Big third inning allows Calallen to rout Robstown in Game 3 of UIL baseball playoff series

For all the dramatics of the first two games between Robstown and Calallen heading into a decisive Game 3 of a Class 4A regional quarterfinal series, the Wildcats made sure there would be none on Saturday.

Calallen broke open the game with six runs in the third inning and then cruised to a 14-5 victory in the third game to clinch the series and eliminate Robstown for the sixth time in the postseason since 1998.

The first four batters in the top of the third inning reached base off Robstown starter Esai Gonzales, which included a bases loaded walk by Brayden Sprencel to bring in a run. Then Terik Hickmon (a two-run single) and Matt Lopez (three-run double) combined to drive in five runs in the inning as Calallen jumped out to a 7-0 lead.

Calallen added runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings to complete the rout.

"It was big, we were up but every run still counts so we just had to bring them in," said Hickmon, who finished the night 2 for 4 with five RBI and scored two runs. "If we fight, we can be good and go super far."

The Wildcats move onto the regional semifinals for the second consecutive season and will take on Region IV power Boerne at a time, date and place yet to be determined.

Plus, Calallen coach Steve Chapman enters next week one win away from tying the record for most wins by a high school baseball coach in Texas. After this week’s series, Chapman has 1,114 career victories and is one behind legendary Lubbock Monterey head coach Bobby Moegle, who has 1,115.

"It was big, we we knew that we were going to have to score six or seven runs to win this game," Chapman said. "We felt like their left-handed pitcher was going to hold us down a little while, but we felt like we would eventually score."

Saturday's highlights: Calallen vs. Robstown

The Wildcats held a slim 1-0 lead after the second inning, but broke the game open in the third. The first four batters for Calallen reached base and then big hits from Terik Hickmon and Matt Lopez keyed a six-run inning that provided the difference in the game. Hickmon later added a three-run home run in the seventh, and Ysiah Sanchez added an RBI triple as well. Overall, the Wildcats tallied 13 hits along with the 14 runs and drew nine walks. Robstown avoided being run-ruled with two runs in the fifth, and then plated one more in the sixth and two more in the seventh.

Saturday's stars

Calallen starter Brayden Sprencel provided a key night on the mound, pitching 6.1 innings giving up three runs on six hits with wo walks and five strikeouts. Sprencel earned a win and a save in the series. Roberto Perez recorded three hits and scored two runs, and Sprencel, A.J. Yepez, Hickmon and Sanchez each had two hits. Hickmon totaled five RBI in the victory. Robstown's Zarek Diaz was 2 for 2 with two walks on the night as Robby Olguin and Jason Cedillo each had RBI.

They said it

Calallen coach Steve Chapman on what he learned about his team in the series: "That they can play with a lot of intensity, and play with a lot of emotion, which is what I want to see happen."

Calallen starting pitcher Brayden Sprencel on how comfortable he was entering Saturday's game: "You know (Friday) I got the job done, so coming into this game, I had more confidence than just coming into the game blind. I did feel a lot better being able to throw last night and be able to throw today."

Robstown coach Elias Vasquez on the difference in the game: "When you walk people ... we try to tell our guys not to walk anybody because it's just like base hits. When you walk people and give them free passes it's hard to get outs and get them out. Usually bad things happens when you do that. That's why we preach all year, we preach it all season to try to get ahead in the count and make them hit the ball. Try to get the first hitter out of every inning. And today, for some reason, we just couldn't get ball across the plate. In that second, third inning and they went ahead by six runs it was a big lead to surpass."

Game 2

Calallen 6, Robstown 4

Friday's highlights: Robstown vs. Calallen

Robstown catcher Robby Olguin, the Cotton Pickers best hitter, hit a solo home run in the first inning to help set the tone for the game. Robstown followed with three runs in the fourth to take a 4-3 lead against the Wildcats as Jonathon Ovalle hit a two-run home run in the inning. The Wildcats, though, responded with a three-run fifth as A.J. Yepez hit a two-run double and Tress Vasquez brought in a run with a fielder's choice. After Justin Lamkin reached his pitch count limit after six innings, Calallen's Brayden Sprencel came on to earn the save and strike out two.

Friday's stars

Lamkin finished the night pitching six innings, giving up three hits with four earned runs and 16 strikeouts. Calallen's Ethan Salinas finished the night 1 for 1 with a run, sacrifice fly and an RBI, and Sprencel was 1 for 3 with a run at the plate along with his save. Yepez finished 1 for 2 with two RBI and a walk, and Matt Lopez was 1 for 3 with two RBI. Olguin finished the night 1 for 2 with an RBI and a run, and was walked twice, including once intentionally. Ovalle was 1 for 3 with two RBI and a run.

Game 1

Robstown 4, Calallen 3

Thursday's highlights: Calallen vs. Robstown

The lead changed hands at least three times during this game as Robstown struck first with a run in the first inning. But Calallen scored two in the third, taking advantage of a Robstown error for a 2-1 lead. The Cotton Pickers, though, tied it in the fifth with an RBI single by Roque Serrano only to have the Wildcats retake the lead in the sixth on an A.J. Yepez sacrifice fly. In the seventh, Robstown did what it does best. After Jason Cedillo was hit by a pitch, Serrano laid down a bunt and reached and Cedillo moved to third. Then Soliz hit his seeing-eye single to score two and win the game.

Thursday's stars

Soliz finished the game 1 for 3 at the plate with two RBI, including the game-winner, and on the mound gave up three runs, one earned, on five hits with two strikeouts. Serrano finished the night 2 for 4 with two runs and an RBI, and Joel Paredez was 1 for 3 with an RBI. Calallen's Ethan Salinas finished 1 for 3 with a run, and Yepez was 1 for 2 with an RBI. Calallen starter Roberto Perez gave up two runs on three hits with four walks and seven strikeouts.

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: Big inning pushes Calallen past Robstown in UIL baseball playoffs