Victoria Advocate AdvoSports

Refugio advances to regional final
Friday, May 29, 2015
by Mike Forman, Victoria Advocate Sports

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Refugio pitcher Cole Vanness throws a pitch against Shiner on Thursday.
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all photos by Richard Hoang, Victoria Advocate
CUERO - Refugio was nearing unchartered territory when it took the field for the bottom of the seventh inning.

But Refugio coach Anthony Quintanilla wasn't worried with Cole Van Ness on the mound.

"That's why when we go one game, I feel confident," Quintanilla said. "With Cole, we always have a shot to keep it close or be in the game. He's a stud when he's up there, especially when he's on. He's hitting his spots and he keeps batters off-balance, and it showed tonight."

Van Ness pitched a five-hitter to lead the Bobcats to a 1-0 Class 2A regional semifinal win over Shiner on Thursday night at the Ballpark in Cuero.

Refugio improved to 21-3-1 and advanced to the regional final for the first time in school history.

The Bobcats will play the winner of the Flatonia-Kenedy series in the regional final. Flatonia won Game 1, 11-0 on Thursday night.

"We were all ready to go," Van Ness said. "We've never been this far. We were all excited to keep going."

Van Ness, a junior, struck out nine and did not walk a batter. He threw 67 of his 99 pitches for strikes.

"I knew they could hit the ball," Van Ness said. "I hit the outside corner most of the night and it worked. I just try to stay calm and keep pitching my game. I was throwing fastball, curveball, and changeup, and they were all excellent."

Refugio had only seven hits against Shiner (23-4) starter Ty Condel.

Condel struck out four and walked one and threw 56 of his 81 pitches for strikes.

The Bobcats scored the game's only run in the third inning.
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Shiner outfielder Brice Bernshausen makes a run to home plate against Refugio on Thursday.
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Tyler Castellano led off with a hustle double to left-center field and took third on a single by Jonathan Rosas.

Rosas broke for second before the next pitch and got in a rundown. Castellano charged to home plate and the throw was slightly offline.

"I saw what was going on," said Castellano, who was 2 for 2 and reached base three times. "I saw Jonathan. He distracted the second baseman, and I saw them get him in a hot box and like this is the perfect opportunity and that's what we've got to do is take advantage of each opportunity."

The Comanches' best scoring opportunity came in the sixth when it had runners on first and second with one out and Blake Michalec hit a shot down the third-base line.

The home plate umpire immediately ruled the ball foul. Shiner coach Daniel Boedeker argued it had touched third baseman's Malik Brown's glove to no avail.

"Their pitcher did a great job," Boedeker said. "We tip our hats to him. He stayed around the zone and pitched to contact. I thought we put the ball in play for the most part to give ourselves a chance. Give their defense credit. They did a good job behind him."

Neither team committed an error, and only two runners reached third base - both from Refugio.

"We were ready for one game," Castellano said. "We knew we could do it with Cole on the mound. If he's on, he's on and nobody can touch him. As long as we can hit the ball and back him up, then we're good."


Box Score
      Class 2A State Region IV SemiFinal - Friday, May 29, 2015
      Gobbler Field, Cuero

      Refugio 1, Shiner 0

      Score by Innings     123 456 7    R  H  E
      -----------------------------------------
      Refugio              001 000 0 -  1  7  0
      Shiner               000 000 0 -  0  5  0
      -----------------------------------------

      R: Cole Van Ness and Jacobe Avery.
      S: Ty Condel and Brandon Cerny.
      W: Van Ness. L: Condel.

      Highlights:
      (R) Van Ness 7 IP, 0 R, 5 H, 0 BB, 9 SO; Tyler Castellano 2 for 2, BB, SB, R.
      (S) Condel 7 IP, 1 ER, 7 H, 1 BB, 4 SO; Brice Bernhausen 2 for 2.

      Records: Refugio 21-3-1; Shiner 23-4.

      Refugio advanced to June 6 Region Final vs. Flatonia (LOST 0-2)
  

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