Dawson, Pearland diamondmen split district games
March 31, 2025
This two-game showdown would be critical for both teams in the drive to the district title and playoffs.
The Oilers entered the 2025 season as the three-time defending league champions while winning the Class 6A Region III title and advancing to the state baseball tournament.
Pearland lost in the state finals to Tomball in 2023 and then lost in the state semifinals to Tomball in 2024.
 went six innings with four strikeouts. schnee gave up five hits but only one run in the first inning..jpg "Click to enlarge")
Game 1
Dawson 5 - Pearland 1
Pearland scored a run in the bottom of the first inning for a 1-0 lead that held up until the top of the sixth when Dawson tied up the score 1-1.
Pitcher Nico Partida opened the inning with a single and scored on a double play for the 1-0 Pearland lead.
Dawson even the score in the sixth when Aiden Villanueva was hit by a pitch and pinch runner Keegan Caballero scored on a sacrifice fly by Mason Walls.
The game went extra innings, but in the top of the ninth, Dawson was able to string together some hits and take advantage of Pearland errors to put up four more runs and take the series opener 5-1.
Dawson junior pitcher Bennett Schnee went six innings with four strikeouts while he gave up five hits but only one run in the first inning. Relief pitcher Jack Dyment picked up the win.
Game 2
Pearland 1 - Dawson 0
In Game 2, Pearland and Dawson were locked in a scoreless tie for nine innings until the Oilers pushed a run across the plate in the top of the ninth to win 1-0 and hand the Eagles their first district loss of the season.
Dawson senior Garrett Romero pitched the entire nine innings and gave up just three hits, and Pearland junior Grant Shepherd who went 6.1 innings and surrendered three hits. Oiler junior reliever Jaden Ornelas finished off the final 2.2 innings with no hits and three strikeouts.
The lone run came in the top of the ninth inning as Oiler senior Cade Adams hit a shallow sacrifice fly that allowed the runner on third base, senior Walker Hurst, to make a dash for home. Hurst was able to roll his body to his right and lift his left arm up as he slid into home to avoid being tagged out by Eagles junior catcher Aiden Villanueva.
The play was so close that the Dawson home crowd initially erupted into cheers but quickly turned to jeers as the umpire called Hurst safe at the plate.
Dawson head coach Chris Turner heavily protested the call but it stood. The Oilers took care of the final three outs in the bottom of the ninth inning and secured the 1-0 win to split the season series.
The loss is Dawson's first in district play and at 9-1 has them atop the district standings at about the halfway mark and in an excellent position to secure the district championship.
The Oilers previously split with Alvin and are currently 8-2 tied with the Yellowjackets for second place in district play Pearland still has a chance to secure at least a share of the district tile but will need to win out and get help from Alvin by sweeping Dawson when they face off next month.
