Tigers ousted from 3A playoffs
Giddings prevails by 8-6 and 8-3 scores
By MIKE KONVICKA mkonvicka@journal-spectator.com

Staff photo by Mike Konvicka Wharton's Lucas Munoz drives a baseball during Saturday's Class 3A Region IV playoff game against the Giddings Buffaloes.

SEALY - The number 8 turned out to be a lucky number for Giddings' baseball team in a Class 3A bi-district playoff series against Wharton at Matt 'Mutt' Strusell Field over the weekend.

The Buffaloes rallied to beat the Tigers 8-6 in a four-hour marathon that ended after midnight on Friday.

Giddings then broke 3-3 tie Saturday to win 8-3 to advance to the area round of the playoffs and take on Kingwood Park later this week.

It was an emotional series for Wharton coach Floyd Ciruti and his players as they finished with a 13-14 record after winning five straight district games to make the playoffs.

"It really hurts," said Ciruti who stepped down as coach after 33 years at Wharton. "We made a good run to get in the playoffs and I'm very proud of these guys.

Wharton didn't get any big breaks, especially in the first game after building a 6-2 lead.

"We had a chance to win both games," said Ciruti. "Some go for you and some go against you."

In Saturday's game, Wharton jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first.

Chris Acuna reached on a fielder's choice and Kris Looper walked. Michael Mata followed with an RBI single. Looper then scored on a fielder's choice ground ball by Brian Cervenka.

Giddings answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning to go up 3-2

With Ethan Kmock and Ty Marlow on base, Rush Plumlee belted a tworun double went to third on a throw to the plate. Later, Trey Masek singled home Plumlee.

Wharton tied the game in the third when Looper crushed the ball over the left field fence with two outs.

Giddings answered with one run in the bottom of the inning to go up 4-3

Brooks Marlow singled with one out and stole second. Walks to Masek and Gonzales load the bases with two out. Dock drew a free pass to force home Marlow.

Giddings made it 5-3 in the bottom of the fourth as Ty Marlow scored on a wild pitch.

The Buffaloes padded their lead to 7-3 with two runs in the bottom of the inning.

Looper reached based in the top of the sixth for the Tigers but Gidding's Berry retired the next three batters. Giddings made it 8-3 in the bottom of the inning.

The Tigers were retired in order in the bottom of the inning to end the game.

Friday's playoff series opener was delayed for 45 minutes after a bank of lights in left field went out.

In the second, Giddings left the bases loaded without scoring. Wharton then went up 1-0 in the bottom half.

Catcher Taylor Ustynik opened with a walk and Kris Kubecka went in as a courtesy runner. David Horta reached on a fielder's choice and went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Lucas Munoz. Ben Williams followed with an RBI double.

The Tigers picked up two more runs in the third to go up 3-0 as Ustynik homered with Cervenka on base.

Giddings made it 3-2 in the fourth. Trey Macek scored on a sac fly by Vincent Gonzales and Lucas Socha scored on a RBI triple by Dock.

The Tigers answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning to go up 6-2.

Mata drew a bases loaded walk bring in one run and Cervenka followed with a two run single.

Giddings made it a 6-3 game in the fifth as Ty Marlow doubled and later scored on a bloop hit by Brooks Marlow. The Buffaloes tied the score in the top of the seventh scoring a run on a passed ball, a RBI double by Macek and a Wharton error. Wharton threatened in the bottom of the inning but came up empty when Rivera was robbed of an extra base hit as Dock caught a drive at the fence in center.

Giddings picked up two runs in the eighth to go up 8-6.

In a side note, Wharton's Rivera was selected to play on the Greater Houston Baseball Coaches Association All-Star game on June 17 at Reckling Park on the Rice University campus

In other area post-season results, 24-3A runner up Needville beat Caldwell in a three-game series.

The Bluejays won the first game 4-3, lost the second 10-8 and won the third 5-4.

Needville now plays Bridge City in an area round series.

District 24-3A champion Sweeny Bulldogs, earned a first round bye.

They will play Hardin-Jefferson in a three-game series Friday and Saturday at Thorne Stadium in Aldine.