Tyler, Tx- On Wednesday, April 17th, the Coastal Bend Baseball team opened up their annual seven game series versus Tyler Junior College on the road for a four game trip. This is not your typical seven game series. The Cougars and Apaches have a bit of a rivalry going on between themselves, mind you the winner of the series will host the District C Championship Tournament.
Game One
In game one, the Cougars coaching staff decided to go with Left Handed Pitcher, Josh Mendez on the mound.
The Apaches drew blood quickly, as they took a 1-0 lead into the Top of the Second inning. In the Bottom of the Second inning, Tyler would expand their lead to 3-0, adding two runs in the frame.
Coastal Bend did not back down however, they answered back with three runs of their own in the Top of the Third to tie the ball game up.
Both ball clubs would have a scoreless Fourth inning. In the Top of Fifth inning, the Cougars would also come up empty on the scoreboard. In the Bottom of the Fifth inning, the Apaches took a 4-3 lead, scoring one run in the inning. Mendez ended up pitching four and a third of an inning for Coastal Bend, scattering six hits, surrendering four runs while striking out four Apache batters.
Luis Martinez would enter the game in the Bottom of the Fifth inning for CBC, relieving Mendez on the bump.
The Cougars managed to tie the ball game up in the Top of the Sixth inning, scoring one run. As the inning continued to the Bottom half the tied ball game would not last long. TJC tacked on another run to retake the lead, 5-4. Martinez would be relieved by Right Handed Pitcher, Cody Vega. Vega and company were able to escape the inning after the Apaches threatened to increase their lead.
During the Top of the Seventh inning, Coastal Bend fired right back at Tyler with one run to tie the ball game up, 5-5. The Cougars held TJC to a scoreless frame in the Bottom of the Seventh.
As the game approached the final innings, the momentum seemed to swing in favor of the Cougars. In the Top of the Eighth inning, CBC hung up three runs on the Apaches, leading 8-5 into the Bottom half of the inning. Tyler managed to trim the three run deficit, to two runs by scoring one run in the inning. CBC Closer, Trent Sholders entered the game in the Eighth inning to relieve Vega and attempt to shut the door.
In the Top of the Ninth, Coastal Bend added some much needed insurance runs, having two runners cross the plate. Sholders and the rest of the team held Tyler to a scoreless inning, winning the game and recording the Save.
Cody Vega received the Win, his Fifth on the season. Vega pitched two complete innings, allowing only three hits and one run while striking out two opposing batters. Sholders earned his Eighth Save of the season, pitching one and two thirds of an inning for his performance.
Coastal Bend Left Fielder, Bo Gonzales lead the team in RBI's with three. CBC Right Fielder, Kyler Bumstead and Second Baseman, Kyle McMahan both recorded two RBI's during the game. Bumstead went two for five on the day, while McMahan hit .500 on the afternoon. First Baseman, Kyle McShaffry, Shortstop, JB Trees and Center Fielder, Kody each pencilled in an RBI. McShaffrey went two for four on the day, while Kolb had two hits during his six appearances at the plate.
Game Two
The Cougars looked to take a 2-0 series lead over the Apaches, with momentum on their side. Lefty, Nolan Cox recieved the nod to start on the hill for Coastal Bend. This would mark the ninth start of the season for Cox.
For the first couple of innings, the game would go scoreless between both clubs. Peyton Miller of TJC and Cox would make it a pitchers duel.
In the Top of the Fourth inning, CBC broke the 0-0 ball game with an RBI Double from First Baseman, Kyle McShaffry. Right Fielder, Kyler Bumstead would cross the plate for the games first run.
The Apaches responded with a run of their own in the Bottom half of the Third inning to have the game knotted up at 1-1.
As the game progressed, Cox would be relieved after five innings. Cox allowed three hits and one earned run during his start, while striking out four Apache batters. Luis Martinez would be next pitcher enter the ball game for Coastal Bend.
The Sixth, Seventh and Eighth innings would move quickly due to great pitching from both teams.
In the Top of the Ninth inning, the Cougars scratched together a one run lead off the bat of Third Baseman, Cooper Coe. Coe hit a Double, scoring McShaffry at Home to go up, 2-1.
Martinez Walked a batter and would be relieved for Closer, Trent Sholders. Martinez finished his performance by pitching three complete innings allowing one hit, one run to score while recording four strikeouts.
