Schultz fires shutout as Chargers edge Deer

Clear Springs played its ace, Blake Schultz, in Thursday night’s opener.

He delivered the winning hand.

The junior pitcher tossed a one-hitter, and a sacrifice fly scored the game’s only run in the Chargers’ 1-0 victory over Deer Park in Game 1 of their Class 6A Region III quarterfinals series at Rice’s Reckling Park.

“I wanted to go out there and get it for my team,” Schultz said.

“I knew I was going to go out there and battle, and I knew their pitcher was going to battle, and I came out on top.”

Game 2 is 7:30 p.m. Friday at Crosby.

The Deer (26-6-1) likely will throw their ace, Houston signee Clay Aguilar, who supplied the only hit off Schultz.

Clear Springs (20-13) struck early.

First baseman Drew Minter and Tyler Hendrickson smacked consecutive singles to start the second inning, and then Minter stole third and scored on Dylan Byrd’s sac fly to right for a 1-0 advantage.

“I said, ‘Hey (Byrd), just get it in the outfield,’ and their kid made a perfect throw, and it was bangbang at the plate,” Clear Springs coach Chris Floyd said.

Schultz took a no-hitter into the sixth.

Then Aguilar sent a two-out double to the right-center field gap and advanced to third on an errant relay throw.

But Schultz ended the threat when he induced an inning-ending groundout off the bat of Josiah Ortiz.

Schultz finished the shutout with five strikeouts and four walks on 102 pitches.

“I just went out there, pounded the zone, kept them off-balance with my off-speed, and the defense played a heck of a game behind me,” Schultz said.

Clear Springs didn’t play a perfect game.

The Chargers’ defense committed three errors, giving the Deer plenty of baserunners along with Schultz’s four walks.

But they combined with Schultz to work out of every jam.

Deer Park starter Peyton Sherlin wasn’t as fortunate. He held the Chargers to one run on four hits, with none after the third inning, and still took the loss on 72 pitches.

“He gave us a chance to win,” Deer Park coach Chris Rupp said.

The Deer stranded seven baserunners, leaving runners in scoring position in five innings.

“When we had opportunities, with men in scoring position, we couldn’t come up with the big hit,” Rupp said.

Michael Gillaspia and Ty Luper also singled for the Chargers.

“We were able to get a run early, Blake went out there and kept them at bay and we made some good plays in a couple situations,” Floyd said.

Karen Warren photos / Houston Chronicle Clear Springs’ Drew Minter, right, scrambles home for the only run of the game, slipping past Deer Park’s Reece Moon to score on Dylan Byrd’s sacrifice fly.

Deer Park’s Kolton Fowler laments being picked off third base in the fourth inning.