Sophomore Bulldog Baseball goes 3-2 in district play

Waller High School’s Sophomore Bulldogs baseball team traveled to Magnolia West looking for their second district victory March 17. Emotions ran high coming off a big 10-1win against the Montgomery Bears March 14. Coach Rodney Loewe put the ball in the hands of freshmen right hander Chad Arnold who pitched a solid game. Arnold left in the fifth with the score 7-3 in favor of the Mustang. The Bulldogs were on the hunt in the top of the sixth. Leading the pack was Brandon Sandoval with a single and Wesley Glueck who drew a walk, and for the first time it felt like that mighty wind might blow in the favor of the Bulldogs, but the inning ended in an old fashion dog fight as Bulldog Garret Holloway worked the count to 3-2 but came up short and struck out on a nasty curve ball. Holloway entered the game at pitcher and battled hard but gave up two runs in the bottom of the sixth. The Bulldogs entered the last inning beat up and trailing by six but still had the will to fight and scratched for four runs. It was 9-7 with bases loaded with Mustangs and only two outs; the next crack of the bat ended the game with a hard shot to the first basemen. The scoreboard was in favor of the Mustangs 9-7.
     March 20 the team was eager to get back to action as they traveled to take on Livingston. Coach Loewe gave the ball to freshmen pitching sensation Trent Rape who pitched five powerful innings only giving up tree hits and two runs, and striking out six batters. The Bulldogs put it together on offense with eight hits and 19 runs scored. Leading the charge was centerfielder Dylan Froman going 2-4 with two singles and two runs scored. Both hard hitting Arnold and Scotty McCloud got into the action; each with two well hit singles and five runs scored between them. Sandoval and Josh Cimerhanzel did their job in the middle of order each with a hit and three runs scored between them. James Lenert and Holloway were a nice surprise scoring a combined three runs. Rape added to his own cause with an in the park homerun. The Bulldogs loaded the bus with a 19-2 district win to bring their record to 8-3 overall.
     March 24, the team traveled to Willis with high hopes coming off their big win against Livingston with another win over the WildKats. Top prospect Cimerhanzel got the nod and pitched four innings allowing only five hits with five strikeouts and two walks. Cimerhanzel beat Willis 10-0 earlier in the year when the Bulldogs took second place in the Willis tournament. The ‘Dogs played well on offense with five hits, eight walks, and nine runs scored. Once again it was Froman who led the ‘Dogs with two hits and a run scored. McCloud did his job in the two hole spot with a single, a walk, and three runs scored. Rape and Cimerhanzel combined for two hits and three runs scored. In the end it was defense that sealed the ‘Dogs doom with the WildKats capitalizing on an eight run second inning which proved to be too much to overcome and ‘Dogs lost 11-9.
     The Sophomore Bulldog baseball team was on the road again March 31 as the yellow bus made its way down 1488 headed to Huntsville. Freshman Rape pitched five innings allowing only two runs with 10 strikeouts, and only three walks.
     “Rape’s hard work paid off and that’s exactly the type of performance I expect from him. This could be been the ‘Dog’s best game of the season,” Coach Loewe said.
     Leading the offensive attack was Froman who is starting to emerge as a dominating presence in the ‘Dog’s lineup. He banged two singles and scored two vital runs. Mathew Pierce and Rape also had great at bats crowding the hard throwing left hander and taking away the inside corner; each got on base after being hit by a pitch. Pierce scored one run. Coach Loewe moved McCloud to lead off the batting order and it paid off as he had tremendous at bats drawing three walks and scoring a run. Cimerhanzel and Arnold got into the action with clutch hits and scoring crucial runs. The bottom of the order stepped up with a key hit by Sandoval and Kyle Schmidt drawing two walks. It was a good baseball game ending in a 6-2 victory for the Bulldogs bringing their record to 11-4 overall.

