Posted: May 18, 2021
Tyler, Tx- The Coastal Bend College Baseball program opened up The NJCAA Division III Baseball South District Championship with a bang. Starting Pitcher, Preston Allen hurled a complete nine inning game for the Cougars. Allen fell one out short of a no-hitter, but more importantly picked up a Win for the first game of the pivotal series.
CBC collectively produced another team effort at the dish for seven runs. First Baseman, Ruben Sepulveda hit an RBI Groundout for the games first score. Left Fielder, Kane Mendieta also knocked in an RBI to score, teammate JB Trees for the second run of the ball game. Eric Martinez, CBC's Designated Hitter also drove in Trees for a run with an RBI Single into Right Field. Right Fielder, Zach Seigrist hit a RBI Sacrifice Fly to score teammate, Ryan Davenport for the games fourth run.
Coastal Bend Third Baseman, Isaiah Aguilar lined a ball into Right Field for a lead off Single and stole second base while Davenport recorded an RBI, scoring Aguilar to put the Cougars up, 5-0. CBC Catcher, Garrett Whitaker contributed another Cougar run by scoring on a bases loaded, fielders choice. Aguilar scored the seventh, and final run of the ball game off a passed ball from a pickoff attempt.
Coastal Bend's, Preston Allen struck out six batters while only surrendering one hit, one walk & one hit batter in the game one victory.
In Game 2 of the NJCAA Division III District C Championship Series, Coastal Bend was unable to keep up with the Apaches big innings. CBC scored the games first run of the ball game, but TJC followed up their next half inning by scoring six runs. Coastal Bend played tough after the Second inning, and chipped away at the Tyler lead in the Bottom of the Fourth by scoring a run to make it a four run ball game, 6-2.
Though the Cougars recorded 12 hits in the ball game, runs were difficult to come by. The Cougars eventually ran out of at bat's and fell to the Apaches, 12-3 before heading into the decisive Game 3.
Leading the Cougars in hitting was, Designated Hitter, Eric Martinez with 3 hits and an RBI. Also Ruben Sepulveda and Garrett Whitaker each collected two hits on the day. Right Fielder, Zach Seigrist and Third Baseman, Isaiah Aguilar both knocked in an RBI for the Cougars.
For all the marbles, Game three of the championship series lived up to the billing. There was plenty of moment shifts from both teams as they duked it out for a NJCAA Division III World Series bid on the line.
After falling behind by two runs, the Cougars were able to get on the scoreboard following a Double Steal, scoring Second Baseman, Ryan Davenport in the Bottom of the Fourth Inning. The Cougars took a 2-3 lead in the Bottom half of the Fifth Inning when, First Baseman, Ruben Sepulveda came up to the dish with bases loaded. Sepulveda drove in two Cougars with a Single down the First Base line.
In the Top of the Sixth, the Apaches reclaimed the lead, 4-3. Not to be outdone, CBC jumped out in front of TJC by scoring two runs of their own in the Bottom half of the Sixth. Cougar Shortstop, Bret Copeland tied up the ball game with a RBI Double, scoring, Zach Seigrist. Isaiah Aguilar drove in Catcher, Garrett Whitaker to take the lead with an RBI Groundout as the Cougars took a 4-5 lead.
As the game progressed to the Top of the Eighth Inning, the Apaches crossed the plate for a run to knot up the ball game at five runs a piece. The Ninth Inning frame was scoreless and the game headed into extra innings.
During the Top of the 10th inning, the Apaches took a 6-5 lead. Desinated Hitter, Eric Martinez leadoff the Bottom half of the frame for the Cougars. On his second pitch of the at bat, Martinez crushed a ball over the Right Center Field wall, deep into the pine trees to tie the ball game up, 6-6.
While the tied game was in the Top of the 11th Inning, the Apaches had runners on First and Second Base with one out. During the inning, the game would be delayed due to inclement weather. The rain delay lasted more than four hours.
Coastal Bend was able to rally behind Pitcher, Preston Allen, who made a relief appearance following the delay. Allen was able to get the Cougars out of the bases loaded jam with a strikeout.
In the Bottom of the 11th, Copeland was able to leadoff CBC with a Walk. Aguilar was able to lay down a sacrifice bunt to adavance Copeland to scoring position. Following a pop up for the second out, Ryan Davenport came up to the plate. Davenport smacked a ball into Left Field for a walk-off hit, scoring Copeland from Second base. Allen would be credited with the win, his second of the series and fifth of the year.
The Cougars won the game, 6-7, winning the NJCAA Division III District C Championship Series, 2 games to 1. Coastal Bend solidified their spot in the NJCAA D III Baseball World Series with the victory. History continues to be written for the CBC Baseball program this season, as they won their first South District West Divisional Tournament a week prior beating #3 Brookhaven College.
Next up for the Cougars, the will be heading to Greeneville, Tennessee for the D III Baseball World Series at Pioneer Park. The World Series begins Saturday, May 29th with game times and opponents still to be determined.