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El Campo Leader-News • Wednesday, May 27, 2015
Page 1-B
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2015 Ricebird Baseball
Not Done Yet (Top photo) Brock Brandl slides into the Sweeny catcher during action in Game 3. (Right photo) The El Campo students showed up in numbers to support the team. Pictured are front row, from left: Brett Crivellari, Melea Socha, Heather Raun and Elise Raun. Back row: Cameron Crivellari, Abby Anderson, Kinsey Priesmeyer, Jordyne Priesmeyer, Jillian Ermis, Natalie Nohavitza, Margo Warncke and Jessica Rodriguez.
L-N Photos by Jay T. Strasner
Class 4A Baseball Regional Semis EC vs Sinton at Texas Lutheran Seguin, TX Game 1: Thursday, May 28 7:30 p.m. Game 2: Friday, May 29 7:30 p.m. Game 3: (if necessary) Saturday, May 30 3 p.m.
Family Time
L-N Photos by Jay T. Strasner
El Campo Head Coach Russell Krenek lifts his daughter, Bella, into the air while mom Tasha looks on. The Ricebirds defeated Sweeny in the three-game series and will face Sinton this weekend.
The Sweet SIXTEEN Ricebirds defeat Sweeny, Sinton up next at TLU By JAY T. STRASNER publisher@leader-news.com
It was a 3-game series that featured a little bit of everything. But in the end, it was the Ricebirds that had the most important thing: a Regional quarterfinal championship. El Campo jumped out to a 2-0 first inning lead and then held off several Sweeny rallies for a 5-3 victory in Game 3 Saturday to move on to the Regional semifinals. The Ricebirds will face Sinton in the next best-of-3 round, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Texas Lutheran. “The locations moved because of rain, then there were weather delays, there was a play at the plate where a call was reversed, there were balks, more rain delays, you name it,” EC Head Coach Russell Krenek said. “There were some plays in the series that were definitely ESPN Top Ten worthy. It had it all. We’re just glad we won it.” El Campo claimed the lead in the bottom of the first. Brylan Crivellari singled then stole sec-
ond and scored on Clayton Harp’s RBI single to right field. Harp then scored on Riley Stock’s RBI single as EC moved ahead 2-0. Sweeny pulled within 2-1 in the top of the third, but the Birds answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the frame for a 3-1 lead. Tayton Priesmeyer started and held the Bulldogs to 2 earned runs on 5 hits over 4.2 innings pitched. The Bulldogs tied the game 3-3 in the top of the fifth, but EC answered again in the bottom of the fifth, this time in exciting fashion. Chad Quinn reached on an error, and quickly became a terror on the basepaths, stealing second then third base. With two outs, Blaine Fuechec walked and Collin Quinn entered as a courtesy runner. The Quinn brothers then executed a masterful double steal, with Chad Quinn stealing home for a 4-3 lead. “That play is something we’ve worked on all year, but that’s the first time it’s really worked to that level for us,” Krenek said. “We were aggressive all afternoon on the basepaths, putting pressure on them and keeping their pitchers distracted. Just a great execution by our guys there.” El Campo added an insurance run in the bot(See BIRDS, Page 2-B)
EC Excitement (Above) El Campo ballboy Bryce Krenek celebrates with Brock Brandl in the late innings of Saturday’s Game 3 win. (Right photo) Clint Kruppa laces a base hit during El Campo’s 5-3 win over Sweeny. L-N Photos by Jay T. Strasner
Pray Together, Stay Together
L-N Photo by Jay T. Strasner
Members of the Ricebirds gather for a prayer before the game Saturday.