By Trevor Mote
PBR Texas Scout

Twitter: @PBR_Texas

Saturday, May 6
HOUSTON, TX - High School playoff baseball can be very unpredictable. The La Porte HS Bulldogs were cruising with a 9-0 lead through four innings on their way to advancing to the next round. They were getting a clutch performance on the mound from sophomore Josiah Castro, who was in complete control. The Bulldog offense had come up with all the right moves, playing an aggressive style on the bases and coming up with clutch hits. With momentum on the side of The Bulldogs, the game could be over with another run from the home team.

The fifth inning started with a loud answer from Atascocita. A hit by pitch followed by an error, then a single brought three-hole hitter 2019 D.J. Taylor to the plate. Taylor started the rally with an RBI single, and the Eagles first run of the game; seven runs later, The Eagles were flying high, down two runs with two innings to go. After scoring all those runs, Jonathan Petsch threw up big zero on the board for Atascocita. The soft tossing junior left-hander was able to slow the bats of LaPorte.

Fast forward to the top of the seventh when Atascocita showed that resilience it takes to do something special. Junior catcher Julian Rojas drew a lead-off walk, and with the tying run at the plate for Atascocita, senior Alerick Soularie, an Arkansas recruit, had a chance for heroics.  Soulaire, fresh off the bench walked to the plate like a man on a mission. With his team and fans on their feet, he did the unthinkable, sending a no-doubt home run deep into the top of the trees at San Jac Field.

With complete craziness at home plate and in the stands, the tables had turned. An RBI single from D.J. Taylor and Hayden McGriff put Atascocita ahead for good, and extended their season for one more game. Lost in all the scoring was the valiant effort turned in by starting pitcher & closing pitcher, senior left-hander Alden Blest. Blest, a San Jacinto JC recruit, started the game, allowing six runs in 2.1 innings. After moving to first base and going 3-for-5 at the plate, Bless returned to mound-and yes-closed the game with a three-out save.

Atascocita HS 11, LaPorte HS 9

STATS

 Atascocita HS
A. Blest: (Save) 3.1 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 3 K, 4 BB, HBP; Batting: 3-5
C. Cannon: .2 IP, H, 2 BB
G. Pelletier: .1 IP, H, BB, HBP
J. Petsch: 2.2 IP, 0 H, 2 K, 2 BB
P. Harden: 3-5 Double, 2 RBI
D. Taylor: 3-5, 2 RBI
A. Nelson: 3-3, HBP
A. Soularie: 1-1, HR, 2 RBI

La Porte HS
I. Castro: 4 IP, 4 H, 3 R, BB, HBP
E. Chavez: 2 IP, 5 H, 4 R, BB, HBP, K
M. Gomez: 1 IP, 5 H, BB, 4 R
J. Olvera 3-5, 2 RBI
J. Castro 1-3, 2B, 2 BB
B. Williams: 1-4, 2 RBI
A. Cantu: 0-0, 3 BB, SAC

LaPorte went on to win Game 3 of the series 6-2 over Atascocita, moving them into the second round of the Texas High School Playoffs.

 

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