Newspaper Article Credit: Corpus Christi Caller-times.

Calallen denied No. 10 With coach in stands, Wildcats must wait for 10th visit to state By JAVIER BECERRA Caller-Times June 4, 2006 ROBSTOWN - The start suggested one possible outcome. The end told another.

Once it was over, the only response was silence.

New Braunfels (29-5 overall) pulled out a gritty 3-2 victory over Calallen in a one-game playoff for the Region IV-4A championship. The Wildcats (33-9) sought a return to the University Interscholastic League state baseball championships for a 10th time, but the chance to defend last year's title faded in an unexpected way Saturday afternoon at Fairgrounds Field.

Calallen ace Ryan Duke struck out the side to open the game before giving up three runs on two hits and four walks in the second inning. Already trailing by two runs, the mood worsened in the fourth when home plate umpire Joe Medina ejected coach Steve Chapman for questioning the strike zone.

Chapman watched from the stands as New Braunfels senior Jeremy Erben struck out Duke to end the game.

"We had our chances," Duke said. "We just couldn't get it done."

A junior, Duke fanned the game's first three batters on 15 pitches, seven of those during the first at-bat. The Wildcats then used Duke's start to generate some momentum at the plate.

Jeramie Marek led off with a walk, but was caught stealing on a throw from catcher Caleb Curtis to second baseman Cody Miller. After Wes Callihan went down swinging for the second out, Duke reached on an error by Miller and was replaced at first by courtesy runner Matt Garza.

Steven Vidaurri lifted a base hit to left three pitches later to drive in Garza and give Calallen a 1-0 lead.

The top of the second went much different for Duke, allowing New Braunfels to take control.

Curtis walked to lead off and went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Miller. Shane Fisher's ensuing single to left drove in Curtis to tie the game at 1, the first of three in the inning for the Unicorns.

Fisher ended up at third when catcher Paul Flores botched the throw to second on a steal attempt. Duke got Calvin Hoffman to pop up for the second out, but a walk to Bryan Webb and base hit by Clayton Mott loaded the bases.

After striking out his first time up, Kurtis Kostan came through with a two-run single that made it a 3-1 New Braunfels lead. Jordan Herring walked to load the bases again, but Erben popped up to end the threat.

That's all the Unicorns needed to earn the program's first trip to the state tournament since 1983.

"It was just that one inning," Duke said. "I walked two guys, we made an error and they got a clutch hit. That was pretty much it."

Erben, meanwhile, retired seven of the next eight batters he faced. He made it eight of nine when he struck out Sean Hoelscher with one out in the bottom of the fourth.

Hoelscher was at the plate with a 1-2 count when Medina called time to address Chapman. After a brief discussion near home plate, Medina motioned for Chapman to leave the field.

"I thought (the strike zone was an issue). That's why I watched the last three innings in the bleachers," Chapman said. "I didn't think the guy was being very consistent, and I got tossed from the game. That's the way it goes."

New Braunfels head coach Doug Edwards was an assistant at Calallen from 1993-2000 and said he recently talked to Chapman about disputing pitches.

"I mentioned something to him last week that he can't keep doing that because there's going to be a staff that's going to do something about it," Edwards said. "Sure enough, he's out there arguing balls and strikes."

Erben improved to 13-1 and hasn't lost since a 5-1 setback to New Braunfels Canyon in the 27-4A opener. He allowed only four hits, all in different innings, and escaped with the bases loaded in the top of the fifth.

"He just rears back and throws it up there and says hit it, " Chapman said. "He throws hard enough and has the breaking pitches to where he can get by with that. We just didn't get the job done."

Calallen narrowly missed joining a group of five teams in the state with 10 or more state tournament appearances. Lubbock Monterey leads the bunch with 14 trips to the final four, followed by Brenham with 13, South San with 12 and Duncanville and Houston Bellaire with 10 each.

The Wildcats have been to state five times this decade, having advanced in 2000, 2002, 2003 and 2005. The program won its first title in 2000 and another last season.

Chapman has no problem seeing New Braunfels move on this year.

"If we're not going to state, then I'm glad they are," he said. "Doug is a good coach and a good friend."

The Regional Semifinals: The Calallen Wildcats on the 3rd base line versus the New Braunfels Unicorns on the first baseline. A 3-2 ball game, they don't get much better than this thriller.

Junior Ryan Duke in a fine pitching performance, one pitch that didn't break, and one error produced three runs for the Unicorns, and with Ace Jeremy Erben on the Unicorn mound that was too much to overcome.

With bases loaded, and two Unicorn outs, The batter drilled a hot liner toward third base, the runners on all three bases were off and running for home, but #2 Wes Callihan, moved left, a notch, scooped the baseball, and then he ran and stepped on third base for the third out, and killed a possible rout-threat. Great Job. Wes Callihan!

Calallen's Great Tailgate Party. The Calallen booster were awesome, supportive and greeted the Calallen Fightin' Wildcats. Nothing new, the booster have done it all year long. Great Boosters.

