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Generals edge Chanclas by one run in extra innings — again

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Victoria Generals relief pitcher Jose Torres from Our Lady of the Lake pitched the final three innings and got the win against the Flying Chanclas on Friday at Wolff Stadium. - photo by Joe Alexander

Victoria Generals relief pitcher Jose Diaz from Our Lady of the Lake University pitched the final three innings and got the win against the Flying Chanclas on Friday at Wolff Stadium. – photo by Joe Alexander

For the second straight night, the Victoria Generals defeated the Flying Chanclas de San Antonio by one run in extra innings.

They downed the Chanclas 4-3 in 10 innings on Friday night at Wolff Stadium, with Steven Bonuz and relief pitcher Jose Diaz producing in the clutch for the Generals.

Batting against Chanclas relief ace Tyler Flores, Bonuz delivered a one-out, RBI single to put the Generals in front in the top of the 10th.

In the bottom half, Diaz completed three innings of scoreless relief in dramatic fashion.

After he threw a wild pitch that allowed the potential tying run to reach third base, Diaz got Lee Thomas on a pop up to end the game.

It was the fourth game in four nights between the two teams. Opening a three-game set at Victoria, the Chanclas won the first two to extend a season-high winning streak to five.

But on Thursday night at Victoria’s Riverside Stadium, the Generals scored three runs in their last at-bat for an 8-7 victory in 11 innings.

On Friday, with the series shifting to San Antonio, the Chanclas jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning, then gave up one in the third and two in the fifth to fall behind.

The Chanclas scored twice in the eighth to tie it, 3-3, but couldn’t sustain the momentum.

Runs-hits-errors

Victoria — 4 5 0
San Antonio — 3 7 1
(10 innings)

Please click on the link for Friday night’s box score.

Records

Victoria 7-9
San Antonio 9-6

Coming up

Victoria at San Antonio, Saturday and Sunday. Both games, 7:05 p.m., at Wolff Stadium.

Notable

Diaz is from Pinar del Rio, Cuba. Two other local college ball players from San Antonio — Jonathan Tapia and Hobbs Price — also aided in the Generals’ victory.

Tapia, from O’Connor High School and UTSA, executed a perfect sacrifice bunt to move up a runner to third base in the 10th inning. The run eventually scored on a single by Bonuz for the game-winner.

Price, also from UTSA, made a running catch on a drive into the right field corner that likely saved two runs. His play, on a ball hit hard by Chanclas newcomer Anthony Forte, ended the fifth inning.

Victoria Generals center fielder Jonathan Tapia (left) and right fielder Hobbs Price are both from UTSA. - photo by Joe Alexander

Victoria Generals center fielder Jonathan Tapia (left) and right fielder Hobbs Price are both from UTSA. Tapia produced the game-winning hit in the Generals’ victory Thursday in Victoria – photo by Joe Alexander

Generals rally to knock off the Flying Chanclas, 8-7, in 11

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Jonathan Tapia slapped a game-winning, RBI single Thursday night as the Victoria Generals rallied to defeat the Flying Chanclas de San Antonio, 8-7, in 11 innings.

Tapia is from O’Connor High School and UTSA.

In the game played at Victoria’s Riverside Stadium, the Generals trailed 5-2 in the middle inning and 7-5 after the top of the 11th.

But they did not quit, rallying with three runs in the bottom half to snap the Chanclas’ five-game winning streak.

Runs-hits-errors

San Antonio — 7 13 1
Victoria — 8 12 2
(11 innings)

Please click on the link for Thursday’s box score.

Records

San Antonio 9-5
Victoria 6-9

Coming up

Victoria at San Antonio, Friday through Sunday. All games at 7:05 p.m., at Wolff Stadium.

Flying Chanclas rally to post their fifth straight victory

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Jordan Thompson’s leadoff homer sparked a five-run seventh inning Wednesday night as the Flying Chanclas de San Antonio rallied for a 6-2 victory over the Victoria Generals in the Texas Collegiate League.

