Corpus Christi Caller Times Caller.com - Greyhounds bound past young Trojans in 9-5 win

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Sunday, February 25, 2001
Greyhounds bound past young Trojans in 9-5 win
Johnston leads Boerne to victory at Robstown tourney
By Javier Becerra
Caller-Times
ROBSTOWN - Neither Moody or Boerne expected to make it to the championship game of the 11th annual Robstown Baseball Tournament.
   Saturday night, Boerne's experience triumphed over Moody's youth in the Greyhounds' 9-5 win a Picker Field.
   The Greyhounds worked Moody pitcher Eric Flores for eight runs on 12 hits, ending the Trojans' two-year reign as tournament champion. Boerne, which returned seven starters from last season, avenged a 6-0 loss to the Trojans (4-1) earlier in the tournament.
   Shortstop Seth Johnston led Boerne (3-1-1) at the plate, going 3 for 5 with two doubles and four RBI, including a three-run homer.
   "We talked about coming together as a program, and tonight we got it done. Today was a good day for the program," said Johnston, who has verbally committed to play for the Texas Longhorns.
   The Trojans were also plagued by three errors and a limited pitching rotation, which coach Steve Castillo thought would eliminate Moody from the tournament.
   "We made some mistakes. We're a young team that's still learning," said Castillo, whose team returns just one starter from last season's state semifinalist squad. "I wish we still had the same pitching depth we've had in the past. Everything is a learning process."
   Moody took an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Lead off hitter grounded out to shortstop, but the Trojans put the next three hitters on base.
   Eddie Vasquez walked, Andrew Casares singled and Arnold Meza walked to load the bases for No. 5 hitter Mike Guerra. A sharp single by the center fielder drove in Vasquez put the Trojans up, 1-0.
   Moody left fielder Allen Castillo followed with an single to score Casares, which built a two-run lead before Robert Castaneda hit into an inning-ending double play.
   Boerne's Seth Johnston led off the bottom of the first inning with a double and scored two batters later on a single by Logan Kensing.
   A walk to Jesse Bradley and sacrifice bunt by Zach Etheredge put runners on second and third for the Greyhounds, but Chase Tettleton flied out to right field to end the scoring threat.
   After holding Moody scoreless in the second, Jason Davila started Boerne's half of the inning with a double. Taylor Behrens tied the game, 2-2, driving in Davila with a single to center field.
   Moody continued to struggle at the plate in the third, sending up just three batters. Boerne, meanwhile, remained on the offensive.
   Bradley singled and went to third on a double by Etheredge. Tettleton gave the Greyhounds the lead, 3-2, with a single that scored Bradley before the Trojans escaped the inning with a 4-6-3 double play.
   For the second straight inning, Moody's at-bat was cut ended by a double play, leaving the Trojans trailing by one run.
   Boerne did more damage with its bats in the bottom of the fourth. Seth Johnston and Sean Segovia hit back-to-back RBI doubles in the inning to give the Greyhounds a 5-2 lead.
   The Trojans finally responded in the fifth inning. With one out, Vasquez took first base after being hit by a pitch. Consecutive walks to Casarez and Meza loaded the bases.
   A single by Guerra scored Vasquez, and an error on the throw from right field allowed Casares to score from second. Castillo brought in Meza on a ground out to short to tie the game, 5-5.
   Moody's Flores appeared to calmer in the bottom of the fifth, striking out leadoff batter Tettleton and forcing Davila to ground out. With two outs, Flores then gave up a double to Behrens and a walk to Kevin Doss.
   Johnston, who already had two doubles and an RBI, reclaimed the lead for the Greyhounds with a towering three-run homer over the left centerfield fence. Flores completed the inning, but not before Boerne had gone ahead, 8-5.

THIRD PLACE: South San an 8-0 win over Linares (Mex.) Saturday night to take third place in the Robstown Tournament.
   The Bobcats (3-2) exploded for seven runs in the bottom of the fourth inning and held Linares scoreless in the top of the fifth to end the game on the tournament's eight-run mercy rule.
   David Morales led South San's scoring attack, going 2 for 3 with a solo home run and two-run double. Pitcher Mark Soliz, who struck out five to earn the win, and catcher Jesse Maldonado combined for the Bobcats' two other hits.
   Diego Trevino and Martin Lucio each had a hit for Linares, which fell to 2-3.
   South San's Ross Cortez led off the bottom of the third inning with a walk, but was picked off trying to steal second base.
   Leonard Laque and Joey Lopez each drew walks, putting runners on first and second for the Bobcats. Laque later scored on a wild pitch to give South San a 1-0 lead.
   Then in the bottom of the fourth inning, South San third baseman Morales increased the Bobcats' lead to two runs with a leadoff home run over the left field fence.
   Maldonado followed up with a blast to straight center field. The relay throw was bobbled by Linares' cut-off man, but Maldonado was held up at second base.
   The South San catcher advanced to third on a passed ball, but Maldonado was thrown out by Linares catcher Jorge Cardona.
   Poor pitching allowed the Bobcats to load the bases in the bottom of the fourth. With one out, Adrian Lozano and Hector Delgadillo drew walks and moved around the diamond after Ross Cortez was hit by a pitch.
   Another walk to Laque brought in Lozano, which gave South San a 4-0 lead. Morales capped the scoring in the inning with a two-run double.

   CHAMPIONSHIP
   At Cotton Picker Field
   Boerne 9, Moody 5
   Moody 200 030 1--6-9-3
   Boerne 111 231 0--9-15-3
   Eric Flores, Pete Cavazos (6) and Arnold Meza. Ben Friesen, Jeff McCarty (5) Logan Kensing (6) and Zach Etheredge. WP -McCarty (2-0). LP-Flores (0-1). S-Kensing (1). HR-Boerne, Seth Johnston, Chase Tettleton. Records -Moody 4-1, Boerne 3-1-1.
   Highlights -Moody, Mike Guerra 3-4, 2RBI, R, Isaac Cantu 2-4, 2B; Boerne, Johnston 3-5, 2 2B, HR, 3R, 4RBI, Tettleton 2-3, HR, R, 2RBI.

   THIRD PLACE
   At Cotton Picker Field
   South San 8, Linares (Mex.) 0 (5 inn.)
   Linares 000 00--0-2-2
   South San 001 7x--8-4-1
   J.C. Barajas, Jorge Guerrero (4) and Jorge Cardona. Mark Soliz and Jesse Maldonado. WP -Soliz. LP-Barajas. HR -South San, David Morales. Records -Linares 2-3, South San 3-2.
   Highlights-Linares, Diego Trevino 1-2, Martin Lucio 1-2; South San, .


Staff writer Javier Becerra can be reached at 886-3734 or by e-mail at becerraj@caller.com

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