The Bellaire Cardinals rallied for nine runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to take game 1 from Lamar in the Region III 5A Quarterfinals Thursday night at Butler Stadium.

After leading off with a first inning homerun and a second inning insurance run, the Cardinals kept their bats alive with seven hits and nine runs in the fifth to rout Lamar 11-1.

“We average nine-and-a-half runs a game,” Bellaire coach Rocky Manuel said. “But we didn’t expect to do it against a quality club like Lamar.”

Jarrett Higgins knocked the ball out of the park on a 2-2 count to put Bellaire ahead early, 1-0. Following the first inning score was a walk and an RBI single from Jeremy Schaffer for a two run lead at the end of the second.

“The ball kind of flew our way today and I think we got a little bit lucky, but we’ll take it,” Manuel said.

Lamar pitcher Neal Dennison silenced the Cardinals for two innings after they went up but couldn’t keep them down for long. In the fifth, Bellaire forced a pitching change after batting nine (twelve total) and scored nine runs to run-rule the Redskins for the win.

Two men reached base on errors to lead off. Schaffer knocked in the second run of the inning on a single then scored himself on a double by Kyle Chaskin. With one out, Bellaire had two more hits and three more scores before Lamar changed pitchers.

Will McCaleb got a hit to load the bases and Alex Silver knocked him in with another single. Needing only one more run to end the game, Schaffer singled to score Silver and win 11-1.

Schaffer led the game with three hits and three RBIs.

Lamar picked up a run in the fourth when Peter Goudeau ripped one over the right field fence to lead off the inning.

“Our plan was to try and control their offense the best we can and keep their guys off base,” said Manuel.

Winning pitcher Tyler Duffey held the Redskins to just five hits and forced 10 ground balls.

“We were fortunate to win,” Manuel said. “Now we’ve got a couple games tomorrow, well, hopefully just one for us.”

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