BASEBALL: Chaps rally from 13 down to complete DH sweep of NMJC
Saturday’s crazy comeback in the second game against New Mexico Junior College was a first for both players and coaches on the Midland College baseball team.
By Oscar LeRoy
Midland Reporter-Telegram
MIDLAND, TEXAS - Saturday's crazy comeback in the second game against New Mexico Junior College was a first for both players and coaches on the Midland College baseball team.
The Chaparrals trailed 19-6 in the fifth inning and probably everybody at Christensen Stadium was thinking that the Thunderbirds were just three outs away from getting a run-rule victory.
The Chaps had other plans.
Not only did MC rally for 10 runs in the bottom of the fifth but stormed all the way back to take a 25-23 victory and sweep the opening doubleheader in the Western Junior College Athletic Conference for both teams.
The first game of the day seemed like the calm before the storm as MC starter Luke Young was stellar as he struck out 11 in a 5-2 victory.
As good as Young was, the miraculous comeback by MC in the second game stole the show and it also left the Chaps (15-6, 2-0 in WJCAC) on cloud nine and the Thunderbirds (17-9, 0-2) stunned.
After NMJC scored six runs in the top of the fifth to take a 13-run lead, MC outscored the T-birds 19-4 and went through seven NMJC pitchers.
"I told our guys that it was one of the most unbelievable things I've seen in 17 years of coaching," said MC coach Hector Rodriguez. "To win the way that we did, the resiliency and all that cliched stuff ... they just kept playing. I told them that they did a great job of separating the game. We didn't play very well early, we pitched bad and kicked the ball around early. You look up and you think the game is over. The hitters were able to separate and say, "I'm going to go get quality at-bats and then we'll see what happens.'"
Rodriguez said the hitters had a great offensive approach where they didn't try to do too much and took one at-bat a time. The Chaps also got key contributions from Hudson Parker and Lee grad Michael Weidner off the bench. Parker blasted two home runs and drove in five runs, while Weidner was 4-for-4 with a pair of doubles and three RBI.
"They were just ready for their moment. They didn't think they would be playing today," said Rodriguez of Parker and Weidner. "They came in to pinch hit in the fifth inning, thinking they were glad to get some at-bats. Next thing you know, they've got two, three, four hits. It's crazy."
Parker, a freshman catcher from Rowlett, said he never doubted that his team was out of it.
"Even when we were down (13) runs, I thought we had what it took to come back," he said. "We just got together, put together some hits, some great pitching and got the win.
"I've never been a part of anything like that," Parker added.
The head coach also credited the work of relief pitchers Tate Van Poppel and Alizeah Gutierrez, who helped to give their team a chance with their work in the final four innings.
"They did a tremendous job of finding a way to stop the bleeding," Rodriguez said.
Also for MC, Garrett Williams had three hits and drove in four runs, Caleb Heuertz had three hits and drove in three runs, while Luke Bumpus, Chris Garcia and Gibrian Pena each had two hits.
The big rally by MC spoiled a three home run game by NMJC's Jesse Herrera. Christian Hoffman (4-for-4), Camden Melvin and Ryan Ruff (3-for-4) also homered for the T-birds.
The Chaps used five pitchers in the game but the staff was probably saved some by the work of Young as the second-year ace pitched a complete-game in the opener on just 90 pitches.
"He was so efficient early in the game," Rodriguez said. "His pitch count was down, he was attacking the zone, he wasn't too concerned about strikeouts, even though he got a bunch of them. The efficiency was going to allow him to throw seven innings."
Offensively, the Chaps only had five hits but Tyler Wulfert hit a pair of solo home runs, while Heuertz also hit a solo blast.
Thanks to the monumental comeback and the doubleheader sweep, the Chaps are feeling good moving forward in the conference schedule.
"I think it just gives them belief," Rodriguez said. "You look at the scoreboard. I said, 'Guys, you were out of it. It was over but you found a way to get another inning.' It's a testament to who they are and the kind of kids in our program."
Added Parker: "It's a great boost to morale. It shows that we're never really out of any game and exactly what we have."
Follow Oscar on Twitter: @OLeRoy_MRT
First Game
MIDLAND COLLEGE 5, NEW MEXICO JC 2
New Mexico JC 000 001 1 -- 2 6 0
Midland College 100 310 x -- 5 5 0
J.T. Tackett, Fernando Gonzalez (4) and Luis Gonzalez. Luke Young and Ryan Blackwell. W – Young. L – Tackett. 2B – NMJC: Ryan Ruff; MC: Blackwell. 3B – NMJC: Jo Moreno. HR – MC: Tyler Wulfert 2, Caleb Heuertz.
Second Game
MIDLAND COLLEGE 25, NEW MEXICO JC 23
New Mexico JC 292 063 001 -- 23 22 4
Midland College 040 2(10)5 31x -- 25 20 2
Paul Coppinger, Robert Bonilla (4), EJ Miramontes (4), Max Swenson (4), Gerard Grijalva (4), Gerard Grijalva (5), Zach Boyer (6), Gabriel Torres (6), Jesus Tovar (7) and L. Gonzalez. Derek Klosowski, Evan Hebert (2), Roman Thompon (5), Tate Van Poppel (6), Alizaeh Gutierrez (7) and Blackwell and Michael Weidner (6). W – Gutierrez. L -- Tores
2B – NMJC: Aaron Lugo, Stanley Tucker 2, L. Gonzalez, Hoffman, Kade Benavidez. Ryan Ruff, JD Moreno; MC: Caleb Heuertz, Michael Weidner 2, Garrett Williams. 3B – MC: Luke Bumpus, Chris Garcia. HR – NMJC: Jesse Herrera 3, Hoffman, Camden Melvin, Ryan Ruff; MC: Hudson Parker 2.