Oilers maintain top spot in district standings

April 13, 2010

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Pearland catcher Kelly Cross tags out a Pasadena runner at home plate. The Oilers blanked the Eagles 10-0 to remain in first place in the District 22-5A standings. (Photo by Manny Guerrero)

PEARLAND — The Pearland Oilers continue to stay in first place in the District 22-5A race after knocking off Dobie and Pasadena last week.

The Oilers finished the first round of league action with a 7-1 mark with their only blemish coming at the hands of Sam Rayburn in a game marred by seven miscues and a game that saw the Oilers struggle to do things right.

But veteran head coach Ben Pardo knows that is the nature of the beast over the course of a baseball season. A team is going to have one of those weird games.

Pearland has the ship back on course and the Oilers look to be gathering momentum at the beginning of the second round of district with their dominating 10-0 win over Pasadena.

Pardo saw his diamondmen take care of the Dobie Longhorns as All-State pitcher Matt Rhodes limited the Horns to only five hits and two earned runs while his teammates provided plenty of fire power with eight hits for five runs.

Designated hitter Michael Matthews led the offensive charge going 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored and one RBI.

Matthews score the first run of the game after getting a double and crossing the plate on a double by Drew DeKerlegand for a 1-0 lead.

Pearland scored two more runs in the bottom of the third after Dobie had scored a run in the top of the second and third for a 2-1 lead. Matthews and DeKerlegand both scored in the third to give the Oilers a 3-2 lead.

Bradley Cuyos broke open the close game in the bottom of the sixth with a leadoff home run over the left field fence to give the Oilers some breathing room. Matthews drove in Kyle Cross for an insurance run making the final score 5-2.

Rhodes went the distance on the mound to get the win.

Kyle Cross had a solid game going 2-for-3 with one run scored. DeKerlegand was 1-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI. Jake Paddock also got a hit for the Oilers.

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THROWING OUT THE FIRST PITCH - Former Pearland All-State baseball standout Craig Smajstrla throws out the first pitch as the Oilers honored former Pearland players who won the 1980 Class 4A state baseball championship. The current Oiler team wore throw-back jerseys to honor the 30-year anniversary of the Pearland diamondmen and their state title. Smajstrla played pro ball for a few years with the Astros organization before becoming a major league baseball scout for more than 20 years and counting. A new sign has been erected at the PHS baseball field commemorating the outstanding accomplishments of the Pearland baseball program. The Oilers are the defending Class 5A Region III champions and advanced to the state tournament last year in 2009. (Photo by Manny Guerrero)

Pearland 10 - Pasadena 0

The Pearland Oilers won the 4A state championship in 1980 and the game against Pasadena was Throw-Back Jersey night as the 2010 Oilers wore replica jerseys that Pearland wore 30 years ago.

Former All-State standout and Houston Astros Craig Smajstrla threw out the first pitch to get things going. Smajstrla has been a major league baseball scout for over 20 years so he is still very close to the game that meant so much to him.

There were a few other former Oilers who were in attendance who were a part of that 1980 squad that brought the state championship to Pearland.

The game with Pasadena was close as the Oilers run-ruled the Eagles 10-0 with Shane Michna picking up the win on the mound with a four-hitter. The righthander struck out six.

The Oilers scored 10 runs on eight hits with with Drew DeKerlegand, Bradley Cuyos, and Luke Knader leading the way with two hits each.

Pearland scored in every inning with the game being called after five frames with the 10-run in effect.

Next on the schedule for Pearland is the La Porte Bulldogs come to town on Friday, April 16 at 7:00 p.m. The Oilers will host Pasadena Memorial on Tuesday, April 20 at 7:00 p.m.

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