Victoria - The Victoria Generals faced the Brazos Valley Bombers in game one of the best of three series. Game one was in Riverside Stadium Sunday, August 10th. The series is a rematch of the2013 Texas Collegiate league championship. The Bombers are in search of being the first team in TCL history to win back to back championships, while the Generals are on the hunt to spoil the repeat aspirations.
The Bombers got things started in the 1st inning after a sacrifice fly hit in to right field by Grady Caldwell brought home Horacio Correa.
In the bottom of the 2nd, the TCL home run leader Matthew Burks sent his seventh home run of the year careening over the left field fence to tie the game up at one.
The Bombers would again strike in the 4th. With the bases loaded, Jimmy Norris hit a RBI single to bring home Grady Caldwell. Again with the bases loaded, Ford Moore knocked a single out in to right field to extend the lead to three. The third straight RBI single would come from Horacio Correa. The Generals finally ended the scoring onslaught with a 1-2-3 double play.
With the Generals in need of some offense, seemingly superhuman batter Matthew Burks cranked a double out in to right field. A sacrifice fly from Dayfran Ortiz would bring him home later in the inning.
Starting Bomber’s pitcher Tyler Nurdin came out of the game in the 5th inning in favor of Cannon Chadwick. Nurdin gave up two runs on seven hits. He struck out a batter and walked one. Chadwick entered the game with the bases loaded and one out in the 5th.
In the 5th, Cedric Vallieres came in to the game to face Cannon Chadwick. The very first pitch Chadwick threw all game, Vallieres swung strong and knocked a grounder in to left field, bringing home two runs on a double.
In the top of the 6th, starting Generals pitcher Kaleb Keith was relieved by Aaron Burns. Keith allowed four runs on seven hits and struck out three batters while sending one on a walk.
The bats were silent in Riverside for two straight innings; the two rival teams interlocked in a ferocious pitching battle. Then, with runners on 2nd and 3rd, the hero of the first round Pedro Barrios came through for the Generals. A RBI single hit between 3rd and short stop brought home David Paiz to give the Generals a one run lead late in the game.
In the 8th inning Cannon Chadwick was taken out in favor of Zach Girrens. Cannon allowed three runs on five hits. He struck out a pair of batters and walked one.
First time pitcher for the Generals Aaron Burns would be subbed out in the 9th inning by Jeff Chesnut. In his first ever game in a General jersey, Burns allowed no runs on one hit. He struck out five batters and walked two batters.
Just when the game looked over for the Bombers, a dropped strike three was overthrown by Tanner Hill, and the game tying run was scored by Ford Moore.
In the bottom of the 9th, Bomber’s pitcher Zach Girrens was replaced by Andre Shewcraft. Girrens gave up no runs off one hit. He struck out a pair of batters and walked one.
In fitting fashion, David Paiz came through big for the Generals and hit a single right up the middle to bring home a hard running Brian Portelli. The Generals played a plethora of close games in Riverside all season, and it was only right that their final game of the season at home ended with excitement.
Jeff Chesnut gets the win for the Generals. He struck out one batter and walked two, giving up a run in the 9th.
The losing pitcher for the Bombers was Zach Girrens.
The Generals and the Bombers will square off Monday night in Bryan, Texas under the lights of Cellucor Field. That game is set to start at 7:05, and you can listen on the City Mortgage Group Broadcast Network.
