 Athletics
2010 NEWS:
Rudder's Matt Smith hits an RBI double in the second inning of the Rangers' 21-1 victory over Houston Sharpstown.
Rudder's Matthew Voneiff makes the turn at second on a double play attempt while Navasota's Jacob Malek slides into the bag during the fourth inning of their game Tuesday night. The Rangers won 11-3.
BASEBALL WINS FRANKLIN CLASSIC, Saturday, February 27, 2010 Rudder over Franklin 10-6 in Championship Game Congratulations to Will Johnson & Kyle Danford Selected to the All-Tournament
Team
2009 ARCHIVES:
Rudder's Matthew Fritsche scores past Madisonville catcher Mike Nava on a double steal in the fourth inning Monday night at Rudder Field.
Rudder enjoys easy victory Rudder's baseball team got a look at the learning curve from a different angle Monday night, April 20. The first-year varsity squad experienced what it's like to be the favorites, an unusual situation for a team comprised of sophomores and freshmen. The Rangers handled the role well, taking control early and cruising to a 10-1 victory over Madisonville at Rudder Field. In addition to dealing with expectations, the Rangers also assured themselves of finishing their first season with a winning record. Rudder improved to 11-9-1 overall and 4-7 in District 24-3A with one game remaining, at home against Navasota on Friday.
"You always hope to do better, but I think the kids have really competed this year," Rudder coach Ken Reinhardt said. "Of the four teams battling for playoff spots [in 24-3A], we lost to three of those by one run. This district has some very good pitchers, and we've seen everybody's No. 1. I told the kids that's going to make us better in the future." Madisonville (2-15-1, 0-10) did not figure to offer the same type of challenge as the playoff contenders Rudder played within a run -- Navasota, Rockdale and third-ranked Taylor. The game against the Mustangs, which was postponed
Friday because of rain, provided Reinhardt with a chance to stress the importance of playing hard in every game.
"In baseball, one of the key things you have to learn is to be able to stay focused throughout a game, no matter who you're playing," Reinhardt said. "If you don't, it usually comes back and bites you." Errors eat away at teams, and the Rangers played nearly clean defense Monday. Rudder committed one error on an errant pickoff throw, but the miscue did not turn into a run thanks in part to a nice defensive play by third baseman Matthew Smith. Later in the game, starting shortstop Kyle Danford moved to third and combined with first baseman Tim Deahl on a pretty defensive play.
"Any time you don't have errors and you don't walk many people, you give yourself a chance to win," Reinhardt said. Reinhardt also was pleased with how well the Rangers hitters put the ball in play. There were several looping liners and pop flies among Rudder's 10 hits, but the Rangers struck out just once.
Austin Baron went 3 for 3 with a couple of opposite-field singles and an infield hit to lead the Rudder attack. Matthew Fritsche and Deahl had two hits apiece, while Danford drove in two runs. Freshman left-hander Blake Kopetsky, who has served as the Rudder closer, made his first high school start and earned his first win. Kopetsky allowed one run and three hits in four innings, striking out five. The
hard-throwing Smith pitched the last three innings to notch a save. Smith struck out six and did not allow a ball out of the infield.
Madisonville 010 000 0 -- 1 3 5 Rudder 320 140 x -- 10 10 1 Blake Kopetsky, Matthew Smith (5) and Austin O'Neil. Dalton McVey, Stephen Campbell (4), Vance Blussell (6) and Mike Nava. W -- Kopetsky. L -- McVey. S -- Smith. 2B -- Madisonville, Donald Schwerter; Rudder, Matthew Fritsche, Kyle Danford, Timothy Deahl. Records: Rudder 11-9-1 overall, 4-7 in
District 24-3A; Madisonville 2-15-1, 0-10. Time: 2:08. Attendance: 65 (estimated). Next: Rudder will host Navasota at 7 p.m. Friday
Rudder falls to Cameron on road CAMERON -- The Rudder baseball team dropped another District 24-3A game, falling 6-3 to Cameron on Tuesday. Will Johnson (2-4) was the losing pitcher. Teammate Matt Fritsche was 4 for 4 at the plate, while Kyle Danford and Dugan each had RBIs. Rudder will host Madisonville at 7 p.m. Friday. Cameron 6, Rudder 3 Rudder1000011--395 Cameron100221X--621 Will Johnson, Matt Smith, Blake Kopetsky and Austin O'Neill; Jay Moore and John Renn. W -- Moore. L -- Johnson (2-4). Leading hitters: RUDDER -- Matt Fritsche 4-4; Aaron Dugan 1-3, RBI; Tim Deahl 1-3; Kyle Danford 1-2, 2 RBIs. Record: Rudder (10-9-1). Next: Rudder hosts Madisonville, 7 p.m. Friday.
