BASEBALL: Chaps get much-needed WJCAC sweep

By Oscar LeRoy
Midland Reporter-Telegram

MIDLAND, TEXAS - After breezing through the first game against Clarendon College, the Midland College baseball team used some late-game heroics to complete the four-game series sweep at Christensen Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Garrett Williams' RBI hit over the right fielder's head with one out in the bottom of the 10th inning capped a 5-4 comeback in the series finale. That game was complete opposite of the first game where MC steamrolled the Bulldogs in a 23-5 victory in five innings.

"That's just baseball," Williams said. "You came play a four-game series and you can run-rule the first game, but you never know what's going to happen in game four. The WJCAC is fun baseball."

Early in the finale, Clarendon starter Juan Polo Rodriguez did a good job of holding down MC's potent offense. He allowed one hit through five innings but was pulled in the sixth, not long after giving up a solo home run to Ryan Blackwell, which cut the Bulldogs' lead to 4-2.

"Credit to their pitcher, that dude is good," Williams said. "He was probably 93, 94 (mph) and was spinning that breaking ball. We gave away some at-bats, but you've got to give him credit."

Matthew Sandoval's RBI groundout pulled the Chaps (27-14, 12-6 in the WJCAC) to within 4-3 in the eighth inning. Then with one out in the bottom of the ninth, Tyler Wulfert connected on a monstrous solo blast over the center field fence to tie the game at 4-all.

Jesse Benavidez led of the bottom of the 10th with a single and then went to second base when Blackwell drew a walk. A flyout by Luke Bumps then advanced Benavidez to third, which set up Williams to be the hero.

"Jesse did a great job of getting on third and all I had to do was hit something in the outfield to score him," Williams said. "(Ryan Blackwell) on first did a great job of getting on too. There were some great at-bats that led up to it."

Williams said having that comeback ability is something his team expects.

"It's something we work hard in practice every day," he said. "It's not unusual for that stuff."

MC coach Hector Rodriguez said another key to the comeback was the work that his bullpen did in relief of Michael Lindsey, who had a finger injury flare up and was pulled after one inning as a precaution.

"(Aaron) Molina, Evan Hebert and Caleb Heuertz, but Molina especially, he won the game for us," Rodriguez said. "He just came in stabilized the game right in the middle and gave our offense a chance to hang around. A nine-inning game is a lot different than a seven-inning game. We were able to get some quality innings out of our bullpen and then offensively we were able to find a way to do it."

The Chaps certainly didn't need a comeback in the first game as they had 21 hits and had built a 20-2 lead through three innings.

Chris Garcia led the offense by going 3-for-5 with a home run, five RBI and three runs scored. Midland Christian grad Rhett Clark was 3-for-4 with a home run, three RBI and three runs scored; Wulfert was 3-for-3 with a double, walk, two RBI and two runs scored; Landon Pyles was 2-for-2 with a home run, three RBI and two runs scored; Gibrian Pena was 2-for-3 with a home run, walk, three RBI and three runs scored; Caleb Huertz was 2-for-2 with a home run, walk, two RBI and two runs scored; and Benavidez was 2-for-2 with two RBI and two runs scored.

Luis Rodriguez got the win after he allowed three runs on five hits with one walk and five strikeouts over four innings.

The series sweep was something the Chaparrals needed after splitting their last two series. And of MC's last 12 conference games, 10 of which are on the road, beginning with a four-game series at Frank Phillips College Thursday and Friday.

"It's huge, especially after the last few weeks where we kind of struggled," Williams said. "We prepared this past week and Coach Rod talked to us about how important it is to have fun and play for each other. And we did that this weekend."

Added Hector Rodriguez: "We pick up (the competition) the last month of conference weekends, so to take four games is huge. We'll take it and get ready to move on. We've got a short week against Frank Phillips on the road and play at a tough place. Hopefully this momentum will carry us into next weekend."

Follow Oscar on Twitter: @OLeRoy_MRT 

FIRST GAME
MIDLAND COLLEGE 23, CLARENDON COLLEGE 5, 5 Innings

Clarendon College      011      12        --          5          6          3

Midland College         479      3x        --          23        21        0

Hunter Phillips, Jace Johnson (2), Reyes (4), Shoemaker and Hayden Pike. Luis Rodriguez, Michael Bassett (5) and Hudson Parker. W – Rodriguez. L – Phillips. 2B – CC: Pike, Parker Pittman; MC: Garrett Williams, Tyler Wulfert. HR – CC: Matthew Bass; MC: Chris Garcia, Caleb Heuertz, Gibrian Pena, Landon Pyles, Rhett Clark.

SECOND GAME
MIDLAND COLLEGE 5, CLARENDON COLLEGE 4, 10 Innings

Juan Polo Rodriguez, Liam Scott (6) and Isaias Urriola. Michael Lindsey, Aaron Molina (2), Even Hebert (7), Heuertz (9) and Ryan Blackwell. W – Heuertz. L – Scott. 2B – CC: Geomar Santana; MC: Williams. 3B – MC: Michael Weidner. HR – CC: Santana; MC: Blackwell, Wulfert.  

FRIDAY: CHAPS TAKE 2 FROM CLARENDON;  Young fans 12 in Chaps' victory

Staff Report
Midland Reporter-Telegram

Luke Young

MIDLAND, TEXAS - The Midland College baseball team had no trouble in a doubleheader sweep of Clarendon College at Christensen Stadium on Friday.

Behind a strong pitching performance from Luke Young, the Chaparrals defeated WTC, 10-0, in five innings in the first game. MC completed the sweep with a couple of big innings in the second game for a 13-4 victory in seven innings.

Young allowed just two hits and struck out 12 over five innings of work. He threw just 68 pitches, 49 of which were strikes.

Tyler Wulfert led the MC offense by going 3-for-3 with a double, triple, three RBI and two runs scored. Frayner Chavez was 3-for-3 as well with two RBI and two runs scored; and Caleb Heuertz was 2-for-3 with three RBI.

Clarendon (8-27-1, 1-13 in Western Junior College Athletic Conference) jump out to 2-0 lead in the top of the first in the second game before the Chaps (25-14, 12-6) answered with four runs in the bottom of the first and had an 8-2 lead through five innings. MC added five more runs in the bottom of the sixth.

Heuertz (2-for-4), Michael Weidner and Wulfert (2-for-3) homered for the Chaps. Gibrian Pena and Chris Garcia each had two hits and two RBI, while Garrett Williams also had two hits

Jarek Wells got the win after he allowed four runs (two earned) on seven hits, six walks and he struck out nine over 5 2/3 innings.

The teams play another doubleheader at Christensen Stadium beginning at noon Saturday.

• CLICK HERE for a Complete Chaparral Baseball Schedule

2022 WJCAC BASEBALL STANDINGS

LAST WEEKEND'S SERIES

Midland College 2, New Mexico Military Institute 2; Odessa College 2, Howard College 2; New Mexico JC 4, Frank Phillips College 0; El Paso CC 4, Clarendon College 0; Western Texas College was open

THIS WEEKEND'S SERIES

Midland College vs. Odessa College; Frank Phillips College at Howard College; Clarendon College at New Mexico JC; New Mexico Military Institute at Western Texas College; El Paso CC is open