Beeville, Tx- On Saturday, May 11th the Coastal Bend College Cougars faced the Brookhaven Bears in the District C East Divisional Championship Game. With a Win, the Cougars would advance to the Super Regionals where they would have an opportunity to host depending on the results from the West Divisional Tournament.
The Coastal Bend coaching staff went with Bo Gonzales on the mound.
Brookhaven came out swinging to begin the game, scoring 10 runs in the first four innings. CBC did not help their cause, as they committed infield errors to extend the inning and allow the Bears to score.
The Cougars were finally able to get on the scoreboard in the Bottom of the Fourth, when they scored two runs.
Gonzales pitched four complete innings, striking out five batters but surrendered 11 hits, 10 runs, five of which were unearned.
Left Handed Pitcher, Will Lennon entered the ball game to replace Gonzales on the bump for the Fifth inning. Lennon pitched two thirds of an inning before being relieved. Ricky Garcia came into the ball game to relieve Lennon. Garcia pitched a third of an inning to get the Cougars out of the Fifth inning.
After holding the Bears to a scoreless frame in the Fifth inning, the Cougars cut the eight run deficit down to three. Coastal Bend rallied for five runs in the Bottom half of the Fifth.
Mason Foster entered the game for Coastal Bend on the hill. Foster went on to pitch four complete innings, allowing one hits and striking out six batters.
For the remainder of the ball game, both teams would keep eachother off the scoreboard. The Cougars had their chances, but left the bases loaded, twice during the final three innings of the contest.
Ultimately, Coastal Bend would fall to Brookhaven, 10-7.
By losing to the Bears, there would be another game played due to it being Coastal Bend's first loss of the tournament.
Left Fielder, Jordan Wofford lead the team with three RBI's, while recording a Triple and two Singles on the day. Second Baseman, Kyle McMahan collected two RBI's off a Single for the Cougars. Center Fielder, Kody Kolb and Shortstop, JB Trees both pencilled in an RBI for Coastal Bend. First Baseman, Kyle McShaffry went three for five at the plate, scoring two runs.
On Sunday, May 12th it would not only mark Mother's Day, but Chamionship Sunday between the Brookhaven Bears and the Coastal Bend Cougars. In a winner take all game, a District C East Divsional champion will be crowned and advance to the Super Regional to face the winner from the District C West Tournament for a best of three game series. The Winner of the Super Regional would then advance to the NJCAA Division III College World Series.
Coastal Bend decided to go with Cody Vega on the hill for the Championship Game. Vega, the team's leader in Win's looked to add one more to help his team advance to the next round of the post season.
The Cougars were able hold the Bears scoreless in the opening inning. CBC then broke the 0-0 game by scoring a run to takea one run lead.
After a scoreless second inning from both clubs, Brookhaven scored a run to tie the ball game up.
In the Bottom of the Second inning, the tie ball game would be short lived as the Cougars scored two runs to go back on top, 3-1.
The Bears would once again be kept off the scoreboard by the Cougars in the Fourth inning. During the bottom half of the inning, CBC expanded their lead again. Coastal Bend would lead the Bears, 5-1.
As the game proceeded to the Bottom of the Sixth inning, the Cougars would go up, 7-1 by scoring two runs in the frame.
In the Top of the Seventh, Brookhaven trimmed the six run deficit in half by crossing the plate three times in the inning. In the Bottom of the Seventh, CBC threatened to score but left runners stranded.
Vega's day would be complete after the going seven innings. He struck out five batters, allowed 10 hits and four runs, three of which were earned. Luis Martinez would replace Vega on the mound for the Eighth inning. Martinez would only allow one walk while striking out two opposing hitters for his one inning of work.
Following a scorless Eighth inning, the Bears needed three runs in the Ninth inning to extend the game and their season. The Nation's NJCAA Division III Saves Leader (14), Trent Sholders entered the game on the bump in attempt to close the game out. Brookhaven had other plans, as they racked up four hits to score four runs to take a 8-7 lead.
Coastal Bend found themselves trailing for the first time in the ball game as they headed to the Bottom of the Ninth. The Bears struckout the first two CBC hitters to start the inning. Following a Single from Cooper Coe, the game's tying run on base, the Cougars fell short. A ground out ended the game for Coastal Bend.
Brookhaven mounted a six run comeback to not only win the District C East Divsional Championship, but advance to the Super Regionals.
CBC Right Fielder, Kyler Bumstead recorded his 100th hit during the game, a program record. Bumstead went two for four at the dish, hitting two Doubles and collecting two RBI's. Center Fielder, Kody Kolb and First Baseman each recorded two RBI's and a Double for the game. Third Baseman, Bo Gonzales also hit a Double for an RBI.
The Cougars season wraps up with a 27-31 overall record. Coastal Bend did accomplish an historic feat this year, as they beat Tyler Junior College in a seven game series to claim their first Division III Region XIV Conference Championship. Not only the first championship in program history, but in Coastal Bend College Athletics.