Boerne Champion recorded a 5-run inning late in Thursday’s playoff opener with Buda Hays and that was the difference in the game played at Charger Field.
Champion was trailing 2-1 going into the bottom of the sixth but rallied by scoring 5 runs and went on to handle the Hawks, 6-2.
The Chargers (28-4-1) and Hawks (19-11-1) moved Friday’s Game 2 to Saturday at Hays, 1 p.m. A third game will follow if needed.
Champion was patient in Thursday’s game and made their move after Hays starter Chase Kume left the game after throwing 95 pitches.
Kume had only given up 2 hits and a run at the point but walked the first batter he faced in the sixth, Brody Bendele, and was replaced by Mikey Munoz.
After a pop up for the first out, Munoz walked Austin Garritano to put two runners on. That’s when Zak Al-Arashi delivered the hit that changed the game.
Al-Arashi crushed a liner to center field for a triple that scored Bendele and Garritano to give the Chargers their first lead of the game at 3-2.
Chargers coach Ben Woodchick said Al-Arashi came through at crunch time.
“Zak has had some clutch hits throughout the year,” he said. “In district he had a big week for us where he had two hits in one game off the bench, and he’s been hot since.”
Another walk and a single made it 4-2 after Jaxson Denman scored a run on the Lyndon Austin single. A hit batter and a Cal Isley single brought in Ethan Jensen and Austin for the 6-2 lead.
Woodchick said if they could get Kume’s pitch count high enough, he knew they would have a better chance against the Hawks’ bullpen.
“We’ve had to get to bullpens throughout district to get a really good hit off,” he said. “I think we stole the momentum at that point.”
Ethan Coleman started on the hill for the Chargers and left in the sixth after an error and a walk put two Hawks on base with no outs.
Brody Eisert entered in relief in the sixth and walked the first batter he faced to load the bases with no outs. Eisert fanned the next Hawk and then the Charger defense turned a 6-4-3 double play to end the threat.
In the seventh, a Kume doubled and a walk put two runners on, and Woodchick made a pitching change and put in closer Cal Isley.
Isley got the next two Hawks batters to fly out to centerfield to secure the victory.
Woodchick said Coleman, Eisert and Isley showed their pitching depth. Eisert earned the win and Isley picked up the save.
“We warmed up five tonight,” he said. “That’s just how our staff is built.”
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