(Game 2) 

(Game 3) 

A pair of shutouts was the difference in the Region III-5A finals, but it wasn't Westside that got them.

Kyle Chaskin and Jeffrey Rohrbach each pitched a complete-game shutout as the Bellaire Cardinals beat Westside 2-0 in Game 2 and 6-0 in the third and decisive game of the Region III-5A finals to head to the state semifinals in Round Rock next weekend. The Cardinals bounced back from a heartbreaking 3-2 loss the night before after key errors allowed Westside to get the win.

“You win 39 games, you have to be doing something right,” Bellaire coach Rocky Manuel said. “We’ve had good pitching and timely hitting, and the difference between these two games and last night was that our defense showed up.

“We had three unearned runs and (Taylor) Wall beat us 3-2. We made mistakes, and that’s the name of the game, playing good defense and the guys did a good job.”

Rohrbach dominated the third game by keeping the Wolves from mounting any offense. He gave up only five hits in seven innings work, walking none and striking out four. Rorhbach’s performance on the mound was enough for his teammates to get something going at the plate.

Bellaire struck first with a solo home run to centerfield by third baseman Will McCaleb in the second inning off starting pitcher Cory Maltz. Then in the fourth inning, McCaleb scored on an RBI single by Trace Knoblauch. Two batters later, catcher Jeremy Schaffer laced a single to left field to score runner Aaron Hafer, who was running for Knoblauch. Then after centerfielder Jarrett Higgins walked, Chaskin hit a soft line drive into left that scored shortstop Alex Silver and runner Sean Washington, who was running for Schaffer.

“The at-bat before, I struck out and this time, I wanted to get the ball in play,” Chaskin said.

The Cardinals added another run in the fifth when McCaleb scored on a groundout by infielder Andrew Burns.

Bellaire forced a third game with a 2-0 win, thanks to a masterful performance by Chaskin. He pitched strong in a complete game win, allowing only one hit and striking out 11 Wolves. His control was solid and kept Westside off-balance all game long.

“I just trusted my catcher and my pitching coach,” Chaskin said. “I just did what I had to, and I did it.”

Bellaire scored one run in the fourth and fifth innings with two-out RBI singles. In the fourth, McCaleb laced a pitch up the middle that scored Hafer, who was running for Chaskin, who singled. And in the fifth, Chaskin hit a line-drive hit to left field that scored Silver from second base.

Westside pitcher Michael Goodnight was strong in the early innings, holding the Cards to one hit in the first three innings.

Meanwhile, the Wolves never could get anything going offensively. Their only real threat was in the first inning, when leadoff hitter Freddy Villalobos reached on an error and Goodnight walked two batters later. But with two outs, infielder Brett Zieren struck out swinging to end the inning.

This will be Bellaire’s 11th time in the state semifinals, with the last time being back in 1999. The Cardinals have won seven state titles in its history, and will look for another one next weekend at Dell Diamond in Round Rock.

“We’re adding to the tradition and we’re going to add to it big,” Chaskin said.

Bellaire joins Southlake Carroll and Laredo United in the semifinals, with either Plano East or Georgetown joining them. The pairings for the two games will be announced Sunday morning.

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