SAN ANTONIO – Boerne Champion proved it can score in bunches during last week’s series sweep of Smithson Valley in the third round of the 5A baseball playoffs.
Champion scored 11 runs in the series and tallied 9 of those runs in just two innings on their way to a 4-1 and 7-4 sweep.
Champion scored 5 runs in the first frame in Game 2 and tallied all 4 of its runs in the first game in one frame as well. In both cases, it gave the Chargers a lead they never relinquished.
“We had three innings that pretty much determined everything,” Champion coach Ben Woodchick said.
The Chargers improved to 29-9-1 overall and face Corpus Christi Ray in the fourth round. Game 1 is Thursday at Cabaniss Field, 7 p.m.; Game 2 is Friday at Northeast Sports Park, 1:30 p.m., and a third game if needed is Saturday in Jourdanton, 1:30 p.m.
Woodchick said his team got it done against a good Smithson Valley squad.
“I believe in our guys, we’re playing really good right now and when you have guys throwing the way we’re throwing, we hope to sweep, that’s what the goal is,” he said. “The kids got it done, so proud of them with their energy and heart, they’re playing for each other.”
Game 2
The Chargers had a fast start in Friday’s Game 2 and scored 5 of its runs in the top of the first inning. Champion put its first six batters on before the Rangers could get an out and the Chargers chased the Smithson Valley starting pitcher from the game before the inning had ended.
The Chargers used a hit batter, a walk and four straight singles from Cam Logan, Sam Miller, Jared Wingo and Quinn Grable to take a 3-0 lead. From there, Gage Goldberg and Ethan Harrison traded outs for runs and it was 5-0 before the Rangers could get out of the inning.
Smithson Valley chipped away at the lead and plated single runs from the first through the fourth frames, two of them on solo homers, and it was 5-4.
“They can really hit the heck out of the baseball,” Woodchick noted.
After not scoring in the second through fourth frames, the Chargers responded with a run in the fifth. Sam Miller was hit by a pitch and his courtesy runner, Andrew Frei, stole second. With one out, Grable doubled to right field to score Frei and it was 6-4.
Champion added to its lead in the seventh when Jordan Ballin came through with a two-out hit. Goldberg started things off with a single and then his courtesy runner, Matthew Booth, moved to second after Nic Cortez took a walk. Ballin hit a line drive to left that scored Booth and it was 7-4.
After the fourth inning, Smithson Valley only put one runner on base and that was in the sixth with a single as the Charger defense clamped down after giving up four runs through the first four frames.
Jacob Schwope started on the hill and went 3 innings and was replaced by Aidan Smith. Schwope gave up 4 hits, 4 runs and walked 2 and picked up the win, while Smith tossed 4 innings, scattered 2 hits, fanned 2 and walked 1.
Both Schwope and Smith are sophomores but Woodchick said they pitched like veterans.
“We’re young on the mound, outside of Rowdy (Miller), but we’re talented. They’re getting this experience and this is amazing for them” he said. “A lot of these kids will get to pitch at the next level and they’ll be ready to do that one day. They got the stuff but a lot of younger kids don’t get the experience, they’re doing a great job.”
Game 1
Smithson Valley outhit the Chargers, 4-3, but Champion still scored more runs and went on to take the first game in the series, 4-1.
The Rangers scored their only run of the game in the first after a walk, sac bunt and an error pushed in the runner from second for the 1-0 lead.
It stayed that way until the third when Champion scored all four of its runs and had two of their three total hits in the inning.
A Gage Goldberg walk was followed by consecutive singles from Ethan Harrison and Nic Cortez. The Cortez hit tied it at 1-1 after Goldberg’s courtesy runner Andrew Frei scored and it also moved Harrison to third.
A walk to Jordan Ballin loaded the bases with Ballin at first, Cortez’s courtesy runner Brock Browning at second and Harrison at third.
From there, Evan Kuhl hit into a fielder’s choice that scored Harrison to make it 2-1. Cam Logan reached on an error and the bases were juiced again. Ballin and Kuhl later scored to give the Chargers a 4-1 advantage.
The lead held until the end but in the seventh, Smithson Valley put its first two batters on with no outs, however Charger pitcher Rowdy Miller struck out the next batter for the first out.
Aidan Smith entered for Miller, who was at 105 pitches, and struck out the first batter he faced for the second out. From there, Smith got the final out with a line drive to left to end the game.
Miller improved to 12-0 this year, while Smith picked up the save.
Nic Cortez, Ethan Harrison and Sam Miller accounted for all 3 Charger hits, while Harrison, Evan Kuhl, Andrew Frei and Jordan Ballin scored runs. Kuhl and Cortez each picked up an RBI in the contest.
Woodchick said it was a great atmosphere at North East Field.
“This place is awesome, the capacity is perfect,” he said. “You saw the love for both communities, it’s special just to be part of it.”
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