Rudder falls to state-ranked Taylor Rudder fell to Class 3A's second-ranked Taylor Ducks 5-4 on Thursday in District 24-3A play. Rudder's Kyle Danford (4-2) took the loss and went 2 for 3 at the plate. Teammates Will Johnson and Matt Smith each
went 2 for 4. Rudder (10-8-1) will play at Cameron at 6 p.m Tuesday. Taylor 5, udder 4 Taylor2102000--561 Rudder0001201--491 Steafek, Brooks and Gonzalez; Kyle Danford and Austin O'Neil, Blake Kopetsky. W -- Steafek. L -- Danford (4-2). Leading hitters: RUDDER -- Kyle Danford 2-3; Will Johnson 2-4; Matt Smith 2-4. Records: Rudder (10-8-1). Next: Rudder at Cameron, 6 p.m. Tuesday.
Rockdale beats Rudder 7-3 A three-run fourth carried the Rockdale baseball team to a 7-3 victory in District 24-3A play over the Rudder Rangers on Tuesday night at Rudder High School. Rockdale (16-5, 6-2) banged out 13 hits with Mark Drake, J.
Debault, Nic Hammett, C. Betchan and Joe Sanders each having two. Fritsche and Smith each had two hits for Rudder. Drake was the winning pitcher, striking out eight and walking one. Rockdale 7, Rudder 3 Rockdale 111 301 0 -- 7 13 1 Rudder 000 000 3 -- 3 8 1 Mark Drake and Nic Hammett, Sanders (7). Johnson, Smith (5) and O'Neal. Leading hitters -- (Ro) Drake 2-4, RBI; Debault 2-4, RBI, 3B, 2B; Hammett 2-5, RBI, 2 2Bs; Betchan 2-2, RBI, 2B; Joe Sanders 2-3, RBI; (Ru) Fritsche 2-4, Smith 2-3.
Rudder beats Caldwell in district action The Rudder baseball team defeated Caldwell 7-2 on Friday as the Rangers picked up their third district win. Kyle Danford pitched a complete game, allowing five hits as he improved to 4-1. Danford also went
2 for 2 and delivered a double at the plate. Rudder (10-6-1, 3-4 in District 24-3A) will host Rockdale on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Caldwell1100000--251 Rudder022300x--781 Spittler, Malazzo (4) and Greig; Kyle Danford and Austin O'Neal. W -- Danford, 4-1. L -- Spittler. Leading hitters: RUDDER -- Matt Fritsche 1-2, double; Danford 2-2, double. Records: Rudder 10-6-1, 3-4. Next: Rockdale at Rudder, 7 p.m. Tuesday. Rudder
drops tight game to Navasota (3/31/2009) NAVASOTA -- The Rudder baseball team took an early lead but couldn't hold on, falling 4-3 to Navasota on Tuesday in District 24-3A action. Rudder's Will Johnson took the loss while Derek Hadley (3-1) got the victory for Navasota. Hadley also had 10 strikeouts in the game. Rudder's Blake Kopetsky was 2 for 3 with a double while teammates Johnson,
Kyle Danford and Charlston Samuel each had one hit. Rudder (9-6-1, 2-4 District 24-3A) will host Caldwell at 7 p.m. Friday. Navasota (9-7, 3-3) has an open date on Friday and will host Caldwell at 7 p.m. Tuesday. Navasota 4, Rudder 3 Rudder0300000--351 Navasota200200X--442 Will Johnson and Austin O'Neil; Derek Hadley and Allen. W -- Hadley (3-1). L -- Johnson (3-3). Leading hitters: NAVASOTA -- Kye Hildrith 2-4; Hadley 1-4, 2 RBIs; Savensky 1-3. RUDDER -- Blake Kopetsky 2-3, 2B; Kyle Danford 1-3; Johnson 1-3; Charlston
Samuel 1-3. Highlights: Hadley had 10 strikeouts. Record: Navasota (9-7, 3-3 in 24-3A). Rudder (9-6-1, 2-4). Next: Navasota hosts Caldwell, 7 p.m. Tuesday. Rudder hosts Caldwell, 7 p.m. Friday.
