Pardo's diamondmen wrap up District 22-5A title

April 27, 2010

PEARLAND — The season for the Pearland Oilers could be described as a three-step process. The first step is the win the District 22-5A crown which they have completed. The second step is to repeat as the Class 5A Region III champions. That step is still ahead. And the third step is to advance to the state baseball tournament to win a state championship. But that step can't happen until the Oilers take care of business during regional action.

Pearland has one more district game at Dobie on Friday. Head coach Ben Pardo wants to continue the momentum that the Oilers are now experiencing to carry over into the post-season as it did last year.

The Oilers faced South Houston for the second time this season and blasted the Trojans 16-6 to avenge their first round loss to South Houston.

Pearland scored early and often before the 10-run mercy rule was enforced. The Oilers opened up the top of the first with three runs and then added four more in the second inning for a 7-0 lead.

After SoHo scored a run in the bottom of the second, the Oilers three in the third and two in the fourth with the Trojans scoring a pair in the third for a 12-3 advantage.

Pearland added four more in the top of the sixth to make the score 16-3. The Trojans attempted to extend the game with three innings in the bottom of the sixth, but came up short 16-6 at the end of the inning.

Matt Rhodes picked up the win giving up three runs and striking out five in 4 2/3 innings. Shane Michna stepped in relief for 1 1/3 innings allowing three runs with two strikeouts.

The win wrapped up the District 22-5A title for the Oilers.

Top hitters included Drew DeKerlegand (3-for-3, 2 runs scored, 2 RBIs), Kelly Cross (3-for-3, 2 runs scored, 3 RBIs), Kyle Cross (4-for-4, 2 runs scored, 1 RBI), Keith Freund (2-for-4, 2 runs scored, 1 RBI), Brock Hartson (2-for-4, 1 run scored, 2 RBIs) and Matt Rhodes (3-for-5, 3 runs scored, 1 RBI).

Kelly Cross had a three-run homer among his three hits to lead the 20-hit bombardment.

Pearland 9 - Deer Park 7

Ryan Perea pitched 4 2/3 innings, allowed two runs and struck out two as the Oilers beat Deer Park 7-5 on Senior Night at the Pearland Oil Patch.

The Deer got on the scoreboard first with a run in the top of the second before Pearland's bats came alive to score two runs in the bottom of the third and three more in the fourth sandwiched between a run for Deer Park in the top of the fourth for a 5-2 lead.

The Oilers added a run in the fifth and three in the sixth for 9-2 advantage and then had to put out a four-run rally in the top of the seventh to hold on to the 9-7 win.

Leading hitter for Pearland included Drew DeKerlegand (2-for-3, 2 runs scored, 1 RBI), Kelly Cross (1-for-3) including a three-run home run in the bottom of the sixth.

Keith Freund set the pace with a two-run blast in the bottom of the fourth to give Pearland a 5-2 lead.

Pearland got nine runs on eight hits while Deer Park got seven runs on 10 hits. The Oilers close out the regular district season on Friday, April 30 at Dobie at 7:00 p.m.

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