Game 19 Championship Game Apollos 6 Metro Astros 2
Mike Wilson went 3-3 with a bases loaded triple and pitched 5 innings allowing just one run for the victory.
Alex Sample went 3-2/3 innings allowing just one run before being removed for Alex Dutka who collected the save by getting the final out.
The Apollos played solid defense. Manny Lujan was named team MVP. Tim Brown was named newcomer of the year. The Apollos played solidly in the playoffs.
Game 18 Winners Bracket Championship Playoff Game 2 Apollos 18 Shockers 4. The wind was blowing out and the Apollos scored 7 runs in both the 2nd inning and the 4th inning. The Apollos played with only 9 players but got 20 hits in 6 innings. Mike Wilson started and pitched all six innings striking out nine allowing 2 runs in both the 4th and the 5th. Alex Dutka made a diving stab in the first inning that proved to be a winner for the Apollos. Mike Wilson also got 4 hits at the plate including a homer and scored 4 runs. Manny Lujan and Karl Johnson each hit key grand slams for the Apollos. Andrew Dunn got 5 hits and scored 4 runs. Alex Sample got three hits and two rbis, Alex Dutka got one hit, Chris Schmidt had two hits and a sac fly. The Apollos will face the winner of the losers bracket between Kingz/Metro Astros/Shockers but will most likely play the Shockers with the Shockers needing to sweep.
Game 17 Playoff Game 1
Apollos beat Metro Astros 10-8 in playoff opener. Manny Lujan hit a grand slam got two hits and threw the last inning to save the game to lead the Apollos. Alex Sample and Andrew Dunn also got two hits and scored two runs. Alex Dutka started the game and cruised by 5 innings allowing only 2 runs, but left the game as he was tired. Alex Sample entered and he got one out pitching to four batters. Justin Loftin entered and he walked two more. The Astros had tied the game 5-5 at this point and had the bases loaded. The Apollos re-entered Dutka and he struck out one hitter but gave up a double to the next hitter clearing the bases and leaving the score 8-5. The Apollos would goto their last at bat down 8-5. Alex Sample lead off with a hit, pinch hitter Alex Dutka then followed. Andrew Dunn reached on a fielders choice scoring a run. Chris Schmidt walked. Tim Brown singled leaving the score 8-6 with bases loaded. The Astros went to the bullpen and their lefty and Lujan homered. Andrew Dunn tried to come on for save but walked the first batter and the Apollos went to Lujan who got three straight key outs to end the game..
Game 16 Apollos 10 Katy Braves 2
The Apollos ended the regular season with a solid 10-2 victory over the Katy Braves. Andrew Dunn, Karl Johnson and Adam Spencer all had three hits to lead the offense. Spencer finally got a haircut. Karl Johnson was picked off twice. Josh Krikstian threw out two attempted base stealers to lead the Apollos defense. Alex Sample pitched three innings allowing one run and escaping bases loaded. Justin Loftin pitched two innings allowing one run. Russell Revere pitched a scoreless inning and Brandon Hutson pitched two innings scoreless relief.
Game 15 Apollos 8 Mets 3
The Apollos defeated the Mets 8-3 on Wed Night at Schwartz Park. Offensively the Apollos were lead by Kyle Spangler's two run homer and Manny Lujan's first inning double. The Mets pitcher walked the first two batters of the game and allowed three runs in the first inning. The Apollos scored two more runs off the same pitcher in the 4th without a base hit. He was removed after he hit his 5th batter of the game. Then the Apollos added three more runs in the 6th with Tommy Denson's double scoring Tim Brown and then Spanglers home run that went a pretty good ways up the light pole in right field. Chris Schmidt was embarrassingly picked off second base and his bat which 1/2 of the team used was broken in the last inning. Pitching for the Apollos Justin Loftin started and pitched 1-1/3 inning allowing one run. Alex Sample pitched 1-2/3 innings of scoreless ball. Josh Krikstain pitched one inning of scoreless ball and Brandon Hutson pitched 4 innings picking up his first win allowing just two runs. All pitchers threw strikes and did well. The Apollos will now head to Birmingham for a weekend tourney.