Flying Chanclas manager John McLaren discusses a call with the home play umpire late in the game Sunday night at Wolff Stadium. - photo by Joe Alexander

The Flying Chanclas have won five in a row overall and three in a row on the road for manager John McLaren. – File photo by Joe Alexander

It was the fifth win in a row for the Chanclas, who lead the TCL South division with a 9-4 record.

Trailing 2-0 after four innings, the Chanclas scored once in the sixth inning to get back into the game. In the seventh, they exploded against the Generals’ bullpen for five runs on six hits.

At one point, they scored on three consecutive at bats to silence the home crowd at Victoria’s Riverside Park. Tyler LaRue ripped an RBI single, and then Johnny Hernandez and Anthony Forte followed with back-to-back RBI doubles.

Forte, in his Flying Chanclas debut, finished with three hits, a run scored and an RBI.

Starting pitcher Austin Krob earned the victory, but the bullpen had a major say in the outcome with 5 and 2/3 innings of scoreless relief.

Reliever Johnny Panatex highlighted the effort with 2 and 2/3 innings of work and four strikeouts.

A big moment for Panatex came when he entered in the fourth inning with one out, the bases loaded and the Chanclas trailing 2-0. He escaped the jam when he struck out Jose Diaz and Josh Elvir.

Runs-hits-errors

San Antonio 6 – 13 – 1
Victoria 2 – 9 – 0
Please click on the link for Wednesday’s official box score.

Records

San Antonio 9-4
Victoria 5-9

Coming up

San Antonio at Victoria, 7:05 p.m., Thursday. Victoria at San Antonio, Friday through Sunday, at Wolff Stadium. All at 7:05 p.m.

Notable

Forte, from the University of Richmond, started in right field He joined the team Tuesday, a spokesman said.

Chanclas move into first place in Texas Collegiate League South

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When the Flying Chanclas de San Antonio take the field tonight, they’ll be playing to protect their lead in Texas Collegiate League’s South Division.

A four-game winning streak has lifted the Chanclas (8-4) into first place ahead of the Brazos Valley Bombers (6-4).

The Chanclas opened a three-game road series in Victoria Tuesday night with a 2-1 victory over the Victoria Generals.

The Generals (5-8 in the TCL South) will host the Chanclas again tonight and Thursday before the two teams move to San Antonio to play another three-game set at Wolff Stadium starting Friday.

Riggs Threadgill threw five shutout innings Tuesday night as the Chanclas won their fourth straight to match a season-high winning streak.

Continuing a string of solid pitching performances for the Chanclas, Threadgill combined with Matthew Sesler and Connor Schmidt in limiting the Generals to five hits.

The Chanclas’ earned run average, as a result, fell to a league-best 2.42.

Chanclas leadoff batter Jordan Thompson delivered an RBI single for a 1-0 lead in the fifth inning. In the seventh, Lee Thomas made it 2-0 with a run-scoring base hit.

The Generals pulled to within 2-1 in the eighth against Sesler when Josh Elvir singled to drive in the only run for the home team.

Victoria put the tying run on base with two out in the ninth against Schmidt when Hobbs Price reached on catcher’s interference.

But Chanclas shortstop Jalen Battles ended it with a nice play, as he ran down a pop fly in foul territory off the bat of Sam Haley.

Runs-hit-errors

San Antonio 2 – 7 – 1
Victoria 1 – 5 – 2
Please click on the link for Tuesday night’s box score.

Records

San Antonio 8-4
Victoria 5-8

Coming up

San Antonio at Victoria, 7:05 p.m. Wednesday.

Notable

The Chanclas have won two straight games on the road after losing four of their first five. They’ll play at Victoria on Wednesday and Thursday before returning to San Antonio to host the Generals for three more starting Friday at Wolff Stadium.

Chanclas complete sweep with a 6-1 victory over the Hairy Men

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The Flying Chanclas' Tyler Flores pitched three scoreless innings in relief against the Hairy Men on Sunday at Wolff Stadium. - photo by Joe Alexander

Relief ace Tyler Flores retired all nine batters he faced as the Flying Chanclas de San Antonio defeated Round Rock at Wolff Stadium.- Photo by Joe Alexander

Lance Lusk, Tyler Flores and Connor Schmidt combined on a four-hitter Sunday night as the Flying Chanclas de San Antonio continued their pitching dominance in the Texas Collegiate League, downing the Round Rock Hairy Men, 6-1, at Wolff Stadium.