Rudder wins nondistrict game (3/28/2009) The Rudder baseball team beat Franklin 8-3 on Saturday in nondistrict play. Rudder's Charlston Samuel (1-1) picked up the victory. Teammate Blake Kopetsky was 3 for 4 with an RBI while Aaron Dugan was 2 for 2 with an RBI. Rudder 8, Franklin 3 Franklin1101000--342 Rudder0500030--8122 Travis Payne, Bryce McKinney and Mitch Williams; Charlston Samuel, Austin Baron, Matt Smith, Blake Kopetsky and O'Neil. W -- Samuel (1-1). L -- Payne. Leading hitters: RUDDER -- Kopetsky 3-4, RBI; Baron 2-4; Aaron Dugan 2-2, RBI. Record: Rudder (9-5-1); Franklin (8-5).
Rockdale slips past Rudder (3/16/2009) ROCKDALE -- The Rudder baseball team overcame a three-run deficit, but Rockdale scored in the bottom of the seventh to edge the Rangers 4-3 on Monday. Rudder scored two runs in the fifth inning and then rallied for the tying run in the seventh when Kyle Danford had a single, moved up on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Austin Baron. The Tigers scored the winning run with one out on an infield single
with the bases loaded. Rockdale 4, Rudder 3 Rudder 000 020 1 -- 3 4 0 Rockdale 201 000 1 -- 4 7 0 Will Johnson and Austin O'Neal. Gonzales and Hammett. W --
Gonzales. L -- Johnson, 1-2.
Rudder beats Caldwell in extra innings (3/10/2009) CALDWELL -- The Rudder Rangers beat Caldwell 15-13 in an eight-inning thriller Tuesday night to open District 24-3A play. Trailing 10-7 in the sixth, the Rangers (7-2-1, 1-0) rallied for four runs to take the lead. Caldwell then scored once in the bottom of the seventh to force extra innings. The teams combined for six runs in the eighth, and it
took Will Johnson to close the door on Caldwell as he earned his second save of the season. Matt Smith earned his first victory of the season. Rudder will host Rockdale on Friday. Rudder 15, Caldwell 13, 8 innings Rudder20410404--15172 Caldwell51211012--13114 Kyle Danford, Matt Smith (5), Will Johnson (8) and Austin O'Neal; Cumby, Vasquez (4), Smisek (7) and Greig. W -- Smith (1-0). L -- Smisek. S -- Johnson (2). Leading Hitters: RUDDER -- Smith 4-5, double; Danford 2-4, triple; Baron 3-5; Deahl 2-3. Records: Rudder (7-2-1, 1-0). JV: Rudder 12-8. RUDDER -- Ragsdale. Rudder finishes Fairfield Tournament on high note (3/7/2009) FAIRFIELD -- Will Johnson hit four home runs over Rudder's four games, and the Rangers blitzed Tyler John Tyler 22-4 on Saturday to wrap up play in the Fairfield Tournament. Johnson went 8 for 13 over the four games for Rudder (6-2-1), which beat Fairfield 16-6 and tied Crandall 8-8 on Thursday then lost to
Jacksonville 14-10 on Friday. Rudder 16, Fairfield 6 Fairfield1230--653 Rudder2068--16143 W -- Kyle Danford (3-0). Leading hitters: RUDDER -- Matt Fritsche 3-4; Blake Kopetsky 2-4, double, triple; Will Johnson 4-4, home run, double; Cade Wood 2-3. Rudder 8, Crandall 8 Rudder12230--884 Crandall10241--842 Leading hitters: RUDDER -- Johnson 2-3, home run; Timothy Deahl 3-4. Jacksonville 14, Rudder 10 Jacksonville2444--1414 Rudder3115--108 L -- Charleston Samuel (0-1). Leading hitters: RUDDER -- Johnson 2-3, home run. Rudder 22, Tyler John Tyler 4 Rudder14197--2215 TJT1111--46 W -- Wood (1-0). Leading hitters: RUDDER --Fritsche 2-3, double; Kopetsky 2-3, 2 home runs; Kyle Danford 3-3, home run, double; Johnson 1-3, home run; Connor Batten 2-2 Records: Rudder (6-2-1).
