Season ends in shocking fashion

For every incredible moment in sports, one team has to be on the wrong end.

So it was with the Aledo Bearcats Saturday at Cleburne High School’s baseball field as they fell short in their quest for the team’s first state tournament berth since 2015. Instead, it is Mansfield Legacy playing this weekend in Round Rock after a come-from-behind 13-9 victory in the third game of their best-of-three Class 5A Region I finals series.

The game featured the most improbable comebacks. The Bearcats (29-12) led 9-1 entering the top of the seventh and the team was seemingly on its way to state. However, the Broncos (32-9) scored 12 runs to overtake Aledo.

Legacy had won the opening game the night before, 8-5, in eight innings after the Bearcats had rallied to tie it in the bottom of the seventh with four runs. Then, in the first game Saturday, Aledo had little trouble winning 12-4 in a game that was highlighted by Max Belyeu’s grand slam home run.

“We were just trying to find somebody who could get an out,” Aledo coach Chad Barry said of the seventh-inning collapse. “I tip my hats to those guys over there (Legacy). They never say die.”

Legacy is making its first trip to state in team history. The school opened in 2007. For Aledo, it’s the second straight year the Bearcats have lost in the regional final. They lost to Amarillo in three games last season.

Legacy’s rally began with a solo home run by Parker Ibrahimi, his second of the day as he also homered in the previous game. That was followed by six singles, four walks, an error, two sacrifice flies and a balk. The inning also featured four pitching changes by the Bearcats.

“We felt like we had them right where we wanted,” Barry said. “But then it just fell apart. We came back from six once and tied a game in the seventh, but I’ve never seen anything like this.”

Junior outfielder Trace Mazon, who had four hits in the series including a home run and double, said, “It didn’t seem real. Baseball’’s a crazy game. You set down for one second and it’ll bite you in the butt.”

He went on to say the loss will serve as inspiration for next season.

“This will help us work harder all offseason. We are not going to let this happen again. We do not want to ever feel like this again.”

Aledo jumped out early in Game 3 with four runs in the first inning, highlighted by Ryan Jones’ two-run single. They extended their advantage to 7-0 after two as Belyeu singled in two more runs, and added single runs in the fourth and fifth.

Adrian Guzman went 4-for-4 in the loss, finishing the series with a team-high six hits.

Game 1

After Mazon led off the bottom of the first with a solo home run for the Bearcats, Legacy responded with three runs in the third and two in the fifth to take a 5-1 lead into the bottom of the seventh.

Then, the Bearcats, aided by two Legacy errors, two walks and a hit batter, scored four runs on just two hits to tie the game. David Jones’ single closed the gap to 5-4 and Mazon tied it with another single.

However, the Broncos countered with three runs in the top of the eighth to take the lead in the series.

Game 2

A five-run outburst in the second inning put Aledo in command, highlighted by Mazon’s two-RBI double. Then, after Legacy narrowed the gap to 5-4, the Bearcats came back with a run in the sixth, followed by six more in the top of the seventh as Belyeu blasted a grand slam home run, the first of the senior’s high school career.

“I knew it when I hit it. It felt good,” said the outfielder who is headed to play for the University of Texas next season. “My favorite memory of playing here is everybody giving it their all for the team. Nobody wanted it for themselves.”

Hunter Rudel got the pitching victory, going five innings, giving up no earned runs, scattering four hits, walking three and striking out four. Guzman pitched the final two innings, striking out three and not allowing a baserunner.

Final thoughts

The Bearcats’ season ended short of their goal of state, but it was, nonetheless, another memorable campaign for Barry and his squad. They won the District 5-5A championship, posted an 11-game winning streak en route to a second straight regional final, and cracked the state’s top 10 in the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association poll.

“I think any time you end the season in the postseason it was a success, and when you make the regional finals it’s especially good,” Barry said. “But that doesn’t ease the pain today. But I am so proud of these guys for the season they had. They made Aledo proud.”

Aledo series batting

Adrian Guzman, 6-14.

David Jones, 5-11, walk, 3 RBI.

Trace Mazon, 4-11, home run, double, walk, 4 RBI.

Max Belyeu 4-11, home run, 2 walks, hit by pitch, 6 RBI.

Andrew Cambre, 4-11, 3 walks, 3 RBI.

Ryan Jones, 4-11, walk, 3 RBI.

Estevan Flores, 3-10, 3 walks, 2 hit by pitch, RBI.

Cade Pulido, 2-8, 2 walks.

Ethan Jaques, 1-11, walk, 2 hit by pitch, RBI.

Aledo series pitching

Carter Shands, 0-0, 6 innings, 4 hits, 1 run (0 earned), 1 strikeout, 4 walks, 1 hit batter.

Jaques, 0-0, 5 innings, 8 hits, 5 runs (0 earned), 7 strikeouts, 0 walks, 1 hit batter.

Hunter Rudell, 1-0, 5 innings, 6 hits, 7 runs (4 earned), 6 strikeouts, 4 walks, 0 hit batters.

Preston Clark, 0-1, 2.2 innings, 2 hits, 3 earned runs, 4 strikeouts, 5 walks, 0 hit batters.

Adrian Guzman, 0-0, 2.1 innings, 4 hits, 5 earned runs, 4 strikeouts, 1 walk, 0 hit batters.

Ryan Jones, 0-0, 0.2 innings, 3 hits, 1 earned run, 0 strikeouts, 0 walks, 0 hit batters.

Boston Dwinell, 0-1, 0.1 innings, 0 hits, 3 earned runs, 0 strikeouts, 2 walks, 1 hit batter.