With the victory, San Antonio swept the three-game series against Round Rock.

The Chanclas entered the series finale with the TCL’s best earned run average at 2.93, and they lived up to their statistics with a solid performance against one of the league’s best hitting teams.

San Antonio pitchers struck out 10 and walked one. The only run they gave up was unearned. Flores was masterful, fanning four in throwing three perfect innings — nine up, nine down. Even though the defense committed two errors, the Chanclas made several strong plays in the field.

In the fourth inning, third baseman Johnny Hernandez robbed Round Rock of a hit with a diving grab on a line drive in the hole. Jordan Thompson made another fine play to end the inning. Playing a hit in right field, he bare-handed it and fired to second base, cutting down Cody Vannoy for the third out.

Leading by the eventual final score, the Chanclas added another solid play in the top of the eighth. Second baseman Grant Smith gloved a hard-hit ground ball that kicked up high on a bounce off the pitcher’s mound. Smith flipped to shortstop Jalen Battles, who tagged second and fired to first for the double play.

Lee Thomas led the offense with two hits and two RBI. A big moment for Thomas came in the eighth when he smashed a ball that hit the center field wall. The drive brought in Ryan Flores to score all the way from first. In jubilation, Thomas slid into third base, popped up and threw a fist in the air.

Runs-hits-errors

Round Rock 1 – 4 – 1
San Antonio 6 – 8 – 2
Please click on the link to see Sunday’s box score.

The Flying Chanclas' Lee Thomas celebrates after his RBI triple off the wall in center in the bottom of the eighth inning. - photo by Joe Alexander

Lee Thomas celebrates after an RBI triple in the eighth inning. Shaking off a slow start to the season, Thomas had two hits to raise his average to .219. – photo by Joe Alexander

Records

San Antonio 7-4
Round Rock 6-6

Coming up

The Chanclas have the day off Monday. They open a three-game road series at Victoria on Tuesday.

The Flying Chanclas' Johnny Hernandez hits an RBI double in the fourth inning against the Hairy Men on Sunday at Wolff Stadium. - photo by Joe Alexander

Johnny Hernandez hits an RBI double in the fourth inning Sunday as the Flying Chanclas remained undefeated at Wolff Stadium. – Photo by Joe Alexander

Notable

The Chanclas (7-4) moved into a virtual tie for first place in the TCL South with the Brazos Valley Bombers (6-3) …

The Chanclas’ pitching staff lowered its ERA to 2.65. Flores, from Clark High School and Texas A&M-Kingsville, lowered his personal ERA to 0.90. In five outings, he has yielded one run on five hits in 10 innings. Flores has struck out 11 and walked four …

Round Rock entered the series against the Chanclas on a hot streak, scoring 35 runs in a three-game sweep of Victoria.

Flying Chanclas win 15-3 as Tyler LaRue leads a massive rally

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Trailing by two runs early, the Tyler LaRue-led Flying Chanclas de San Antonio poured it on late for a 15-3 victory Saturday night against the Round Rock Hairy Men.

The game was played in Round Rock at the Dell Diamond.

The Hairy Men took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second. But after that, it was all Chanclas as they scored a season-high in runs courtesy of three errors, eight walks and six hit batsmen by the beleaguered home team.

Batting out of the seventh spot in the lineup, LaRue produced a season-high four hits, including a triple. He also scored twice and had a season-high three RBI.

LaRue, a former standout at Blanco, put on a show in the sixth inning when he belted a ball into deep center field. After it was fielded near the warning track, he rounded second, kept churning with surprising speed and slid in feet first for a triple.

Leyton Barry followed with a double to drive in LaRue, lifting the Chanclas into a 5-2 lead. Both Barry and Ryan Flores had two hits each in the game, with Flores driving in a pair of runs.

