BASEBALL: Klosowski steps up to lead Chaps past No. 4 McLennan
Derek Klosowski said he had a killer mentality when he had to come in unexpectedly and pitch against the defending national champions on a hot Saturday afternoon at Christensen Stadium.
By Oscar LeRoy
Midland Reporter-Telegram
MIDLAND, TEXAS - Derek Klosowski said he had a killer mentality when he had to come in unexpectedly and pitch against the defending national champions on a hot Saturday afternoon at Christensen Stadium.
The second-year Midland College right-hander did a stellar job in relief of injured starter Luis Rodriguez and the Chaparral offense gave him enough support to defeat No. 4-ranked McLennan Community College, 6-3, in a Region V Tournament quarterfinal game.
The Chaparrals (39-18) move on to face either Grayson College or Weatherford College in the semifinal round at 5 p.m. Sunday, while McLennan (44-12-1) plays an elimination game against New Mexico Junior College at 10 a.m. Sunday.
The Chaps had a 4-2 lead in the top of the fourth inning after Tyler Wulfert hit a two-run homer in the first inning and Lee grad Michael Weidner drove in two with a single up the middle in the top of the fourth. Those runs sandwiched a two-run homer by McLennan's Marquis Jackson in the third.
Rodriguez, a nine-game winner for MC had gotten a flyout for the first out in the bottom of the fourth when he tweaked his right knee.
Both head coach Hector Rodriguez and head trainer Sonya Mikeska came out to check on Rodriguez and after a few warmup pitches, Rodriguez didn't feel right.
"I think he's going to be OK but his right knee just kind of popped on him," Hector Rodriguez said. "He said it's happened to him before in the past, but even with the adrenaline rush with those three or four warmup pitches, he just couldn't push off with that right knee bothering him. It was not the ideal situation, but we were able to stick the right guy in out of the bullpen and he did a great job."
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Rodriguez added that it was just about going back to the next man up mentality.
"We've had to do that for so long this year, especially with the position players," he said. "The guy was Derek Klosowski to be able to give us a long relief and give us a chance. He went above and beyond. He was ready to pitch.
"Super proud of him and super proud of our performance as a group."
Klosowski said regardless of the situation he was put in, he was ready to go at that point.
"I didn't expect go in. Luis was throwing really well, but I was just ready when the opportunity came and stuck to the game plan," said Klosowski, who has had starting experience at MC. "Throw it in there and I know I have some good guys behind me to back me up."
Klosowski answered the bell as he pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowed one run on six hits, walked one and struck out four.
"That was most pumped I've been," he said. "I don't even know how to describe it. It was unreal. All the energy and adrenaline going through my body. Completing the game was big."
MC second baseman Garrett Williams, who was 3-for-5 in the game, said it was awesome to see Klosowski step up like he did.
"Derek's got that stuff. He's got the stuff to do something like that," Williams said. "He threw well against them (a 13-5 loss on Feb. 11) and I trusted him to go into this game, and he did a heck of a job."
Williams was able to give him a little more breathing room to work with in the sixth inning with a two-run double to left for a 6-2 advantage.
"That's just credit to a veteran group and some guys who are able to step up all the time," said Williams about his team getting some key hits in the game. "I wouldn't even call them young anymore, they're veterans with all the games they've played this year. That's how big games go. You want to play in these kind of games."
Hector Rodriguez said winning a game like this against a quality team just gives his Chaps even more belief.
"I think our guys believe they can do it, but there is intangible evidence that they know they can do it and they're just another win closer to reaching the goal of being in the World Series and playing for a national championship," he said.
Beating a team like McLennan, which beat MC twice early in the season, should also help the Chaps' confidence.
"You hear the name McLennan and everyone wants their best shot at them," Williams said. "I think we're built for this. I think we've got the goods to do it."
Follow Oscar on Twitter: @OLeRoy_MRT
MIDLAND COLLEGE 6, NO. 4 MCLENNAN CC 3
Midland 200 202 000 -- 6 9 1
McLennan 002 000 100 -- 3 9 0
Luis Rodriguez, Derek Klosowski (4) and Ryan Blackwell. Wyatt Cheney, Austin Ford (6) and Hank Bard. W – Klosowski. L – Cheney. 2B – MC: Garrett Williams. 3B – MC: Williams. HR – MC: Tyler Wulfert; McLenann: Marquis Jackson.
• CLICK HERE for an "MC Baseball" photo album from the tournament, by MRT's Tim Fischer
NJCAA Region V Baseball Tournament
at Christensen Stadium
Friday
First round
Game 1: (W2) Midland College (37-18) 2, (N3) Ranger College (37-19) 0
Game 2: (N1) McLennan CC (43-10-1) 15, (W4) Howard College (24-27) 7, 7 innings
Game 3: (N4) Weatherford College (36-19) 3, (1) New Mexico JC (41-15) 2
Game 4: (N2) Grayson College (36-16) 9, (W3) Odessa College (36-19) 5
Saturday
Elimination bracket
Game 5: Howard College (24-28) 8, Ranger College (37-20) 4. Ranger eliminated
Game 6: New Mexico JC (41-16) 15, Odessa College (36-20) 2. Odessa eliminated
Winner's bracket
Game 7: Midland College (38-18) 6, McLennan CC (44-10-1) 3
Game 8: Grayson College (37-16) 12, Weatherford College (37-19) 2
Sunday
Elimination bracket
Game 9: New Mexico JC (42-16) vs McLennan CC (44-12-1), 10 a.m.
Game 10: Howard College (25-28) vs. Weatherford College (37-20), 1 p.m.
Winner's bracket
Game 11: Midland College (39-18) vs. Grayson College (38-16), 5 p.m.
Game 12: Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner, 8 p.m.
Monday
Elimination bracket
Game 13: Game 11 loser vs. Game 12 winner, 1 p.m.
Championship game
Game 14: Game 11 winner vs. Game 13 winner, 5 p.m.
Tuesday
If necessary game
Game 15: Game 14 winner vs. Game 14 loser, 1 p.m.