On Friday and Saturday, May 6-7, 2011, the Jesuit Rangers met the Naaman Forest Rangers in a best of three playoff series for the opportunity to move on to the next round. After a 28-5 regular season, the Rangers managed to reach their goal of 30 wins, but they certainly have much more to accomplish.
Joe Powell took the mound for the Rangers in game one and delivered a gem, going the distance while allowing only two hits. Josh Bell continued his super-human year, going two-for-two with two doubles and two walks, an RBI, and a couple runs scored. It has been documented that he is a good player.
Jesuit took a 4-0 lead after Bell doubled in senior Kevin Terry, a Nebraska recruit who will play for the Cornhuskers next year. Naaman Forest then threw the ball away numerous times to allow another run to score, and junior DH Chris Cisneros drove in senior Zach Reding. After a hit batter, Powell surrendered one of his two hits, this one an RBI double that made the game 4-1. Powell would surrender no more, however, striking out a pinch hitter to end the sixth inning and then recording the game’s final out on a pickoff at second base.
Jesuit felt confident after taking game one on the road, knowing they would be coming home to a rowdy crowd and senior Josh Vander Heiden on the mound. Senior shortstop Mike Savage made a phenomenal play in the top of the first to set the tone, and the Rangers continued the effort in the bottom half of the inning to give Jesuit a 3-0 lead. Vander Heiden struggled with location, though, and surrendered two runs in the top of the inning to make the game 3-2.
After failing to score in the bottom of the inning, Naaman Forest tacked on three more in the third, but Jesuit promptly responded with three of their own. Jesuit held the lead into the fifth, until Vander Heiden ran into some real trouble. After the man with the golden arm, senior Nick Jordan, had warmed up, Vander Heiden allowed Naaman Forest to tie the game at six.
Sensing a need to bring in some power, head coach Brian Jones turned to the player with the largest calves on the team, junior Christian “Bart” Bartholomew.
Bart entered the game and shut down Naaman Forest, getting out of the inning unscathed. After three innings of scoreless ball, Jesuit finally ended the game in the bottom of the eighth inning with a Zach Reding drive to left center.
Jesuit took the game and the series with a 7-6 victory and advanced to the next round against Belton. Game one will be played at 7:00 Thursday at Belton, a good two hour drive. For those interested in following the game but unable to drive two hours to watch it, the game can be followed via Twitter by simply following our trusted source “@jcpbaseball.” Game two will be played at 7:00 at Jesuit on Friday, with game three taking place (if necessary) at 1:00 Saturday at Duncanville. Come out and support your Jesuit Rangers.
