Texas Collegiate League

Premium Summer Ball, Texas Style

League News

COPPELL FORCES GAME 3 IN CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES


Brandon Belt's three-run double in the seventh inning propelled Coppell to a 4-1 victory over McKinney Saturday night, forcing a third and final game in the Texas Collegiate League championship series.  Belt's two-out flyball hooked toward the rightfield line, out of the reach of Marshal outfielder Zach Chamberlin, clearing the bases and breaking a 1-1 tie.

The loss snapped an eight-game winning streak in TCL playoff games for McKinney. The Marshals are now 3-1 in the 2007 playoffs after running the table to go 5-0 en route to the 2006 championship.

The Copperheads' big inning began as designated hitter Jeff Nutt lead off the top of the seventh with a sharp single off the glove of third baseman Tyler Hohman. The hit prompted Marshal coach Kyle Hope to bring in reliever Mike Lee in place of starter Jonathan Runnels. Tyler Goolsby, who had entered the game as a defensive replacement at catcher one inning earlier, dropped a well-executed sacrifice bunt to move Nutt to second base, followed by Pat McCrory's comebacker to the mound that sent Nutt to third base.

Lee then issued back-to-back walks to Sean Jones and Jonas Fester, the no. 1 and 2 hitters in the Coppell lineup. Belt, the keystone of the Copperhead offense during the playoffs, then delivered his double. Belt attempted to move to third as Chamberlin made a strong throw rightfield to almost catch Fester at the plate, but a perfect relay from catcher Bryan Holaday to Hohman retired Belt. Belt, who will transfer from San Jacinto College to the University of Texas for the 2008 season, now has six rbi in the playoffs while going 5-for-13, with the double and two home runs.

Garrett Clyde earned the win, working two perfect frames in relief of Coppell starter Lucus Engle. Engle permitted a leadoff walk to Trae Williams in the bottom of the first. Williams stole second and then scored on a soft one-out single to center field by Brandon Glover.  Glover is now 3-for-3 with runners in scoring position in his combined opportunities in the Hornsby Division series and the championship series.

Coppell tied the game in the top of the fifth as Nutt established his pattern for the night of leading off innings with singles and then moving to second on a sacrifice bunt, this one by Mikey Horn. McCrory pushed a bunt toward first base, forcing Derek Wiley off the bag to make the play. Wiley picked up the ball and made his throw as McCrory and second baseman Williams arrived at the bag together. Both runner and defender went down in a collision and the ball went to the fence, allowing Nutt to score easily.

Kyle Walker notched a three-up, three-down eighth before Jake McCarter earned the save by retiring the Marshals in order in the ninth.

The deciding game is scheduled for a 7:05 p.m. start Sunday at Coppell's Snake Pit at the Coppell ISD sports complex. The TCL championship title comes down to a final third game for the third time in the league's four-year history. Coppell took the first TCL title over Graham, 5-4, in 2004. McKinney fell to Denton, 3-1, in the 2005 winner-take-all-game.




Search Archive »





Browse by Month »

December 2023
August 2023
May 2023
August 2022
July 2022
June 2022
May 2022
April 2022
August 2021
July 2021
June 2021
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
April 2020
March 2020
July 2019
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
December 2016
November 2016
August 2016
July 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
August 2015
July 2015
November 2014
August 2014
July 2014
May 2014
April 2014
November 2013
August 2013
July 2013
May 2013
March 2013
November 2012
August 2012
July 2012
June 2012
May 2012
April 2012
March 2012
February 2012
November 2011
October 2011
August 2011
July 2011
June 2011
May 2011
March 2011
September 2010
August 2010
July 2010
June 2010
May 2010
April 2010
March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
December 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
April 2008
February 2008
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
August 2006
July 2006
June 2006
May 2006
April 2006
March 2006
February 2006
December 2005
November 2005
October 2005
September 2005
August 2005
July 2005
June 2005
May 2005
April 2005
March 2005
February 2005
January 2005