Fake Banana

i'm going to austin this weekend. a last minute trip to see my cousin chris play baseball in the state tournament this weekend. i'm so proud of him.



Corpus Christi Caller Times, Caller.com - Printer-friendly story
Carroll sweeps into state tourney
Tigers rally to beat Churchill in Region IV-5A baseball title series

By Stuart Duncan

Originally published 08:14 a.m., June 5, 2010
Updated 11:56 p.m., June 5, 2010

ROBSTOWN — Carroll’s first regional championship victory in 17 years ended in walk-off fashion Saturday afternoon.

Josh Cruz’s RBI single with one out in the 10th inning gave the sixth-ranked Tigers a 4-3 Game 2 victory at Fairgrounds Field, allowing No. 6 Carroll to sweep this Region IV-5A final series against No. 10 San Antonio Churchill and punch its ticket for the Class 5A state baseball tournament. Carroll (35-7 overall) won the series opener, 1-0 Thursday.

The Tigers, who will make their first state tournament appearance since 1993, advance to Friday’s Class 5A state semifinals to play an opponent to be determined at either 3 p.m. or 6 p.m. in Round Rock.

“It’s huge for these guys,” said Tigers coach Lee Yeager, whose team rallied from a two-run, seventh-inning deficit to force extra innings. “Our goal from the beginning was to try to get there and we really felt like we had a chance. We’ve got an opportunity now and we’ve got to make the most of it.”

Cruz (who was 3 for 5 in the game) ripped the first pitch he saw from Chargers relief pitcher J.J. Delagarza in the 10th inning into left field to score Adam Hinojosa and start the celebration for the Tigers.

“We’re going to state,” Cruz said with a smile.

“Growing up as a kid, I always went to Round Rock to see my cousins play at state. To be a part of it is such an amazing experience.”

“It’s a great feeling,” said the senior Hinojosa, who earlier doubled and went to third on Trey Rodriguez’s groundout. “We’ve worked so hard this whole year and I can’t think of any team that deserves it more than this one.”

Chris Cano (3-1) pitched three scoreless innings of relief for Carroll to get the win. Cano yielded two hits, walked one and struck out three.

Cano pitched out of a two-on, two-out jam in the ninth inning by getting the final batter of that frame on a comebacker to the mound to strand both runners in scoring position.

Cano also changed this game with one swing of his bat in the seventh inning with San Antonio Churchill (32-11) needing just three outs to force a third and deciding game between the teams.

Cano’s single to left field scored Jason Franco (who singled and stole second base) to make it 3-2. The Chargers misplayed Cano’s hit and he came all the way around to score on the play — despite running past the third base coach, Yeager, who was trying to hold the runner at third — to tie the game at 3.

“I couldn’t stop, so I just kept going and went ahead and scored,” said Cano, who slid across the plate just ahead of the tag by Chargers catcher R.J. Recio.

“Chris had a head of steam and he ran right through (my stop sign) but the good thing is he didn’t stop,” Yeager said. “He kept going.”

Carroll starter Courtney Hawkins got a no-decision after pitching six strong innings. Hawkins allowed two runs, one earned run, on six hits, walked one, hit a batter and struck out seven.

Tigers reliever John Avila pitched one inning, yielded one unearned run and struck out one before giving way to Cano, who finished it off but not before the home plate umpire was replaced because of the heat to start the ninth inning.

“Now we’ve got to win state,” Cano said.

“We just have to keep playing like we have been and get a ring,” Hinojosa added.

GAME 2 OF SERIES

CARROLL 4, SAN ANTONIO CHURCHILL 3, (10)

SAC 000 001 200 0—3 8 1

Carroll 001 000 200 1—4 9 2

WP Chris Cano (3-1). LP Matt Fewell (3-1). 2B: Carroll: Mark Blackmar, Adam Hinojosa. SAC: Sean Syring. 3B: SAC: Eric Moritz. HIGHLIGHTS S.A. Churchill: Reed Kirksey, 9 IP, 7 H, 3 K’s; Matt Fewell 2-4, R; Norm Bodet 2-5, RBI. Carroll: Hawkins 6 IP, 6 H, 7 K’s and SB; Josh Cruz 3-5, RBI; Jason Franco 1-3, SB, R; Chris Cano 1-4, R, RBI; Trey Rodriguez 1-4, RBI; Oshea Dumes 1-4; Blackmar 1-4, 2B; Hinojosa 1-5, 2B, 2R;.

RECORDS Carroll, Overall, 35-7. San Antonio Churchill, Overall, 32-11.
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