Boerne Champion's fourth inning surge too much for Ray in Game 3 of regional semifinals
JOURDANTON — Ray's 2023 baseball season featured several comeback wins, including two Game 3 winner-take-all victories to keep their impressive postseason run alive.
But Game 3 of the Class 5A regional semifinals against Boerne Champion proved to be an obstacle that was too much for the Texans to overcome after the Chargers jumped ahead early and never faltered in a 6-2 win on Saturday.
Boerne Champion was able to connect on key hits early, including a three-run fourth inning and an insurance run in the sixth to seal its trip the Region IV-5A final to play Leander Rouse.
Ray's notable season, its third consecutive with 30 wins, ends at 35-9 after advancing to the fourth round for the second straight year.
"We had an awesome season," Ray coach Orlando Ruiz said. "All year long we worked hard, faced adversity and had some health problems. But everybody stepped up and that's what I told these guys — we were really proud of them. It took a whole team to get to the fourth round."
Saturday's highlights
Just like in Game 1, Boerne Champion struck first with early runs, which was more than enough to back starting pitcher Matthew Booth, who kept the Texans at bay for most of the afternoon. The Charger's first run came in first inning on an RBI groundout by Cameron Logan to score Evan Kuhl, who tripled. Ray didn't score its first run until the sixth when Brandon Chapa connected on an RBI single against Booth and its final run came two batters later on a wild pitch. Booth limited the Texans to three hits and one run with two strikeouts before leaving the game in the middle of the sixth. The Texans took advantage by rallying to load the bases with three straight walks with Jack Bell missing a go-ahead grand slam by nearly five feet to end the threat.
Saturday's stars
Brandon Chapa led the Texans with two hits, which included an RBI single in the sixth inning. Keevyn Goss and Juan Garcia also had base hits for Ray in Game 3. Gage Goldberg and Evan Kuhl combined for five hits and two RBI to lead Boerne Champion, including a key throwout from the catcher Goldberg in the fourth inning.
They said it
Ray coach Orlando Ruiz on the younger players gaining experience for next season: "Getting to the fourth round is a total experience, especially playing against a great team like Boerne Champion and hats off to them. It's going to carry on for all of these freshmen, sophomores and juniors. We'll be back next year."
Ray senior Jack Bell on playing his final game with the Texans: "I think every round we lost one game and came back. We faced a lot of adversity and came back. We had three or four freshman paying, seniors and great guys. I'm really going to miss them. The best thing about being a Ray baseball (player) is we're great friends on and off the field and that's what makes us a team."
Up next
Boerne Champion vs. Leander Rouse in a Class 5A regional final matchup.
This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Boerne Champion tops Ray baseball in regional semifinals
