Comanches beat Badgers to move on to regional finals
by Mike Forman, Victoria Advocate Sports
Saturday, May 28, 2011
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ALAMO HEIGHTS - Shiner pitcher Joey Gamez's performance wasn't a surprise, but it was no less impressive.
Gamez mustered up every bit of energy and pitched the Comanches to a 12-5 win over Ben Bolt in Game 3 of their Class 1A regional semifinal series on a hot and windy Saturday at the Mule Yard.
Shiner (27-8) bounced back from a 10-8 loss in Game 2, and advanced to the regional final against Johnson City
Gamez was the starter in Shiner' 11-9 win in Game 1 on Thursday and participated in graduation ceremonies on Friday night.
But he put the fatigue out of his mind when he relieved Game 3 starter Wesley Patek with one out in the second inning and yielded only one run the rest of the game.
"I was like whatever you need, I'll be there," Gamez said. "I'm not going to say it was because our backs were against the wall. That's a big part of it. You've got to come in and do what you've got to do. Today I was just on to it and I'm real glad that I was."
Shiner needed Gamez after the Badgers (25-12) had pelted Game 2 starter Ky Sandelovic for nine runs and 10 hits in four-plus innings to even the series.
Ben Bolt continued its success at the plate in Game 3, scoring four runs on four hits in the first inning.
"We knew if Joey could come in and throw strikes we'd have a chance to make plays behind him," said Shiner coach Daniel Boedeker. "He did a great job. He pitched with a lot of heart today. We talked yesterday and even Thursday and he said, 'Coach if you need me, I'm ready to go again.' He did a great job. He kept us in the game and I'm very proud of him."
Gamez yielded four hits and walked one, while striking out six.
"He's a fighter," said Ben Bolt coach Frank Guzman. "He's a player. To come back again and do that, he did great. I saw that from him when we played football. He was a running back and we kept hitting him and he kept coming back, so we knew what we were facing."
The Badgers took a 5-4 lead in the top of the fifth on a double by Gilbert Garcia and a sacrifice fly by Andres Alaniz, who hit a two-run home run in Game 2.
But the Comanches took control with four runs in both the fifth and sixth innings.
"We keep fighting no matter what happens," said Shiner third baseman Coy Boedeker, who was 4 for 6, with a triple and five RBIs. "They jumped on us early and we fought back. We were able to eke it out and get the win."
The Comanches had 11 hits in Game 3, after combining for 12 in Games 1 and 2. They were also the beneficiaries of eight walks and five hit batsman, including four in one inning.
"The experience helps us," Coy Boedeker said. "It's really nice that even though we messed up a little bit we were still able to pull out the win."
A win made possible by some clutch relief pitching by Gamez.
"Coming into today," Gamez said. "I was like I got to do my best and try to make it to the end of the seventh so I don't feel like I let the team down."
Class 1A Regional Semifinal
Shiner vs. Ben Bolt
Best-of-three at San Antonio Alamo Heights
Game 1, Shiner 11, Ben Bolt 9
Game 2, Ben Bolt 10, Shiner 8
Game 3, Shiner 12, Ben Bolt 5Class 1A Regional Semifinal Game 2 Ben Bolt 10, Shiner 8 Ben Bolt 024 031 0 - 10 14 3 Shiner 022 300 0 - 8 8 1 Sebi Palacios and Nick Ramirez. Ky Sandelovic, Jacob Stafford (5) and Cuatro Rankin. W: Palacios. L: Sandelovic (11-3). Highlights: (BB) Andres Alaniz 2 for 3, 2-run HR, 2 R; Lucas Lopez 3 for 4, RBI; Jon Lopez 3 for 4, 2 RBIs; Nick Ramirez 3 for 4, 2 RBIs. (S) Coy Boedeker 2 for 4, 2 R, 3 RBIs, 2 SB. Game 3 Shiner 12, Ben Bolt 5 Ben Bolt 400 010 0 - 5 8 1 Shiner 310 044 x - 12 11 1 Gilbert Garcia, Robert Guzman (1), Jon Lopez (5), Lucas Lopez (5) and Nick Ramirez. Wesley Patek, Joey Gamez (2) and Cuatro Rankin. W: Gamez (10-3). L: J. Lopez. Highlights: (BB) Garcia 2 for 3, 2B, 3 R; Erick Salinas 2 for 3. (S) Gamez 5.2 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 Ks; Brady Cejka 3 for 5; Coy Boedeker 2 for 2, 3B, 2 RBIs; Wesley Patek 2 for 4; Matt Pohler 2 for 2, 2 R, 3 RBIs. Records: Ben Bolt 25-12; Shiner 27-8. Note: Shiner wins series 2-1 advances to regional final.
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