It seemed that Pearland and Ridge Point were evenly matched as the two teams faced off in the Class 6A Region III semifinals in a best-of-three series.
Pearland was attempting to reach the regional finals for the first time since 2014 while Ridge Point was looking to advance to the regional final for the first time since 2019 when it reached the state championship game that year.
In Game 1, Pearland jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a run in the top of the second and the third innings, but Ridge Point answered with four runs in the bottom of the third to take a 4-2 lead. The Panthers would add two more in the fifth that would be a 6-2 final score.
Pearland outhit Ridge Point 7 to 6, but five errors and five walks helped the Panthers on offense.
Leading hitters for the Oilers was John Moya (2-for-3, 1 run) and Brett Smajstrla (2-for-3, 1 RBI).
Ridge Point snapped the 17-game win streak for Pearland.
In Game 2, Pearland was facing elimination after losing the first game in the best-of-three series.
Pearland’s Caden Ferraro took the mound against Ridge Point in the must-win contest and pitched a jewel limiting the Panthers. Ferraro (12-0) went over the 100-strikeout mark and has 104 on the season.
“The key to playing in May, is slowing the game down,” Pearland coach David Rogers said. “After we settled our feet down, we made plays. It was evident, we played really well.”
The Oilers’ two runs came in the last of the fourth following a single by Justin Ogle. His two-out single to right brought in John Moya from second, and Brett Smajstrla came around to score on a throwing error for a 2-0 lead that stood as the final score.
While Ferraro allowed only two hits while striking out eight, the Oilers were able to capitalize on the only hit they got against the Panthers in the tight pitching duel. Ridge Point committed four errors and Pearland had three miscues in the field.
“You face elimination, but we told the kids, it’s a game that you have to play in the moment,” Rogers said. “And Caden Ferraro played in the moment.”
In Game 3, the season would continue for one team and the other team would be hanging up their gloves.
Anthony Avalos opened the game with a double down the left-field line. The Oilers shortstop scored from third on Brett Smajstrla’s infield single for a 1-0 lead.
Ridge Point knocked out starting pitcher Daniel Ontiveros in the second following Owen Farris’ one-out single to left that scored J.J. Kennett from second base, knotting the score 1-1.
Justin Vossos scored the go-ahead run in the fourth on a wild pitch by Dylan Kalmus, Pearland’s third pitcher who struck out four over his 3 1/3 innings of relief.
Carter Groen and Parker Martin had two hits apiece for Ridge Point, which collected eight hits. The Panthers added two runs in the sixth, highlighted by Groen’s RBI double to deep left that scored Mason Dossett and a sacrifice fly by Travis Vlasek for the 4-2 final score.
Leading hitters for Pearland was Avalos (1-for-4, 1 run), John Moya (1-for-4, 1 RBI), Ferraro (1-for-3), Smajstrla (1-for-4, 1 RBI), Ogle (1-for-3), Isaiah Castaneda (2-for-3), and Logan Scott (1-for-3, 1 run).
