Buccaneers’ blunders open the door for Gators, Dawson
DICKINSON — It was a simple throw back to the pitcher.
No runners on base and no trouble as a result. But the misfire between Brazoswood catcher Nash Neff and righthander Andy Rubalcaba ended up in center field — and told the story Friday.
Brazoswood had trouble throwing the baseball and catching it, committing six errors. Five led to Dickinson runs while the Gators tacked on a few more to win 7-0 and take the bi-district playoff series opener.
“We gave them a lot of extra at-bats not making the plays,” Buccaneers head coach Bobby Williams said. “That’s not typical Brazoswood baseball. All year long, we’ve made the plays but we just didn’t make them tonight. I guess the pressure of the game got to us.”
The best-of-three series continues at 1 p.m. Saturday at Brazoswood. If the Buccaneers win, a third game will follow.
It wasn’t just the pressure of the game, but the pressure the Gators put on Brazoswood’s defense.
That’s one of the pillars Gators head coach Bo Davis stressed for a program that before this season, hadn’t reached the playoffs in nine years or claimed a district championship since 1993. They did both and are one win away from the second round.
“They bought in and not every team buys in,” said Davis, who is in his second year. “These guys were ready. Ready to work and ready for something special.” A pair of first-inning errors pushed across the Gators’ first run, starting with Jonathan Gracia reaching on a dropped third strike Neff sailed over Tyler Reinhardt at first. Gracia moved to third on a wild pitch and came around on a soft liner shortstop Deryk Serbantez bobbled with two outs.
After a Garrett Whitley RBI single made it 2-0, the Gators loaded the bases with two outs. A grounder to Bucs third baseman Brett Wagner could have ended the jam, but the junior threw to second instead of across the diamond and was late, keeping the bases full and allowing a third run to score. Reinhardt then misplayed a Kiko Nunez grounder and another runner came home.
“We say all the time — apply pressure,” Davis said. “Before every inning starts. Apply pressure and put pressure on the defense.”
Neff and Reinhardt misconnected again in the sixth on a Steven Whitley bunt. The throw sailed to the corner in right, allowing Landon Roque to score from first base. Andrew Jimenez and Kyle Fenoglio finished it off with RBI doubles.
That was plenty for Brian Dawson, the Gators’ sidearm-throwing senior. He tossed a three-hitter, striking out three, but not allowing a runner past second base.
“Honestly, that wasn’t my best game but it was good enough to get the win and that’s all that matters,” he said.