Tailgate Pary time.
The Calallen Boosters were here to support our Fightin' Wildcats.	Great surprise, Patsy Chapman is here with Nephew and niece, and Coach steve Chapman. He has taken the Wildcats to the State Tournament Nine times.
The Mighty Wildcats arrived at the Fairgrounds Field in a yellow Calallen School bus.	Willy-the-Wildcat, Cheerleaders and mighty Miles Callihan are ready for the game.
The Wildcats march to the playing field.	Roxanne joins her mom-in-law, and cousins-in-law.
Tracy and Miles Callihan love their Wildcats.	Steven and Pat Vidaurri, and two more boosters --CREAM THE CORN. That's one cool sign.
Mr. Voorhees, Mr. Glenn Shick, and Mr. Ray McCall. Glenn and Ray enoying some lunch.	The Junior Varsity and Freshmen members check out the routine warm-up by the Varsity Team.
Kristen and Blaine are supporting Lawrence Francis, their third missing member, Courtney must have the 3rd piece of the puzzle --Bryant.
The Wildcats take home plate. The umps take the field.	Ryan Duke strikes out the first batter.
Ryan Duke strikes out the second batter.	Ryan Duke strikes out the third batter, Paul Flores drops the ball, but he fires to first in time for the third out. Ryan was on, 15 pitches to get the first 3-batters.
#8 Pitcher, senior Jeremy Erben, having a great year, 12-1, (Will be 13-1 after this game.) Era an outstanding 0.54, and limiting the opposing batter to a batting average of .107.	#5 Jeramie Marek draws a walk.
#17 Ryan Duke belts the ball for a base hit.	Ryan Duke gives a low-five to his courtesy runner, #18 Mark Garza.
#10 Steven Vidaurri drills an RBI signal as...,	#18 speedy freshman Mark Garza scoots on home for the first run of the game.
Pitcher Ryan Duke picks up the bunt and fires to senior Bucky Bryant on first.	Outfielder Sean Hoelscher hauls the fly ball in, and right in front of the scoreboard.
#7 Ryan Miller drills it one yard from going over the fence -- first out.	#12 senior Bucky Bryant strikes out,
Blue #13 Caleb Curtis strikes out.	#10 Shane Fisher is thrown out at first. Good catch by Bucky.
#11 Bryan Webb is called out by the umpire.
Coach Chapman and Umpire Medina have a few words. Coach Chapman is asked to leave the field, so much for freedom of speech.	Base hit! for senior #16 Paul Flores.
#4 Justin Voorhees comes in to run for Paul Flores.	#9 Shane Athans bunts and moves Justin to 2nd.
#7 Jordan Herring keeps an eye on Jeremy Erben, his pitcher, and keeps Voorhees close to the bag.	Coach Lopez applauds Ryan Duke's Walk.
Speedy Mark Garza comes in and to run for Ryan Duke. Marks and Ryan exchange a low-five.	Junior Sean Hoelscher makes the catch. #10 Steven Vidaurri screeches to a halt. Steven also made a fine catch earlier in left field, right by the fence.
Another fine catch out in the outfield, in front of the "Miller Me" Sign.	Coach Doug Edwards, Calallen assistant coach 1993-2000, checks Ryan Duke, and gives signals to his runner on first.
#7 Ryan Miller earns the Walk.	#12 Bucky Bryant gets a Walk.
Fine Catch by Sean Hoelscher. The umpires lifts his arm to signal out.	Great double-play by pitcher Ryan Duke, he catches the high bunts for an out, and fires to first base to for the 3rd out on the runner who was on his way to 2nd base. Cool play.
#13 Kris Guerrero drills it hard and high, but it was knock down, and Kris was thrown out at first.	Sophomore Jeramy Marek scores on Erben's Wild pitch. Unicorns 3 Wildcats 2.
The final battle between Erben and Duke. Great competitors, Erben strikes out Ryan to end the game.
Coach Chapman gives his final 2006 interview.	The final score, 3 runs in the 2nd inning was the bummer.
Good sportmanship by the Wildcats, in losing, they still show some class.	Pitcher Ryan Duke gives his interview. He is a junior and will be back in 2007.
Coach Chapman gives the final post de-brief.	#21 David DeLeon, Last week's winner against Uvalde, gives me a drink of water, it was a blistering hot day, and I was getting de-hydrated. Thank you David.
Seniors Lawrence F. "Bucky" Bryant and Ryan J. Miller, two proven baseball Texas Class 4A State Champions will be missed in 2007.	Junior Ryan Duke, also a State Champion will be back in 2007.
A Word for a fine ex-Calallen Coach Doug Edwards, in 2004 the Region 4 State winner came through Here, Boerne in 2004, and Calallen in 2005. Keep the region 4 tradiion alive. Best of luck at State, you got a winner in Jeremy Erben.

Senior Ryan Miller, First and secondbaseman, designated hitter. Fine year, Ryan Miller came back from a knee injury to assist the Wildcats reach this level in the playoff. Fine Young man -- a competitor.

Webmaster's Note: Thanks to all who did a fine job to make these Wildcats, the best they could be. Thanks to Coach Chapman, Coaching staff, fans and booster club, and especially their invitation for the banquet and the final awesome tailgate party. See you in 2007.

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