Bulldogs advance to regional finals with comeback
May 28, 2005
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BRENHAM -- It was all about momentum Saturday afternoon at Dreyer Field. Shiner had it, Thorndale took it back and the result is a trip to the Class IV-A regional baseball finals for Scott Holder's Bulldogs.
Thorndale won the series-deciding third game 7-1 behind strong pitching and timely hitting to advance within one series of the state meet.
The Commanches ripped Thorndale 13-1 in the first game Saturday, knotting the regional semifinal best-two-of-three series at one game each. (Thorndale had won the opener on Wednesday, 3-2).
That put the pressure squarely on the Bulldogs, who had lost to Shiner in the 2004 regional finals and spent most of the year thinking about a re-match, according to Holder.
Thorndale responded with a series-deciding 5-run rally in the fifth inning, putting away the Comanches and punching the Dogs' ticket to the regional finals.
Thorndale and Ben Bolt will square off this weekend, tentatively set for Nelson Wolff Stadium in San Antonio.
First game is set for 7:30 p.m. Friday with the second at 2 p.m. Saturday and a third game, if needed, following.
Wolff Stadium is on US 90, north of Lackland Air Force Base. Holder said tickets are $5 for adults and $2 for students.
PITCHING -- It usually comes down to pitching and Bulldog aces Ryan Lindemann and Wade Gilchrist did a number on Shiner in game three, allowing just 2 hits.
Thorndale pounded out 12 hits, including a triple by Miles Grisham and a double by Jeff Kiesling.
It had been a different story in the first game as Shiner ace Colten Henley tossed a 2-hitter and Scott Shimek's double sparked a 10-hit attack that included a 10-run third inning.
Colby Hilton doubled for Thorndale.
Gilchrist won a pitching duel with Shimek in the first game as the Dogs took a 3-0 lead in the third and held off a Comanche rally.
Thorndale enters the regional final series with a 29-5 record. Shiner's season ends at 26-5.
Game One 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E Shiner 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 -- 2 x x Thorndale 2 0 1 0 0 0 x -- 3 x x Shimek and Baer. Gilchrist and Hilton. WP -- Gilchrist (7-1). LP -- Shimek (13-2). Game Two 1 2 3 4 5 R H E Thorndale 0 0 1 0 1 -- 1 2 4 Shiner 2 1 0 10 x -- 13 10 0 Zuehlke and Hilton. Henley and Baer. WP -- Henley (7-1). LP -- Zuehlke (2-2). Game Two 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E Shiner 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 -- 1 2 4 Thorndale 1 0 0 1 5 0 x -- 7 12 1 Henley, Shimek (4), Kloesel (6) and Baer. Lindmann, Gilchrist (6) and Hilton. WP -- Lindemann (4-2). LP -- Henley (7-2).THE ROCKDALE REPORTER
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