Chanclas bullpen pitching also excelled. The relief corps of Jaime Ramirez Jr., Zach DeLeon and Garrett Egli combined to limit the Hairy Men to one run and two hits over 5 and 1/3 innings.

For Ramirez, a left-hander from Holy Cross High School, it might have been his best performance of the season. He worked 2 and 1/3 scoreless innings, giving up only one hit and walking one. Ramirez struck out three.

The Round Rock bullpen and defense cratered in the eighth inning, when the Chanclas scored four runs, and in the ninth, when they tallied six.

The Chanclas have won two straight against the Hairy Men leading into Sunday’s series finale in San Antonio at Wolff Stadium. Overall, they’ve won six of their last eight.

Before Saturday, life on the road had not been very good for the Chanclas in their first season in the Texas Collegiate League.

They had lost four of their first five road games, including two by shutout and one by a no-hitter/shutout, coming in a 5-0 loss Wednesday at Acadiana in Youngsville, La.

But, with the run-away victory at Dell Diamond, they seemed to break the spell, improving to 2-4 in games played away from home.

Notable

Both teams reported via Twitter immediately after the game a final score of 14-3. The box score on the Texas Collegiate League website reported it on Sunday afternoon as 15-3.

Runs-hits-errors

San Antonio 15 12 1
Round Rock 3 8 3
Please click the link for Saturday’s box score.

Records

San Antonio 6-4
Round Rock 6-5

Coming up

Round Rock at San Antonio, 7:05 p.m. Sunday.

Lee Willis on Mike Shull: ‘He would do anything for kids’

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By Jerry Briggs
For The JB Replay

The McAllister Park All-Stars made history 11 years ago when they became the first San Antonio area youth baseball team to reach the Little League World Series.

Given the historical significance of the moment, it’s impossible to separate the inspiring story of the 2009 McAllister Park kids and Mike Shull, who managed them to a fourth-place finish at the iconic event in South Williamsport, Pa.

But after Shull died Friday morning, the tributes started to flow so freely, it became evident that there was much more to the man under the ball cap than a guy who knew when to bunt and when to hit away.

“I love you dad,” said his son, John Shull, in a Twitter post. “You’re at peace now. I know you will be watching over us every single day. I miss you and love you and can’t wait to see you again.”

Lee Willis confirmed in a telephone interview that his longtime friend had passed away after a nine-week battle with the Covid-19 virus. According to online baseball sources, Shull was 56.

“His heart for kids was true,” Willis said. “He would do anything for kids. Literally anything. It wasn’t an accident that those kids (on the 2009 team) were good. He was literally giving it everything he had.

“That’s who he is. That’s the kind of guy he is.”

Willis said Shull was working as controller at Republic National Distributing Company.

The news of his passing broke Friday evening when his son posted it on social media, touching off a flurry of comments by the coach’s former players.

“It is impossible to not think of Mike Shull when I think about my childhood,” Jacob Ramos said. “Playing baseball for him … gave me some of my most favorite memories. Mike Shull changed my life, and I am very thankful for him.”

Nick Smisek called Shull, simply, “the greatest.”

“Everyone please say some prayers for the Shulls,” Smisek wrote. “Coach Shull was the greatest Little League coach of all time and made all of our childhoods better … The world lost a great man today.”

Mike Shull, a MacArthur graduate, played baseball in college and in the pros.

According to online records, he lettered in college at Texas Tech in 1983 and 1984 and later pitched for California Angels minor-league affiliates in 1986, ’87 and again in 1990.

Shull started coaching youth sports teams around 2003, Willis said. He said his former high school classmate coached through last fall when he led a team of players from MacArthur in a fall league.

In 2009, he painted his baseball masterpiece.

Shull did it with a group of 12- and 13-year-olds who liked to joke around, play ping pong and employ a wide variety of “secret” handshakes, according to stories archived in the San Antonio Express-News.

On the field, the McAllister kids were exceptional, rolling through the World Series all the way to a second-place finish among U.S. teams and fourth place overall.

Willis said he still remembers the late-night conversations with Shull in “The Grove,” where all the teams are housed, during the 16-team, nationally-televised tournament.

