Pearland shuts down Cub offense, 2-0
Saturday, April 28, 2007 9:15 AM CDT
PEARLAND, Texas - The Brenham Cub baseball team committed five errors and managed just two hits Friday in a 2-0 loss to Pearland that ended Brenham's five-game win streak and left head coach Jim Long frustrated with his team's effort.
Both of Pearland's runs came off of leadoff walks, the only walks Brenham's pitchers allowed all night. Jordan Prigge took the loss, allowing one run in four innings. He struck out seven batters.
Matt Rooker, who spent most of the season on the junior varsity, allowed one run in two innings, striking out two batters.
While Brenham's (21-7-1) pitchers worked around five infield errors, the Cub offense didn't offer its pitching staff much support. Trevor Eckert singled and Steven Van Eman doubled for Brenham's only two hits on the night. Pearland threw several pitchers at the Cubs, Long said.
“There was nothing we haven't seen at all,” he said. “We were just not mentally ready to play, bottom line. We were not ready to play. It was a waste of our time to come over here. We would have been better off practicing.”
The game, which has been on the schedule since before the season started, was designed as a playoff warm-up at the end of district play. The Cubs clinched second place in District 18-4A Tuesday with an 8-2 victory over Huntsville. They will play A&M Consolidated in a 7 p.m. game Monday at Fireman's Park before playing Manor in the bi-district round of the playoffs.
“We better have a lot of intensity on Monday and a lot of fire and fight or we will not win the first round. We'll be out,” Long said. “If we play like we did tonight, just forget it. We have no chance of beating anybody.”
Brenham is playing with a shuffled infield after losing starting third baseman Shawn Pellerin and starting shortstop Isaac Nuti to knee injuries. Brenham had won four straight games since losing the left side of its infield.
Brenham will make its playoff debut at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Nelson Field in Austin. The best-of-three series will continue Friday when the Cubs host Manor at Blinn College's Leroy Dreyer Field at 7:30 p.m., and will conclude Saturday if necessary with a 3 p.m. game Saturday at Nelson Field.
Brenham is ranked 10th in Class 4A by the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association.
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