With a Runner on, the Apaches would win the game in dramatic fashion by hitting a two run Walk-Off homer. The Final score, CBC 2 - Tyler 3.
Game Three
Following the heartbreaking loss, the Cougars looked to bounce back. Mason Foster would start on the bump for Coastal Bend.
Immediately into the Bottom half of the First inning, the Apache bats stayed hot, ringing in three runs to open the game.
Tyler kept the CBC hitters in check, not allowing a run. Foster and company held the Apaches to a scoreless second inning.
New inning, same result for the Apaches in the Top of the Third. TJC increased their lead by hanging up three runs in the Bottom of the Third.
During the Fourth inning, Clayton Glover entered the ball game to relieve Foster on the mound. Foster finished his performance with three an two thirds of an inning, allowing five hits, seven runs, four earned runs and recorded five strikeouts. Glover only lasted a third of an inning, surrendering a hit and a run for his outing.
The Cougar batters would scrap to get on base throughout the game, but could never put together a meaningful inning. It was not until the Top of the Fifth inning that the Cougars finally scored a run. An RBI from Bo Gonzales that scored Kody Kolb. That would be the only score for the Cougars in game three, as CBC remained scoreless after the Fifth inning.
CBC Relief Pitcher, Arnaldo Garcia entered the game for the Fifth inning. Garcia tossed two complete innings for the Cougars, allowing one hit and one walk, while striking out four batters.
The Apaches ended up beating the Cougars, 7-1.
Game Four
In hopes of evening the series up at two games a piece, the Cougars would face their toughest challenge thus far in the season. Going back to Beeville, down three games to one would put the odds in heavy favor for Tyler. Coastal Bend named Bo Gonzales the starting pitcher for game four. This would mark Gonzales' seventh appearance on the mound.
To start the game off, the Cougars came out swinging as they scored two runs in the opening inning.
The Apaches cut the lead in half in the Bottom of the First with one run. After a quick Second inning for CBC, TJC tied the game up, 2-2.
Both the Third and Fourth innings moved quickly as both teams did not score any runs.
After holding Coastal Bend scoreless in the Fifth inning, the Apaches took a 3-2 lead. Gonzales pitched five complete innings for the Cougars, scattering seven hits, and surrendering three earned runs. Relief Pitcher, Cody Vega entered the game in the Sixth inning to replace Gonzales on the bump.
The Cougars and the Apaches held one another to a scoreless Sixth inning. Coastal Bend had themselves a quick inning the Top of the Seventh. Tyler increased their lead in the Bottom of the Seventh inning to lead, 4-2. The Cougars made sure to remain in striking distance and stopped the Apache inning from continuing.
During the Top of the Seventh inning, Coastal Bend's bats finally woke up. CBC tied the game up, 4-4 before TJC ended their rally. Vega and company kept their head down and continued to work, keeping the Apaches off the scoreboard.
In the Ninth inning, CBC continued to hack away, scoring two more runs to lead the Apaches, 6-4. Closer, Trent Sholders made an appearance on the mound to replace Vega for another save opportunity. Vega pitched three complete innings on the afternoon, allowing one hit, one earned run and two strikeouts. Sholders pitched well, allowing one hit before shutting the door on the Apaches for his ninth Save of the season. Cody Vega received the Win, his sixth of the year.
Coastal Bend Right Fielder, Kyler Bumstead had a day at the plate, going three for five with three RBI's. Bumstead hit two Singles and a Home Run during his appearances in the batter's box. Starting Pitcher/ Designated Hitter, Bo Gonzales, went two for four at the dish, hitting a Single and a Double for an RBI. Third Baseman, Cooper Coe batted .500 on the afternoon, going two for four with an RBI. Catcher, Ronnie Bailey Jr hit an RBI Double for CBC. Left Fielder, Jordan Wofford went three for four at the plate, hitting two Singles and a RBI Double. First Baseman, Kyle McShaffry batted .333 with a Double.
The Cougars move to 20-27 on the season, but more importantly tie the seven game series up, 2-2. Tyler will travel down to Beeville, Tx to play against the Cougars at Joe Hunter Field for the remainder of the series. Game five will be played on Thursday, May 2nd at 2:00 PM for a nine inning ball game. Games six and seven will be played on Friday, May 3rd and Saturday, May 4th.