It’s the most important series yet and both Westside and Bellaire's baseball teams were looking for the first win in the regional finals at Ray Knoblauch Field.

In the best-of-three series, Westside took game 1, 3-2. Bellaire pushed early and then late but the Wolves kept a steady pace.

“Against those guys it’s very important,” Westside coach Emrick Jagneaux said. “I think three or four series they dropped the first game and have come back to win the last two. It ain’t over with yet by a long shot.”

Westside had their backs against the wall in the first inning allowing three base runners on no hits. A drop-third-strike, collision at first, and a fielder’s choice allowed Bellaire three scoring opportunities. But the Wolves froze the Cardinals with a tag out at home, a pickoff at second, and a strikeout to end the inning.

Taylor Wall held the Cardinals to no hits, five strikeouts, and five ground balls for the next four innings.

“Taylor Wall again was exceptional on the mound,” Jagneaux said. “You can’t ask for anything more from that guy. He’s done a great job.”

While their pitching and defense were making plays, so were their bats. The Wolves produced three runs in three innings.

In the bottom of the second, Michael Goodnight led off with a hit. He advanced to second when Daniel Mengden walked. An error from Bellaire put Goodnight at third and he finally scored on an RBI from Michael Falcone.

The Wolves scored again the following inning, this time in was Wall helping himself out. He walked to lead off the inning. Another error from Bellaire put Wall at second. Mengden ripped a double, scoring Wall for a 2-0 lead.

Rounding out Westside’s scoring was Falcone as he reached base on a walk. He advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and another error from Bellaire put Falcone at third. On an attempted squeeze play, Matt Clayton got an RBI, bringing in Falcone for the Wolves’ third run.

“We put the ball on the ground when we had to and got the extra run in,” Jagneaux said. “We left quite a few people on base I thought tonight and we’ve got to do a better job of driving people in tomorrow.”

But just when it looked like Westside needed only six outs, Bellaire pulled a classic Bellaire move. With two outs, the Cardinals pushed through two runs and loaded the bases but could not produce the needed third run.

Jeremy Schaffer and Jarrett Higgins occupied first and second when Kyle Chaskin ripped a fence hitting double to knock in the two runs. A hit-by-pitch and walk followed to load the bases but Wall forced a ground ball to end the inning.

Westside and Bellaire didn’t produce any more runs and the Wolves won 3-2.

Game 2 will be at 1 p.m. Saturday with a possible game 3 following at Butler Stadium.

Michael Goodnight will take the mound Saturday for the Wolves.

“The big righty,” Jagneaux said. “He (Goodnight) told me I better bring a sack lunch because it’s going to last all day. I hope it doesn’t last all day. We are going to try and finish this thing in two and I think we can do that if Michael goes out and does thing, we’ve got a chance.”

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