Rosebud-Lott's Tyler Kleypas slides into second base
safely ahead of the tag by Rudder's Kyle Danford on Tuesday evening at Viking Field. Rosebud-Lott defeated Rudder 7-4
Rudder wins Franklin
Tournament 2/28/2009 FRANKLIN -- Rudder beat Franklin 10-8 to win the Franklin Tournament championship on Saturday. Rudder's Will Johnson went 3 for 3 with a double, triple and three RBIs. Teammate Kyle Danford also went 3 for 3 with a triple and 2 RBIs. Rudder (4-0) will host Rosebud-Lott at 7 p.m. Tuesday. Rudder 10, Franklin 8 Franklin tournament championship game Rudder430 30--10105 Franklin130 03--873 Smith, Samuel, Barron and Smith; Eiman and Williams. W -- Barron (1-0). L -- Eiman. Leading hitters: RUDDER -- Matt Fritsche 2-3, 3B, RBI; Matt Smith 2-3, 2B, 2 RBI; Kyle Danford 3-3, 3B, 2 RBI; Will Johnson 3-3, 2B, 3B, 3 RBI. Record: Rudder (4-0). Next: Rudder hosts Rosebud-Lott, 7 p.m. Tuesday. Rudder advances past Halletsville to tournament final 2/27/2009 FRANKLIN -- Rudder's Matt Fritsche, Kyle Danford and Will Johnson each had two hits to lead the Rangers past Halletsville 9-3 on Friday in the Franklin Tournament. The victory pushes the Rangers (3-0) into the tournament championship at 6:30 p.m. Saturday against the winner of Franklin vs. Anderson. Danford (2-0) scattered three hits over five innings, while Blake Kopetsky pitched two hitless innings of relief for Rudder. Franklin Tournament Rudder 9, Halletsville 3 Rudder0030150-- 9 8 2 Halletsville0030000-- 3 3 3 Kyle Danford, Blake Kopetsky (6) and Alston O'Neal; Besetzny and Alvarez. W -- Danford (2-0). Leading hitters: RUDDER -- Matt Fritsche 2 for 2, triple, RBI; Danford 2 for 4, double; Will Johnson 2 for 3, double, run, RBI. Records: Rudder 3-0. Next: Rudder vs. winner Franklin-Anderson, championship, 6:30 p.m. Saturday.
Rudder over New Waverly @ Franklin 2/26/2009 Rudder 7, New Waverly 0: FRANLKIN -- The Rudder Rangers baseball team opened the Franklin Tournament with a 7-0 victory over the New Waverly Bulldogs on Thursday afternoon. Will Johnson and Charleston Samuel combined on a four-hitter. Rudder scored four runs in the first. Kyle Danford and Aaron Dugan sandwiched a double around a hit batsman. Blake Kopetsky added an RBI
single. Rudder (2-0) will play Thorndale or Hallettsville at 4 p.m. Friday in second-round action. Rudder 7, New Waverly 0 Franklin Tournament New Waverly0000000--0 4 2 Rudder400210X--7 8 1 Reyes and Bielamowicz. Will Johnson, Charleston Samuel (5) and Austin O'Neal. W -- Johnson (1-0). L -- Reyes. Leading Rudder hitters: Matt
Smith 1 for 2, HR; Blake Kopetsky 2 for 3, RBI; Aaron Dugan 2 for 3, RBI.
Rudder wins opener 2/23/2009 @ Trinity Will Johnson's two-run double in the seventh inning gave the Rudder Rangers an 8-6 victory over Trinity on Monday in their first varsity baseball game. Kyle Danford picked up the win with a scoreless sixth inning and Johnson got the save. Rudder plays on Thursday against New Waverly in the Franklin Tournament. The Rudder JV won its game 8-5. Rudder 8, Trinity 6 Rudder 200 011 4 -- 8 13 3 Trinity 410 010 0 -- 6 10 3 Matt Smith, Blake Kopetsky (4), Kyle Danford (6), Will Johnson (7) and Austin O'Neal. Drake, Walker (5) and Ellison. Leading hitters: Matt Fritsche 3 for 4, 2 2B, RBI; Will Johnson 3 for 4, 4 RBI, 2B; Aaron Dugan 2 for 4.
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