Behind solid pitching and defense - the staples that carried an experienced Rogers team to the Class 2A state championship last season - the young and maturing Rogers squad dealt the No. 2-ranked Salado Eagles their first district loss with a 3-2 victory Tuesday night at Clary-Neal Field.
“Our defense played real well in tight situations,” said Rogers coach Craig Coheley, whose team lost 4-0 at Salado in the district opener last month. “We take pride in pitching, defense and trying to find a way to win. During the week, we make sure that if we pitch and play defense, we’ll have a chance to win most games and that’s kind of how it’s panned out for us and that’s how tonight panned out.”
Rogers improved to 18-5 overall and 6-2 in 25-2A, while Salado fell to 16-4, 7-1.
Rogers starter Travis Perkins and reliever Greg Mendoza did their best in shutting down Salado’s offense, but they also received some much-needed help from their defense.
In the second inning, Salado’s Tyler Wright drew a two-out walk, advanced to second base on a passed ball and to third on a throwing error by Perkins. Salado pitcher Sam VanHoozer lined a ball to left field but Jerry Dillard made a diving catch to prevent a run.
In the third, Salado’s Matt Fritsch reached third before being stranded when Perkins got Justin Schiller to pop up and end the inning.
With Rogers leading 3-2 in the sixth, Salado’s Garrett Ward doubled. Justin Berumen then smashed a line drive, but first baseman Cameron Doskocil made a diving stab, got up and raced to the bag for the second out keeping Ward on third. Mendoza got Wright to ground out to end the inning.
“We had chances to score early in the game and didn’t get them across and it came back and bit us,” Salado coach Melvin Bates said.
Rogers sophomore Mendoza played the stopper role to perfection in the fourth. Salado had already scored twice and looked to tie the game up, but Mendoza ended the rally and allowed just one hit the rest of the way.
“Our kids knew this was a big game,” Coheley said. “We thought we played a good game over there. We just hit the ball right at them. We thought our pitching would be something that would possibly present them with some problems and that’s how it turned out.”
Salado’s VanHoozer, who threw a two-hit shutout in the teams’ first meeting, struggled with control early and Rogers took advantage.
Chance Marek led off the second with a single and Dylan Kuehn followed by singling on an 0-2 pitch to put runners on first and second. After VanHoozer struck out Dustin Hamilton, No. 8 hitter Stephen Hines smacked a double to left that landed just out of the reach of Wright to give Rogers a 2-0 lead.
Marek’s single to right in the third scored courtesy runner Seth Walker with an important run to make it 3-0. The defense took care of the rest.
“We didn’t deserve to win,” Bates said. “They outplayed us tonight. They came up with a couple of pretty big hits and got the runs early. It wasn’t until about the fourth that Sam started hitting his spots. He battled early on and didn’t have his best stuff. We didn’t give him the support he needed.”
VanHoozer (6-1) allowed three earned runs on six hits and had 11 strikeouts.
Mendoza (6-1) earned the win in relief.
“We’re getting to feel more comfortable playing in tight, close games . . . that’s what you’ve got to do to win,” Coheley said. “Inevitably good teams are going to run into each other. You have to play well in big games - not make mistakes, not hurt yourself, and get out of jams. I think that will boost our confidence that we can do those things.”
Rogers will play at Rosebud-Lott on Friday while Salado hosts Lago Vista.
cmeister@temple-telegram.com
