Keng’s Bat and Glove Help Deer Park Advance to State Championship Game

Deer Park CF Chase Keng made big plays both offensively and defensively to help Deer Park take a 3-2 win in the first 6A State Semifinal matchup. The now advance to the State Championship Game Saturday versus the Round Rock/San Antonio Reagan winner.

Deer Park got on the board first in the bottom of the 2nd when Clay Aguilar led off with a double and scored on Blake Martin’s single.

Southlake Carroll quickly answered in the top of the 3rd with a run of their own. Cade Bell led off with a double and advanced to 3rd on a Jake Murphy bunt single. Ross Cadena hit a line drive to centerfield, deep enough to score Bell tagging up.

Southlake Carroll grabbed the lead in the 4th inning. Nik Millsap singled and advanced to 2nd on a Bell base on balls. Murphy laced an RBI single to score Millsap and Southlake Carroll led 2-1.

Southlake Carroll led until the bottom of the 6th when Deer Park got a rally going. Austin Mitchell started the inning off with an infield single and Reece Moon followed with a walk. A bunt attempt failed to move the runners and Chase Keng came up with one out. He lined a single into right field scoring courtesy runner Christian Vela and tying the ball game 2-2. Blaine Holden advanced to 3rd on Keng’s single and then scored on a balk call to give Deer Park a 3-2 lead.

In the 7th, Southlake Carroll rallied. Adam Stephenson got a single and one out later, Wyatt Stapp also singled, putting the tying and go ahead runs on base. Kole Ramage came to bat and hit a line shot to CF. Keng charged in and dove forward to make the catch. With 2 outs, Cole Johnson hit a shot to CF that looked like it might fall in. Keng again charged in to make the catch and seal the victory for Deer Park.

Adrian Gonzales came in to pitch in relief for starting pitcher Peyton Sherlin after Sherlin gave up a run in the 4th. He pitched 3.1 innings giving up 5 hits and no runs with a strikeout and 2 walks. He also pitched out of a crucial 6th inning in which Southlake Carroll had the bases loaded with no outs. Gonzales got 2 ground outs and a strikeout to end the threat.

Chase Keng on game-tying RBI “We were having guys hitting well all night and I felt like I was on it my first two bats so I felt confident. We just needed a big hit and I got a big hit.”

Adrian Gonzales on getting out of bases loaded jam “I wasn’t very rattled. I knew I had to just pitch to contact. Then my 3B Mark Barrow made a nice play and I got the big strikeout at the end.”