“Those evenings, late at night, were special,” he said. “I really can’t explain it. You’re not hooked up with your family. They’re all separate when you’re in The Grove. We spent every night, late at night, just talking.

“It wasn’t all about what we were going to do for the next game. A lot of time it was about our kids and where were they mentally. How were they dealing with everything. That was quite an experience for 12-year-old kids.”

Willis said his second favorite memory was clinching the regional title at Waco.

“We looked at each other like, ‘Are we really going to Williamsport?’ ” Willis recalled. “Mike’s a lot bigger than me. He’s 6-4. I’m 6-1. But he outweighs me by 150 pounds. He lifted me so high up in the air. We were in shock.”

During the late-night strategy sessions, Willis said the two talked not only about how they wanted to approach the next game, but also how they could be fair to all of their players.

“Mike wanted to win every game, but he wanted every kid to feel special,” Willis said. “I think that’s important. Some coaches just want to win every game. He wanted to make sure every kid felt some special part of it.

“They may not even contribute on the field. Then he’d have them doing the post-game interviews, whatever it may be, if they weren’t the star of the game. He was really good about that.

“He made sure they all felt very important the entire time we were there.”


Mike Shull (holding plaque) and Lee Willis (at right) celebrate at the 2014 San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame gala.

Flying Chanclas win 7-2 to stop a two-game skid

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New Flying Chanclas de San Antonio infielder Jalen Battles started at second base against the Round Rock Hair Men on Friday, July 10, 2020, at Wolff Stadium. - photo by Joe Alexander

New Flying Chanclas de San Antonio infielder Jalen Battles started at second base against Round Rock. The former Madison High School standout has committed to the University of Arkansas. – photo by Joe Alexander

Outfielder Leyton Barry on Friday hit the first home run of the season for the Flying Chanclas de San Antonio, who opened a three-game series against the Round Rock Hairy Men with a 7-2 victory at Wolff Stadium.

Barry delivered with his two-run shot in the seventh inning.

Playing with a revamped infield featuring newcomers Bryan Aguilar and Jalen Battles, the Chanclas unleashed a 10-hit attack to snap a two-game losing streak.

Runs-hits-errors

Round Rock 2 – 6 – 0
San Antonio 7 – 10 – 4

Please click the link to find a box score of Friday night’s game.

Coming up

San Antonio at Round Rock, 7:05 p.m. Saturday. Round Rock at San Antonio, 7:05 p.m. Sunday.

Records

San Antonio 5-4
Round Rock 6-4

New Flying Chanclas de San Antonio infielder Bryan Aguilar started at shortstop against the Round Rock Hair Men on Friday, July 10, 2020, at Wolff Stadium. - photo by Joe Alexander

Flying Chanclas’ newcomer Bryan Aguilar, in his second game with the team, started at shortstop against Round Rock. – photo by Joe Alexander

Hill sparks Cane Cutters past the Flying Chanclas, 3-1

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Caleb Hill produced two hits, scored twice and generally made a nuisance of himself Thursday night as the Acadiana Cane Cutters downed the Flying Chanclas de San Antonio, 3-1, at Youngsville, La.

The loss was the second in two nights for the Chanclas at the hands of the Cane Cutters at Fabacher Field.

Acadiana no-hit San Antonio in a 5-0 victory on Wednesday. Three Cane Cutters pitchers — Bailey Holstein, Tyler Booth and Matthew Adams — spaced out nine hits for the victory in the series finale.

Hill’s two-out triple highlighted the fourth inning for Acadiana. Later, he scored the first run of the game on a single by Ethan Lege.

Newcomer Bryan Aguilar sparked an uprising that allowed the Chanclas to tie the game. Aguilar doubled, stole third and came home to knot the score at 1-1 in the top of the seventh.

In the bottom half, two Chanclas errors helped the Cane Cutters regain the lead.

Hill opened the inning with a bunt and would up on second courtesy of a miscue by catcher Nick Wolff. Hill scored when Peyton LeJeune reached on a single and an error on right fielder Jordan Thompson.

