Leopards Baseball season ends...
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First of all, let me say that the attendance for the two games against Danbury was over 1100 paid and that is outstanding. We cannot thank the fans,parents, students and faculty of Van Vleck enough for the constant support that was shown throughout the season and especially in this fun ride that was the playoffs. These boys showed tremendous heart and we are only scraping the iceberg of the potential that they have. I fully expect that next year we will encounter many firsts in the program that is Van Vleck Baseball, including our first district championship. These boys are phenominal. I owe all of you alot of gratitude for what we have experienced. I relish the opportunity to continue to build this baseball program and hope to help build an overall program here at Van Vleck. I know that Coach Braun appreciates it as well.
Friday night the crowd was again standing room only at Brazosport and the Leopards and Panthers prepared to play game two in their best of 3 series. Dane Evans took to the mound for the Leopards and struck out Panther lead off batter Dillon Longino to get things going. Jack Marek reached on an infield hit and went to 2nd on a wild pitch. Then Dillon Peltier hit a sinking liner to center that was caught on a great diving catch by Kade Kucera when then doubled off Marek at 2nd and it appeared the Leps were in business. In the bottom of the first Will McGonagle drew a lead off walk and went to 2nd as Kucera reached on an error on 2nd baseman Marek. Doogie Van Wie then singled to load the bases. Van Vleck could not capitolize as Danbury Ace Garrett Zimmerle settled to retire the next 3 batters in order to leave the score at 0-0. Garrett then led off the 2nd with a double and scored on a one out single by Justin Crumrine to put Danbury ahead 1-0. Van Vleck answered as they again loaded the bases with one out and only scored as Evans crossed home on a RBI ground out by Kucera. Missed opportunities in game 1 and 2 would come back to haunt the Leopards. After an error and a single by Danbury to start the 3rd, Evans got an out before walking Peltier to load the bases for Zimmerle. Zimmerle then unloaded the bases with a shot over the centerfield wall and Leopards found themselves down 5-1. Evans retired the next two batters to finish the inning. Defensive problems then plagued the Leps again as Van Vleck made 4 errors in the field that would help the Panthers score 8 runs in the 4th to blow the game open to 13-1. Phillip Wilson came in to relieve Evans in the 4th. Evans pitched very well and other than the two hits by Zimmerle no Panther hitter really hit him hard. Several ground balls were misfielded that led to several unearned runs. Van Vleck faced new pitcher Peltier in the 4th and still continued to hit the ball hard but just right at Panther fielders. Adrian Martinez came in to pitch the 5th and Van Vleck turned its 2nd double play of the evening to get the first two outs and Martinez struck out Zimmerle to end the inning. Van Vleck made some noise in the bottom of the 5th but was not able to score any runs and the season ended with a 13-1 loss to the Panthers. Van Vleck finished the season at 15-15 and this is the furthest Van Vleck has been since 2003.
I am very excited that we have no seniors on this team. Losing to Danbury is nothing to be ashamed of since they have a very good chance to win it all again. Also, many people believe that Region 4 is the toughest baseball region in the state so nothing is easy. We made to the Regional quarter finals which means we were one of 32 teams left playing. Nothing to be ashamed of. Look out for us next year.