BUDA — The Calallen baseball team has loads of playoff pedigree and a roster full of players that have played for a championship multiple times.
But two newcomers — on a roster full of upperclassmen — played huge roles in making sure the Wildcats will defend their state championship next week at Dell Diamond.
A day after freshman Jimmy Tipton came on in relief and helped Calallen grab an extra-inning win against Bullard in Game 1, freshman Aiden Gonzalez came on in relief of Drayton Mitchell and recorded the final five outs to help the Wildcats sweep the series with a 14-4 Game 2 win.
Gonzalez allowed one hit in the last two innings of work after the Panthers had nine hits and four runs against Mitchell in the early going.
“We know that he has that type of ability and he doesn’t get rattled or anything,” Calallen coach Steve Chapman said. “He came in and did a great job.”
The freshman steadying the ship allowed the Calallen bats, which had been strong all day, to put the game away.
Blake Quinn smashed the third offering he saw for two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth to invoke the run rule and send Calallen back to Round Rock.
Quinn’s blast was one of three home runs and eight extra-base hits for the Wildcats, which put up four runs in three separate innings, including the bottom of the first to take quick command of the game.
Bullard pulled even briefly the third inning at 4-4, before Wyatt Duke ignited the Calallen offense for good with a solo shot, which was the catalyst for a four-run third frame and the Wildcats never trailed again.
“I felt like when I hit that home run, the whole team jumped up and it pulled the energy up and it was electric after that.”
Dallin DeBellas started the game with a three-run bases clearing double in the first inning. The catcher added two more hits and another RBI as he finished 3 for 3 with a pair of doubles and a triple, leading the Calallen offensive barrage, which accounted for 13 hits against three Bullard pitchers.
“Yesterday we started off a little slow with one in the first, but today we were looking to get after them early and just keep on them so we could take this one home,” DeBellas said. “Between me, Wyatt and Jagger (Batek) we’ve been doing this all year. We go out there and string together hits and that has allowed us to put up runs.”
The 5, 6, 7 and 8 hitters in Calallen’s lineup (Duke, DeBellas, Batek and Aiden Flores) went a combined 7 for 8 with 9 RBIs for the Wildcats in the clincher.
“Our lineup all year long 1-9 has been good,” Chapman said. “If one isn’t hitting, the other picks them up and gets things going. It isn’t a surprise to me.”
Calallen, along with London, which advanced to the Class 3A Division I title game, will look to become the first team from the Coastal Bend to win consecutive state championships since Robstown accomplished the feat in 1991 and 1992.
The Wildcats will face Pleasant Grove at 9 a.m. Friday, June 5 at Dell Diamond.
This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Calallen baseball routs Bullard to punch ticket back to state title game
Reporting by Quinton Martinez, Corpus Christi Caller Times / Corpus Christi Caller Times
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
