In it 2-1 series-clinching victory over Edna on Friday night, top-ranked Rogers survived with the proverbial straight razor in the hands of junior right-handed pitcher Taylor Jungmann and sophomore first baseman Cameron Doskocil.
After yielding a run in the first inning of Game 2 of a best-of-three Class 2A series, Jungmann (9-0) survived the final five innings despite having a runner in scoring position in each frame.
Doskocil punched a two-out single over the first baseman in the sixth to drive in the Eagles’ runs - both unearned - and ruin a strong performance by Cowboys ace Mike Vickery (7-4).
The Eagles won without the presence of head coach Craig Coheley, who was not at the game because of what was termed a “family emergency.” Assistant coaches John Reason and Nash Fares filled in.
The victory advances Rogers (28-2) into the Region IV quarterfinals against Lexington - which swept East Bernard - in a best-of-three series in Austin late next week.
“We finally got some runners on base and Doskocil was able to drive them home,” Fares said of a batter who grounded out in his first at-bats.
Said Coheley from home late Friday: “Since the first day, our guys have been preparing for the unknown, and today they played without me and showed they could win in a tight situation.”
Braxton Byers opened the inning with the sixth hit off Vickers, who seemed to have the Eagles in his back pocket with ground balls and pop flies. He retired the second batter, but Marshall Coots’ grounder handcuffed shortstop Ray Chavarria.
The next batter popped out to second, but on an 0-1 pitch Vickers barely hit Jungmann to load the bases. On a 1-2 count, Doskocil delivered a hit that almost eluded the right fielder.
“I just went with the pitch,” Doskocil said. “Winning today was very important. It gets us on a roll for the rest of the playoffs.”
Rogers left runners in scoring position in the second and fourth before finally finding the scoring touch.
Edna (19-8), which lost 6-2 on Thursday, touched Jungmann for a lone run in the first. Rodney Hasdorf doubled down the left-field line with one out, moved to third on one of two wild pitches and came home on Chavarria’s grounder.
Jungmann allowed four hits - three doubles and a triple. He struck out nine batters and walked two. His clutch pitching went as follows:
n Third inning: Strikeout to strand a runner at second.
n Fourth: With one out and Chris Whitehead on third via a triple, he posted back-to-back strikeouts.
n Fifth: Leadoff hitter Jordan Quinn doubled and reached third on a bunt. Again, Jungmann struck out consecutive hitters.
n Sixth: With two outs Whitehead doubled and courtesy runner Dustin Thompson stole third base. The third out came on a popout to shortstop.
n Seventh: Storm Stevens reached on an error to open the inning. Jungmann got the first out on a strikeout, Billy Pat McCormick sacrificed Stevens to second before the Eagles’ ace got the final out with a strikeout.
“I finally got in a rhythm and my curve helped me in the clutch,” he said. “I was off a little tonight. The mound was a little flatter than I was used to. We’re just happy to have the win and be moving along.”
gwellnicki@temple-telegram.com
