Shiner falls short in Game 2
Shiner Comanches vs. Thorndale Bulldogs -- Regional Finals
June 4, 2004
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Shiner took their first-game win to Strickland Field in Weimar on Friday night, hoping to sweep the series and avoid the third game.
Brady Strauss leaps onto home plate under the watchful eye of the home plate umpire following his 2-run home run in the second game against Thorndale photos by Shiner Gazette
But that didn't happen as the Comanches could not overcome Thorndale's 6-run lead, despite a 2-run homer by Brady Strauss in the last inning. The Bulldogs held on for an 8-7 win.
Kevin Zuehlke kept the Comanches pretty well in check until the fifth inning but by that time Shiner was down, 7-1.
Garet Pustka gave Shiner a 1 -0 lead in the first inning. After drawing a walk and advancing to third on Russell Boothe's single, he scored on a high throw to second on Boothe's steal.
The Bulldogs, took advantage of early game wildness by Shiner's Scott Shimek to send seven batters to the plate in the first inning. Wade Gilchrist's single with the bases loaded gave Thorndale a 2-1 lead.
Another seven batters took their turn at the plate in the second inning, drawing two walks and getting a 2-RBI double from Easton Faike and a RBI single from Valente Reyes for a 5-1 lead.
"Those first couple of innings hurt us. Once Shimek settled down he did a good job, but we just couldn't make up the difference," said Coach Boedeker
The Bulldogs made it a 7-1 game in the fourth inning when the Comanche infield committed two miscues resulting in two runners on base who scored on a double by Reyes.
The Comanches put two runners on in the fifth with two outs and things were looking up when Chris Baer hit a long drive to deep center only to have the centerfielder make an outstanding catch to end the inning.
Russell Boothe makes a throw from third base to get the runner at first in the second game of the regional semi-final against Thorndale.
Shiner fought back in the sixth inning, scoring two runs. Marcus Lopez, running for Scott Shimek who doubled to left, scored on a RBI single by Strauss who then scored on Jared Boedeker's single to center to cut the Bulldog lead to 7-3.
Miles Grisham scored what would be the winning run in the top of the seventh. After reaching on a single, he scored on Easton Falke's RBI double.
Not giving up, the Comanches started off the seventh with a triple by Ryan Kloesel Baer hit a double to score Kloesel. After Pustka popped up and Boothe struck out, Shimek hit a single to center, scoring Baer.
Brady Strauss then lofted a 1-1 pitch over the left field wall for a 2-run home run that brought the Comanches to within one.
Jared Boedeker was hit by a pitch to keep Shiner hopes alive, but Dylan Hagens grounded to the pitcher for the third out.
"I didn't think I hit the ball that hard. but it cleared the wall and really felt great but we still fell short," said Strauss.
Shiner ended with seven runs on nine hits and two errors, while Thorndale had eight runs on seven hits and committed no miscues. Both teams stranded five runners.
GAME SUMMARY Score F Shiner 1 0 0 0 0 2 4 -- 7 Thorndale 2 3 0 2 0 1 0 -- 8 Highlights: Class 1A regional final, Game 2 Scott Shimek and Brady Strauss; Kevin Zuehlke, Valente Reyes (6) and Colby Hilton, Zuehlke (6). WP: Zuehlke (4-0). LP: Shimek (7-4). Highlights: (S) Strauss 2-for-4, 2-run HR, 3 RBIs, 2 runs; Shimek 2-for-4, 2B, RBI; Jared Boedeker 1-for-3, RBI; Ryan Kloesel 1-for-3, 3B, run; (T) Easton Falke 2-for-4, 2 2Bs, 2 RBIs, 2 runs; Reyes 2-for-4, 2 2Bs, 3 RBIs. Records: Shiner 20-9, Thorndale 26-5. Game 3 is Saturday, 4 p.m., Blinn College.
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