Thorndale sweeps Ganado, set for Iola

By MARIE BAKKEN

Champion Sports

The Thorndale Bulldogs (21-4) swept their first playoff opponent and is set to take on the next.

Thorndale will face Iola in the area round of the Class 2A state baseball playoffs.  The Bulldogs beat Iola 10-0 Wednesday night at Bryan High School. The second game of the series is set for 7 p.m. Friday, back at Bryan.  If needed the third game will be Saturday at 2 p.m. back at the same place.

Iola is the second place team out of District 26-2A and defeated Deweyville in the bi-district round.

Thorndale was champion of 27-2A.

In their bi-district series, the Bulldogs defeated Ganado 9-2 on Friday and 7-0 on Saturday.  Both games were played at Texas Lutheran University in Seguin.

Thorndale head coach Kelly Kuhl said his team had some first round nerves in the opening game, but overcame and was able to take the series.

“I think we were a little shaky the first game.  I told the kids on Saturday that looking back to the night before that no one played bad, we just didn’t put a team game together,” Coach Kuhl said.  “We responded and played a lot better game on Saturday.”

In the series opener on Friday night, the Bulldogs put up seven hits to Ganado’s five.  Ganado’s defense committed six errors to Thorndale’s three.

Logan Fisher earned the win on the mound for the Bulldogs, going all seven innings and striking out 12 batters.

Bulldog base runners stole six bases in the contest.

Scott Guzman was three for four with a double, stolen base and scored a run.

Lane Niemtschk and Ashton Schaefer were both one for four in the contest, with Niemtschk adding two runs batted in and scoring two runs himself.  Schaefer also scored a run.

Trey Ortiz and Ryan Biar each went one for three.  Ortiz recorded a double, a run and a stolen base.  Biar had an RBI and crossed home plate once.

Ashton Albert had two stolen bases, scored one run and had a run batted in, with Mason Fisher also scoring once and collecting one RBI.

Kellen Hubnik recorded two stolen bases and scored a run.

In the series winner for Thorndale on Saturday afternoon, the Bulldogs garnered seven hits to Ganado’s four in the 7-0 victory.

Coleby Driver did not allow a run in his seven innings of work.  He gave up four hits and walked none.  Driver struck out five Ganado batters.

Guzman had a standout game at the plate, driving in four runs as he went two for four with a triple and two stolen bases.  He also scored twice.

Ortiz was two for three with a double and one run.  Biar was one for two with an RBI, stolen base and two runs scored.  Mason Fisher and Albert were both one for three, with Albert adding a stolen base and a run.

Logan Fisher had an RBI in the contest.  Cory Huber, Niemtschk and Hubnik each scored a run, with Hubnik also stealing a base.