Game 14 Apollos 17 Shockers 5
The Apollos finally ended their winless streak with an offensive explosion by scoring 5 runs in the 3rd and 7 runs in the 6th. Leading the Apollos was Tim Brown who hit two homers and had a single, he had 5 hits in the doubleheader. Manny Lujan had three hits and a homer, Kevin Hall had three hits and two steals, Mike Averelo had two hits including a 2 run homer and he had two walks. All 10 batting spots had at least one hit. Alex Dutka gave the Apollos a quality start going 4 innings allowing 4 runs. Kyle Spanger pitched the final two innings allowing just one run... The Apollos split the doubleheader and appear on the winning track.
Game 13 Shockers 9 Apollos 4
The Apollos failed miserablely to drive runners in from scoring position. In one of the worst offensive performances in team history the Apollos managed just 4 runs in 8 innings..It started in the first inning the Apollos only scored three runs despite loading the bases twice, but a double play and a key strikeout got the Shockers out of a jam. The Shockers pitcher continued to try to the let Apollos score runs, but Apollo hitters continued to find ways to kill rallys and end innings. The Apollos only managed one more run the entire game. Alex Sample allowed 7 runs in 4 1/3 inning.. He walked three but struggled in the 4th. All of his runs were allowed earned.. Justin Loftin allowed two runs in 2-2/3 innings.Game 12 Apollos 8 Dominican Kingz 8The Apollos set a team record by playing in three games without a victory. The Apollos fell down in this game 6-1 as Alex Sample allowed three runs in two innings and Justin Lofton allowed three runs in two innings. Finally the Apollos clawed back in the game getting the score to 6-4 with some bases loaded walks. Then with two outs in the last inning Tommy Denson's single scored two runs. Tim Brown then reached base and scored on Andrew Dunn single to give Apollos 8-6 lead. The Kingz scored two runs off Mike Averalo in the bottom of 7th to secure a tie. Mike pitched two scoreless innings before allowing the tieing runs. Josh Krikstain and Tommy Denson lead the offense, Denson with two hits, Krikstain with three runs. The Apollos pitching continues to get them in big holes.
Game 11 Metro Astros 18 Apollos 2The Apollos suffered their worst loss in team history on an early Saturday Morning at Westbury without the aid of 5 starters (Webster, Hall, Lujan, Denson, Spangler, Evans). Justin Loftin took the loss on the mound allowing 8 runs in 2nd inning before getting an out. Alex Sample pitched two innings allowing 3 runs. Andrew Dunn pitched one inning allowing 2 runs. Alex Dutka pitched one scoreless inning. Chris Schmidt pitched one inning allowing 4 runs. The Apollos committed 8 errors and walked 8 batters. Adam Spencer and Andrew Dunn scored the only runs.
Game 10 Katy Braves 9 Apollos 8The Apollos dropped an HMABL to the Katy Braves. The Apollos lead 5-0 when Alex Sample injured his ankle jumping in celebration of a good defensive play. His was wild and had to be removed. The Braves scored 7 runs in the bottom of the 4th and the Apollos used Sample, Andrew Dunn, Manny Lujan and finally Kyle Spangler stopped their rally. In the bottom of the 5th the Braves were retired by Spangler and Matt Evans and the Apollos took an 8-7 lead into the final inning which was bottom of the 6th, Evans allowed 2 singles walked a batter before giving way to Alex Sample who re-entered the game. Sample gave up an immediate hit ending the game. The Apollos had a breakout day from Kyle Spangler who hit three balls extremely hard including an opposite field homer. And a shot to centerfield which the centerfielder made a great play. Tommy Denson had three walks and Andrew Dunn went 3-4 with 2 steals. The Apollos made some huge mistakes early like cowardly baserunning by Manny Lujan and Adam Spencers failure to get down a bunt.....Alex Sample pitched ok he walked more than he usually does.
Game 9 Apollos 8 Dominican Kings 2
The Apollos played very poorly offensively despite Adam Spencer's first home run. The Apollos left the bases loaded 3 times with two outs. Justin Loftin started pitching three scoreless innings before allowing one run in the 4th. He was removed in the 4th Alex Dutka pitched 2 perfect innings and Kevin Webster pitched two innings allowing one run.