WHS Sophomore Baseball wins 3, loses 1

Waller High School’s Sophomore Bulldog Baseball Coach Rodney Loewe had to keep his team chained to the porch due to bad weather March 7. The long wait had the Bulldogs scratching for a fight on March with a double header against Dekaney. Right-hander Chad Arnold shut the Lions out through four innings and surprising left-fielder Brandon Sandoval came in to close the game in the fifth. The Bulldogs went on to win the first game 22-0. In second game Coach Loewe put his confidence in sophomore right-hander Scotty McCloud who proved worthy by pitching four shutout innings. Sophomore Garret Holloway entered the game in the fifth and the Bulldogs went on to win 18-0. It was a tremendous effort by the offense in both games and Coach Loewe had the luxury of looking at some of his younger players who gave him a great effort including Kyle Schmidt, Paul Fritzsching, Wesley Glueck, and James Lenart. Outfielder Coach Eric Geigley said the team has a friendly dog fight between the bench players; he loves their hustle and effort, and looks forward to seeing which ‘Dog emerges as a starter.     
     March  13, coming off two big wins, WHS’ Sophomore Bulldog Baseball team prepared for their first district game against rival Brenham. Anxious to see how their team would fair in district play, Coach Loewe put it in the hands of his ace young hard throwing Trent Rape. After giving up five runs in the first inning, Rape settled down and pitched a decent game against a very aggressive Brenham offense. It was a learning process for Rape.
     “Even with the strongest arm in the district, he must learn to keep the ball low in the strike zone so teams won’t be able to touch him stated,” Coach Geigley said.
     Rape is a fierce competitor and Coach Loewe was thrilled with the way he never gave up and was still chucking hard well into the sixth inning. The Bulldog’s offense only generated four runs on three hits and three walks. Sophomore Dylan Froman is starting to emerge as a producer on offense with a walk, a double, and one run scored. Both Matthew Pierce and Josh Cimerhanzel contributed with singles and both scored a run. In the end the Brenham offense was too much and the ‘Dogs were defeated 13-4.
     After an ear full and some persuasive running exercises, Coach Loewe’s sophomore team responded well with a big district win March 14 against the Montgomery Bears. Freshmen pitcher Cimerhanzel performed surgery on the mound allowing only one run and one hit slicing through the Bears offensive lineup.
     “The best thing about Josh is his control and the ability to keep the ball low, and in so doing, his defense gets behind him and made tremendous plays,” Loewe said.
     Coach Geigley had nothing but great things to say about the young freshmen pitcher. “He’s a great size kid, with a great work ethic, and it pays off for him on the playing field. If he keeps working hard look for great things to come,” Geigley said.
     The offense came alive as well. Leading the charge was McCloud going 3-3 with a double and three runs scored. Pierce and Arnold got into the action each with a hit and each scoring two runs. Shortstop Rape added to the scoring with a monster double and one run scored. Froman kept his hitting streak going with a single and a run scored. Rounding out the scoring was left-fielder Sandoval who drew a walk, stole a base, and scored one run.
     At the sophomore level many games can be won or lost depending on how well the catcher plays. Max McConnell had a great defensive game behind the plate, and when he’s on his game the Bulldogs are hard to beat. When the final out was made the Bulldogs were once again victorious by the score of 10-1 bringing the sophomore Bulldog baseball team’s record to seven wins and two loses on the year.

WHS Sophomore Baseball takes second in Willis Tourney

Waller High School’s sophomore bulldog baseball team was eager to get back to business after being forced to sit out Feb. 21-23 due to bad weather. The Bulldogs entered the Willis tournament Feb. 28 with three solid pre-season victories under their belt which included a 14-1 walloping of DeKaney Feb. 18 and a come from behind 9-7 victory in El Campo Feb. 26.
     The Bulldogs drew district rival Montgomery in the first game of the tournament Feb. 28. Coach Rodney Loewe gave freshmen hurler Chad Arnold the nod. Arnold pitched four solid innings and left the game with the score tied. Dylan Froman entered the game at pitcher with time expired and walked his first batter. This was the first real pressure the ‘Dogs have felt all year. Froman settled down and threw the next batter a first pitch strike on the corner. The bears coach, anxious to move the runner, gave the signal for hit and run. With the crack of the bat, a hard short up the middle, the runner was moving. Bulldog shortstop Trent Rape moved with aggression and fielded the hot hopper and tossed it to Scott McCloud who gloved it and threw the runner out at first. It was a beautiful 6-4-3 double play!! Froman went on to strike out next batter and game ended in a 6-6 tie. The tournament director used the official book to determine that the Bulldogs would move into the winner’s bracket by way of more men advancing to third base (4-3). The victory was a total team effort and in the end it was the ‘Dogs aggressive style of play that rewarded them with the victory.  
     Feb. 29 the Bulldogs faced tournament host, and another district rival, the Willis Wildcats. From the very first pitch freshman Josh Cimerhanzel took command of the game and pitched a complete seven inning shut out. The ‘Dogs won 10-0. Again, they were very aggressive on the bases and beat out many close plays that could have gone either way. Most of the offensive power came from the top of the order which included Matthew Pierce, Arnold, McCloud, Rape, and Cimmerhanzel. The bottom of the order proved themselves with great at bats by Paul Fritzsching and Kyle Schmidt. Max McConnell did a great job leading the defense and was easily the best defensive catcher in the tournament. Shortstop Rape made an awesome diving catch in short center field in between two charging outfielders to kill a Wildcats rally. Coach Rodney Loewe and Eric Geigley looked forward to see how their team would fare against 5A powerhouse Tomball in the championship game.
     March 1, the ride was over and the ‘Dogs took a walloping of their own by the hands of Tomball High School’s squad. There were moments of hope with clutch hits by Pierce and Brandon Sandoval as well as more unbelievable defensive play by shortstop Rape who threw a hustling Tomball runner out at the plate from deep left field. But in the end the ‘Dogs loaded the bus tails still wagging with second place honors and a prayer in their hearts that they get another chance to face the Tomball squad and prove themselves champions.