Cinco Ranch Makes Storybook Comeback

The Cinco Ranch Cougars knew they had a big task ahead of them.  Behind 10-6 and going to the bottom of the 7th in the deciding Game 3 of the playoff series, the Cougars knew they had to scratch out at least 4 runs to stay in the game and keep their hopes alive for advancing on to the next round.

Cinco Ranch had won Game 1 over Lamar with a 4-1 victory on Thursday evening but Lamar had comeback on Friday to tie up the series with a 5-4 win of their own.  It was now down to a Game 3 to determine who would advance on to the Area Round.

Leading most of the early part of the game, Cinco Ranch watched the game begin to get away as Lamar scored 7  runs in the top of 5th to take a 10-5 lead.  Cinco Ranch was able to get one in the 6th to make it 10-6.  But now they needed 4 runs to stay alive.

Taylor Jiral started off the inning with a hit right to the SS and was thrown out at first.  A door was opened on the next play as Hunter Wells reached first safely on an error.  Derek Smith singled to left giving Cinco Ranch runners on first and second.  Brandon Box then walked to load up the bases.  That brought up Shane Veeder.  Veeder singled to right field scoring Wells and Smith, making it a 10-8 ballgame.  Marcus Sydow walked which again loaded the bases for Sr OF Trent Bowles.  Bowles was already 3-4 with 2 doubles and 2 RBIs in the game but Lamar had nowhere to put him.

Bowles took the first pitch for a strike and then hit a line drive on the second pitch that cleared the left field fence giving Cinco Ranch a 12-10 victory, the Bi-District title, and the right to advance to the Area Round of the playoffs.  The Cougars scored 6 runs in the bottom of the 7th ending the game with a walk off grand slam by Trent Bowles.  Bowles finished the game 4-5 with 6 RBIs.