The Bellaire baseball team has built its storied tradition mostly via power baseball, riding it to seven state championships and one national title.

But in the wake of the 2007 team that hit 36 home runs, this year’s Cardinals have only seven. So coach Rocky Manuel has jumped on the speed train.

The Cardinals started running early Monday, stealing 15 bases and parlaying those into the majority of their runs in a 6-1 victory against Chavez at Butler Field.

“We’re trying to step on the gas, so to speak, and keep the pressure on the other team,” Manuel said. “We usually have a lot of power but we don’t this year. It’s a different style, though, and it’s a lot of fun. It keeps the kids in the game, it gives us the chance to play a lot of people and it’s a fun style to play.”

The Cardinals (20-1 overall, 3-0 District 20-5A) had only six hits, but took advantage of three errors and the Lobos’ often-futile effort to contain them on the basepaths. Not only did Bellaire have eight steals in the first two innings, it drew seven walks and had two batters hit by Chavez (4-10, 0-4) pitcher Josh Ramas.

“He was throwing a lot of offspeed but after a while we got used to it,” said Bellaire sophomore Sean Washington, who had an RBI in the second inning and had a single to begin a two-run fourth inning. “Over the course of the season we’ve been able to work a lot of pitchers (for high counts). We’re getting the hang of it and starting to hit better.”

The Cardinals’ only loss was to Fort Bend Clements in the championship game of the Ewell Jackson Tournament earlier this month.

Bellaire starter Jeremy Rohrbach and reliever Toller Boardman, a junior and freshman respectively, combined to hold Chavez to two hits.

“We’re playing well defensively and our pitching today was outstanding,” Manuel said. “Anyway we can win … we don’t care what the score is.”

The Lobos didn’t mount another threat after Jonathan Willbanks doubled and Mizarin Gonzalez singled for a 1-0 lead in the top of the first.

Kyle Chaskin singled home Jeremy Schaffer, a Tulane signee, in the bottom of the inning to tie the game.

Wesley Mercurio reached on an error and scored on Knoblauch’s single to highlight the Cardinals’ three-run second inning.

Bellaire plays St. Thomas at 11 a.m. today.

“These are the tests. We’re seeing how they can perform now,” Manuel said. “If we have some screw-ups, we go back, study and work on our mistakes.”

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