The Cane Cutters struck again in the eighth. Logan McLeod singled, stole second and moved to third on a hit by Trace Henry. Hill followed with an RBI single for a 3-1 lead.

The Chanclas had a chance to tie it in the ninth but came up short. With two outs, Thompson singled and Ryan Flores doubled to put runners at second and third. Adams got out of it by striking out Kyte McDonald to end the game.

San Antonio entered the series in Louisiana on a four-game winning streak, including three wins at Wolff Stadium against Acadiana.

The scheduled opener of the Texas Collegiate League series in Youngsville wasn’t played Tuesday because of poor field conditions, reducing the series to two games. By losing the last two nights, the Flying Chanclas fell to 1-4 on the road this season.

Runs-hits-errors

San Antonio 1 – 9 – 2
Acadiana 3 – 12 – 1

Please click the link Thursday night’s box score.

Records

San Antonio 4-4
Acadiana 3-5

Coming up

Round Rock at San Antonio, Friday, 7:05 p.m. San Antonio at Round Rock, Saturday, 7:05 p.m. Round Rock at San Antonio, Sunday, 7:05 p.m.

Acadiana Cane Cutters no-hit the Flying Chanclas, 5-0

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Three Acadiana Cane Cutters pitchers combined to throw a no-hitter in front of the home fans Wednesday night in a 5-0 victory over the Flying Chanclas de San Antonio.

Set back by the loss of two injured starters, the Chanclas never got it going against the Cane Cutters, who pulled off the no-no on the strength of efforts by pitchers Brandon Mitchell, Nik Millsap and Hunter Meche.

The Texas Collegiate League game was played at Fabacher Field in Youngsville, Louisiana.

With the victory, the Cane Cutters snapped a four-game losing streak and avenged losing all three games against the Chanclas last weekend in San Antonio. The Chanclas had won four straight.

Mitchell, a left-hander, and Millsap, a righty, grew up in Texas. Mitchell, from Alief-Elsik High School, attends the University of New Orleans. Millsap, from South Lake Carroll, goes to college at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, La. Meche, a lefty from Rayne, La., attends LSU-Alexandria.

Mitchell worked 2 and 1/3 innings. In the third, he gave way to Millsap, who pitched 4 and 2/3 innings, striking out three. Meche finished up over the final two innings. The three combined for six walks and eight strikeouts.

The Chanclas had runners at first and second with one out in the ninth against Meche. But the 5-foot-9 lefty settled down, retiring Lee Thomas and Grant Smith both on outfield fly balls to end it.

San Antonio entered the game without their leading hitter, Porter Brown, and their starting third baseman, Conner Shepherd. Brown is out for the season and Shepherd is out for at least a week. Both have finger injuries.

Runs-hits-errors

San Antonio 0 – 0 – 4
Acadiana 5 – 4 – 1

Please click the link for Wednesday night’s box score.

Records

San Antonio 4-3
Acadiana 2-5


Pregame

Forced to make adjustments in the wake of two key injuries, the Flying Chanclas de San Antonio will put a four-game winning streak on the line tonight.

They’re playing the home-standing Acadiana Cane Cutters. Youngsville is located about 10 miles south of Lafayette.

In the wake of injuries to standouts Porter Brown and Conner Shepherd, Chanclas manager John McLaren sent out a lineup card with Leyton Barry starting in left field for Porter Brown, who is out for the season with a broken finger.

Tyler LaRue will start at third base for Conner Shepherd, who is out for at least a week, also with a finger injury.

Brown, leading the Chanclas with a .375 batting average, had been in the top spot in the batting order, with Jordan Thompson hitting second. Tonight, Thompson is leading off with second baseman Johnny Hernandez batting second.

Tuesday night’s series opener between the teams was canceled due to unfavorable field conditions, meaning the teams will play tonight and Thursday night. The Chanclas swept three games from the Cane Cutters last weekend in San Antonio.

Chanclas starters

Jordan Thompson RF
Johnny Hernandez 2B
Ryan Flores 1B
Kyte McDonald CF
Tyler LaRue 3B
Lee Thomas DH
Grant Smith SS
Leyton Barry LF
Nick Wolff C
Austin Krob P