May 29, 2008 Friendswood is the best team in the region hands down!!!!
KFDM COOP Posted May 30, 2008 Author Report Posted May 30, 2008 8-1 LC takes game 2. Game 3 Saturday.
KFDM COOP Posted June 1, 2008 Author Report Posted June 1, 2008 Friendswood battles more than rival Mustangs By Joshua Buckley The Daily News Published June 1, 2008 HOUSTON — Even as they completed one of the most thrilling and historic wins in school history Saturday, many of the Friendswood baseball players could barely muster up the energy to walk out to the University of Houston’s Cougar Field scoreboard for a team photo. Friendswood came away with a 10-8 victory over Lamar Consolidated to win its first Region III-4A baseball title in school history. But to record the program’s biggest win, Friendswood had to not only survive the rival Mustangs, but also sweltering heat and the incredible pressure of a 13-inning affair. “I’m not going to lie,†said senior catcher Matt McLaren, who was covered from head to toe in dirt and sweat. “At one point, we didn’t think it would every end. The whole game was up and down, and up and down. It was nuts.†The first pitch of the game was delivered at 2:03 p.m. The final out came at 6:51 p.m. — four hours and 48 minutes later. Not exactly your typical high school baseball game. “I’m so exhausted right now,†said junior Kevin Thornton, who may have had the only jersey in the stadium dirtier than McLaren’s. “My legs, ribs, back — everything is cramping up. It was tough out there.†Temperatures soared into the upper 90s throughout the afternoon. While the fans from both teams sat in the shaded areas of the Cougar Field stands, the players had to find different ways to keep themselves from getting dehydrated during the game. “During football season, your Under Armour holds in humidity under your pads,†McLaren explained. “This was the first time I’ve ever needed my baseball Under Armour to hold in humidity. I was pouring water down my shirt and doing whatever I could to stay hydrated. “It was miserable.†The elements were hardly the toughest thing the Friendswood players had to battle through Saturday. They also had to find ways to stay calm and focused as the pressure began to mount each inning. “Especially with them being the home team,†McLaren said. “It wasn’t just score and then celebrate being done. We knew we had to score and then hold it. “The pressure started to get to us a little bit, but we had to calm ourselves down and hold on to it.†One player who tried to remain a cool customer under the extreme circumstances was pitcher Andrew Beasley. About 20 hours after being charged with the Game 2 loss, Beasley came in to pitch in the ninth inning. He finished the game allowing three hits and two walks over five innings. “I didn’t really feel any pressure.†Don’t lie now Beasley… “I promise you, (Friday) night there was much more pressure. The whole time today, I didn’t even look at the crowd much. I knew what I wanted out there, so I just concentrated on the game.†In the end, Friendswood survived the heat, the pressure and the relentless Lamar Consolidated Mustangs. They were covered in dirt and sweat, and many struggled just to walk over to their parents for a congratulatory hug. All Friendswood coach Charlie Taylor could do was shake his head in approval and smile. “We’ve been in long innings before, but not like this one,†Taylor said. “Our kids gave it all on the field. They were driving and running after balls. Some of them are dragging real bad now, but they played their hearts out.†What’s next for the Friendswood players on the agenda? Well, before packing up a bag for next week’s state tournament in Round Rock, many were just ready for a moment of relaxation. “I’m going to go home and take a shower first,†McLaren said. Added Beasley: “I think we are all going to go home and crash. But later, we are going to party it up.â€
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