Game 8 Apollos 14 Houston White Sox 5
This was a close game and a battle in the first 5 innings and was tied 3-3 until the Apollos exploded for 8 runs in the 6th and another 3 runs in the 7th and at one point got 7 consective hits. Alex Sample threw all 7 innings for the win and Tim Brown homered. Andrew Dunn had three hits, the new guy from the Virgin Islands had two key hits including a gapper that sparked the rally. It was the best game the Apollos had played all season beating one of the better pitchers in the Mexican League.
Game 7 Apollos 13 Mets 8The Apollos defeated the Mets 13-8. Kevin Webster lead the way throwing 4 shutout innings on the mound and hitting a 2 run homer and a rbi double. The Apollos took a 13-0 lead into the last inning. The Mets reeled off 8 runs off of Justin Loftin/Manny Lujan in the Top of 7th. Manny Lujan hit his 2nd grand slam of the season. Adam Spencer had an outfield assist throwing out a runner at third.
Game 6 HMABL Opener..Apollos 9 Metro Astros 2
The Apollos hit well in their HMABL regular season opener. Manny Lujan continued to lead the way with 2 hits a walk and sac fly for a total of 3 rbis.Kevin Webster, Kyle Spangler and Andrew Dunn also had two hits. Kyle Spangler was the starter he lasted 2-2/3 inning before leaving with stiffness, he allowed two runs only one earned run. Alex Sample relieved him throwing 1-2/3 innings of scoreless ball, before leaving with arm stiffness. Andy Yount bailed out Sample pitching 1-2/3 innings completely dominating Metro Astro Hitters. Kevin Webster pitched a scoreless 7th to end the game, all pitchers threw strikes and were competitive. spangler picked up his first win.
Game 5 Apollos 9 Houston Braves 7Kevin Webster's 310 foot Grand Slam was the only reason the Apollos were in this game at all. His slam combined with the Braves pitcher walkking 6 batters in the bottom of the 6th inning lead to a 9-7 win. The Apollos offense is in terrible shape from start to finish. Justin Loftin pitched three good innings before falling apart. Alex Sample made his Apollo debut pitching two fair innings and managing a win.. The Apollos must prepare to play better in regular season.
Game 4 Kingwood College 4 Houston Apollos 0The Apollos failed to score a run on a very rainy/cold day at Kingwood College and for the 2nd time in team history they were shutout. Kingwoods pitcher threw strikes and their catcher eliminated the Apollo running game throwing out 2 runners. Offensively Kingwood scored 4 runs on timely hitting. Josh Krikstain took the loss on the mound despite throwing very well and getting out of several jams. Clint Hicks turned a key 1st to home double play. Manny Lujan had 2 hits and reached all three times, Tim Brown and Krikstain had the only other hits.
Game 3 Apollos 9 Houston Braves 5The Apollos were lead in this exhibition game by Mike Wilson's 3 rbi inside the park home run and two innings on the mound. It was Wilson's only at bat. Ryan Laverell and Carl Johnson each added a two run home run. Tim Brown had an rbi triple. Kyle Spangler and Jeff McGinn made their debut on the mound. Kevin Webster also pitched two innings.
Game 2 Apollos 13 Houston White Sox 8
Mike Wilson threw 4 shutout innings on the mound despite going 0-4 at the plate to lead the Apollos. Karl went 3-4 with a homerun and a double, Andrew Dunn went 3-4 with a double. Matt Evans and Kevin Webster made their Apollo debutes. Andrew Dunn and Webster each allowed 4 runs on the mound in shaky innings...
Game 1 Apollos 13 Galveston County All Stars 6This was the Apollos first game in several months and it showed the All Stars jumped out to quick 5-0 lead and appeared to be ready to polish the Apollos. The Apollos scored 11 runs in the third inning on Chris Schmidt/Manny Lejun home runs and sent 15 batters to the plate. Alex Dutka threw a complete game 4 of the runs were unearned. The teams will probably play again in Galveston County soon.
Houston Apollos Baseball Club= 7320 South Sam Houston Parkway East Houston, Texas 77075 713-898-1874 coastman14@yahoo.com