Snyder sweeps Riverside in regional quarterfinals of UIL baseball playoffs
MIDLAND — The Snyder baseball team has made a habit of comebacks in this year's Class 4A playoffs.
On Saturday afternoon at Christensen Stadium, the Tigers fought back on several occasions to defeat El Paso Riverside, 10-9, in eight innings to sweep the the regional quarterfinal series and advance to the Region 1-4A semifinals for the first time since 2016. Riverside was seeking its second straight trip to the regional semifinals.
Brandt House delivered the game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the eighth with no outs to lift the Tigers to the win, which avenged an area round loss to the Rangers in the 2021 playoffs.
"Riverside is a really good team and we've played four tough games with them the past two years," Tigers coach Shane Stewart said. "Lots of respect for Riverside. I'm really proud of our kids, they have fought so hard and showed tons of determination to get to this point."
On Saturday, the Tigers trailed 4-1 and 9-7 before rallying for the win. Last week in the area round, they lost the first game to Andrews, then won Games 2 and 3. In Game 3, they were down late in the deciding game before rallying to win.
"We fight hard and we stick together as a team," House said. "We don't give up on each other and we're excited to be moving on."
Riverside was led by Diego Cardenas with four RBI, Adrian Estrada with two runs scored and Ethan Muniz with two hits. Muniz finished the series with three hits.
The Rangers had opportunities to finish off Snyder in Game 2, but left the bases loaded in the seventh and couldn't capitalize on getting the first two runners on base in the top of the eighth.
"We had some missed opportunities and Snyder did a great job of executing," Riverside coach Rick Solis said. "But we came back after a tough loss in the series opener and I'm really proud of our guys. We really improved all season long and we gained great experience this season. We have a young team and these games will help us."
Added Estrada: "We always play hard and if we lose, we want to make sure the opponent knows they were in a tough game, a tough series. We gave it everything we had and we were right there in this series. We'll grow from this."
Brothers Hunter and Easton Stewart, the sons of Shane Stewart, had strong games for the Tigers. Hunter scored three runs and drove in a run and Easton smacked a bases clearing double.
Friday's Game 1
For five innings, Riverside and Snyder were engaged in another close playoff game.
However, the Tigers broke the game open in the top of the sixth with 13 runs off three Riverside pitchers and won 17-3 in the opener of the playoff series.
"Snyder is a tough team and they executed," Solis said. "You have to give them credit. We have some young players and this was a learning experience for them."
Catcher Bryce Ford had a monster game for Snyder with six RBI. He had two singles, a double and was hit by a pitch. Hunter Stewart scored four runs and drove in two runs.
"We have some great energy right now on our team," Shane Stewart said. "The game was close going into the sixth. We did a great job at the plate."
Last year, Riverside beat Snyder in the area round by scores of 2-0 and 3-2.
The Rangers led 2-1 after the first inning. Orlando Samaniego singled in a run and Dereck Nevarez drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.
The Tigers went up 4-2 in the top of the fifth and Riverside cut the lead to 4-3 in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI double by Cardenas. Cardenas finished with two hits and leadoff batter Estrada scored two runs to help lead the Rangers offense.
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Felix F. Chavez may be reached at 915-546-6167; fchavez@elpasotimes.com; @Fchavezeptimes on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Snyder defeats Riverside in Game 1 of regional quarterfinal series
