Sep 09, 2010
Oilers rally past Kempner to advance
May 18, 2009
PEARLAND — Pearland dropped their first game of the best-of-three series against Fort Bend Kempner 8-1 in a sub-par showing that gave the Cougars the edge to move on in the Class 5A Region III playoffs.
However, this Pearland band of warriors are not going to go down easy in defending their 5A Region III crown.
The rains hit the area forcing game 2 to be canceled on Friday. With rain still affecting the area, head coach Ben Pardo and his diamondmen were forced to head north to Lufkin to find a dry baseball park.
Pearland could muster only two hits against Kempner in game one so the bats for the Oilers had to come alive or the season would come to an instant halt.
Kempner scored first in the top of the first, but the Oilers answered in the bottom of the second when Jake Paddock was hit by a pitch and moved to third on a double by Keith Freund. Kyle Cross reached base on an error by the second baseman that allowed Paddock to score for a 1-1 tie.
Pearland got three more runs in the bottom of the third as Michael Matthews and Drew DeKerlegand scored on a triple by Brock Hartson. A fielder's choice by Kyle Cross send Hartson across the plate for a 4-1 advantage.
The big inning erupted in the bottom of the fourth showcased by a grand slam homer by sophomore Bradley Cuyos as part of a five-run frame for a 9-1 lead.
Two more runs crossed the plate in the bottom of the sixth to make the final score 11-1 which tied up the series at a game apiece.
Pearland All-State pitcher Matt Rhodes picked up the win after allowing only five hits and one run while fanning six and not issuing a walk.
Paddock led the 11-hit attack going 3-fo-3 with three RBIs and one run scored.
Cuyos was 1-for-4, but the one hit was huge for a grandslam and four RBIs.
Pearland 3 - Kempner 2
The third and deciding game was going to be a real battle and it came as no surprise that it would be close to the very end.
With Pearland as the visiting team, the Oilers got on the board first in the top of the second when Kelly Cross reached base on an error and then scored on a throwing error by the Kempner shortstop to make the score 1-0.
The Oilers added another run in the top of the third when Matt Rhodes opened with a walk and then moved to third on a single by Michael Matthews. Rhodes would then score on a pass ball for a 2-0 advantage.
Pearland got another run in the top of the fifth when Rhodes opened with a single, stole second base, and advanced to third on an error by the catcher. Drew DeKerlegand reached base on error by the pitcher that allowed Rhodes to dart home for a 3-0 lead.
However, Kempner got back in the game in the bottom of the fifth by scoring two runs to cut the lead to 3-2.
Pearland starter Brock Hartson retired all three batters in the bottom of the sixth, but ran into a little trouble in the bottom of the seventh.
After getting two quick outs, Kempner kept their hopes alive with a single and a walk to put the game-tying and game-winning runs on base.
Head coach Ben Pardo brought in his ace, Matt Rhodes, and the lefthander struck out the final batter to get the save and to send the Oilers to the Class 5A Region III quarterfinals against Brazoswood.
Pearland got only six hits while Kempner was held to seven hits.
Hartson picked up the win on the mound with eight strikeouts and only one walk.
Rhodes was 1-for-3 at the plate with two runs scored. Cuyos was 2-for-3 while Michael Matthews had a pair of hits. Jake Paddock and Keith Freund picked up the other dingers.
The Oilers will face former district nemesis Brazoswood in a best-of-three series beginning on Thursday, May 20 at Brazoswood at 7:00 p.m. The Game 2 contest will be at Pearland HS on Friday, May 21 at 7:00 p.m. A third game (if necessary) will be on Saturday, May 22 at Brazoswood at 2:00 p.m.