Odom's go-ahead home run lifts Bishop to series win against Banquete

BEEVILLE —  Bishop and Banquete were in desperate need of runs entering the sixth inning of Game 3 of a Class 3A regional quarterfinal series on Saturday.

Starters Brian Buchanan and Manny Flores were at their limit after pitching more than four quality innings of shut out baseball.

Tye Odom walked up to the plate with a runner on and delivered the biggest hit of the series with a go-ahead two-run home run to give Bishop a two-run lead. Manny Pina followed with a single and scored from third base on an error to give the Badgers some insurance.

The Bulldogs rallied to load the bases in the bottom half before Odom and Game 2 starter Ruben Rendon recorded the final three outs to secure a 3-0 win at Joe Hunter Field at Coastal Bend College.

"I just wanted to hunt a fastball," Odom said. "I got my fastball and I didn't miss it. That's all I really did."

Hits were hard to come by early in the game, thanks to both starting pitchers and the defense from both teams.

Bishop and Banquete combined to turn four double plays, including two with runners in scoring position.

The Badgers' pitching staff limited the Bulldogs to two hits.

"It's a warm blanket on a cold night, that's for sure," Bishop coach Mike Medina said. "You don't have a chance if you don't get outs and it's a total team effort. I'm proud of my team, they played like men today and we're moving on to round four."

The Badgers advanced to the regional semifinals to play Blanco, a series winner against Marion at a time, date and location to be determined.

It's the fifth regional semifinal appearance in the last six seasons for the Badgers.

"It's amazing," said Buchanan, who allowed two hits in 4.1 innings. "You have to thank God for everything. In Bishop we have a saying, 'The playoffs don't start until round four.'"

High School Baseball

3A Regional Quarterfinal

Game 3

Bishop 3, Banquete 0

Saturday's highlights: Bishop vs. Banquete

Bishop and Banquete combined for six hits until Tye Odom broke a scoreless game with a two-run home run in the sixth inning to give the Badgers a lead they'd never relinquish. Manny Pina added some insurance after scoring on an error and Odom and Ruben Rendon held off a Banquete rally by recording the final out by strikeout with the bases loaded. Both teams combined to turn four double plays, with each team recording two.

Saturday's stars

Brian Buchanan finished with two hits to lead Bishop and Odom delivered the game's biggest hit with a two-run home run in the sixth inning. Catcher Aiden Steele made a key throw to second base for the Badgers for the final out of the fifth inning that helped save a potential run. Banquete starting pitcher Manny Flores pitched 4.1 innings, allowing three hits with a game-best five strikeouts. Zack Trevino and Kovy Cantu recorded the lone hits for the Bulldogs.

They said it

Banquete coach Rusty Miller on the season-ending loss to Bishop: "I tell the boys all the time, if you're not the man you need to be without a championship, you'll never be the man you need to be with a championship. The truth is, I'm proud of our guys. If the scoreboard says we lost, then what else are we doing? We've won four national academic awards, we have 15 guys who are academic, all-conference and all-district with three kids who are going to play college baseball. It's more about what they're going to be then what they are right now."

Bishop coach Mike Medina on returning to the regional semifinals: "Bishop High School is a storied program and it's a legacy year in and year out to make it to round four. Now that we're here, we've done a good job and we've made the community and town proud. We're looking forward to compete and keep this journey going."

High School Baseball

3A Regional Quarterfinal

Game 2

Banquete 4, Bishop 2

Thursday’s highlights: Bishop vs. Banquete

Banquete answered the call with its back against the wall by striking first with a run in the first inning and three in the third to back starting pitcher Mark Lopez, who finished with seven strikeouts in a complete-game effort. 

Mason Vasquez and Forrest Rumfield each delivered RBI singles in the third to give the Bulldogs a 4-0 lead. 

Lopez kept the Bulldogs in the game by holding Bishop scoreless for the first five innings. The Badgers pushed across their only runs in the sixth on an an RBI triple by Brian Buchanan and an RBI single by Manny Pina.

Ruben Rendon allowed three runs with two strikeouts in six innings for the Badgers. 

Thursday’s stars

Vasquez and Rumfield provided run-producing hits and Lopez and Nate Herrera each had two hits to lead Banquete. Marcos Hernandez led Bishop with two hits and Buchanan and Pina each recorded a hit with an RBI.

They said it

Banquete coach Rusty Miller on preparing for Game 3: "We're going to go home tomorrow, work and try and get better. When it's Bishop and Banquete, it's going to be exciting, it's going to be fun. Those guys got us good last night (Wednesday) and you can't ever relax. Mike Medina is going to get those guys ready."

Bishop coach Mike Medina on the Badgers' preparation for Saturday: "Hats off to Banquete and coach Miller and his team. They came out ready to play and they had a great game plan. We didn't really settle into the game very well in those early innings and they did — that was the difference today and Mark Lopez threw a hell of a game. We're going to Game 3 and that's why it's a series. All of our chips are in and we're playing for our survival."

Game 1

Bishop 10, Banquete 0, 5 inn. 

Wednesday's highlights: Bishop vs. Banquete

Bishop scored a run in each of the first two innings as Tye Odom hit a home run to left in the first and Brian Buchanan scored on a wild pitch in the second. In the third, the Badgers broke the game open with six runs that included two runs scoring a wild pitch and Buchanan, Ruben Rendon and Rylan Rendon adding RBI. Bishop closed the game with two runs in the fourth on an RBI double by Buchanan and sacrifice fly by Aiden Steele. 

Wednesday's stars

Buchanan was stellar on the mound for the Badgers, pitching five shutout innings, allowing three hits with seven strikeouts and no walks. He was also 2 for 2 at the plate a double and two RBI. Odom finished the night 2 for 2 with a home run, three runs and an RBI and Ruben Rendon, Steele and Rylan Rendon also added RBI in the victory.

They said it

Bishop coach Mike Medina on the Badgers' baserunning: "Baserunning is huge. You know we work hard at that, that's a part of our game. That's a dimension of our game that we work on and take a lot of pride in, and that we know in the playoffs it just becomes heightened. Anytime you can scratch a run where you are in a situation where you typically don't that's a win for you in the middle of a game."

Bishop pitcher Brian Buchanan on his night: "I felt like I had all my pitches working today. I started yesterday ... visualizing all my pitchers on the bus over here. I'm locked in thinking about everything, and I had everything today."

Len Hayward is a USA Today Sports Network Region sports director and the Caller-Times sports editor. Support more coverage like this by checking out our subscription options and special offers at Caller.com/subscribe  

This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: UIL Baseball playoffs: Tye Odom's home run lifts Bishop to series win