The Apollos went to Kansas and were swept in 2008 for the first time in team history.
They had almost no offense and made 8 errors against the Newton Rebels. No team from Zaragosa League or Coastal League won a game in Kansas in 2008. The Apollos had excellent pitching in Kansas but terrible infield play and 11 errors in two games on astroturf wasn't the winning formula. The Apollos offense was also terrible compared to previous teams. The Apollos had a tough decision to make whether to attend the NBC World Series...With only 3 of their regular season starters making the trip to Kansas it would have seemed best to stay in Texas. However it was decided to go to Kansas and that is what the Apollos did. The Apollos would like to thank Pierce Mulvaney who served as pitching coach for the Apollos during the tournament, Pierce pitched for El Dorado Broncos.
Newton Rebels 8 Houston Apollos 2
Wichita Sluggers 4 Houston Apollos 2
NBC State Tournament
Game 29 Seguin Steelers 9 Houston Apollos 6 The Apollos were down to 9 available players and all of them played well and competed in this game. Chad Rogers threw 3 innings allowing 4 runs. Bob Pfaff threw 3 innings allowing 3 runs and Zak Williams threw 2 innings allowing 2 runs.
Kyle Eaves made several errors that could have changed the game. Manny Lujan homered and doubled. Bob Pfaff and Chad Rodgers had several hits. Paul Montabano Jr and Paul Montabano Sr made the father son combo in team history. Each scored a run. The Apollos finished 2nd in the tournament, didn't have pitching to win tournament.
Game 28 Houston Apollos 9 Corpus Christi Bucs The Apollos got 7-2/3 innings from Casey Newman and Mike Panozzo came on to close out the game. The Apollos broke the game open in the 9th when Zak Williams doubled, Matt Clark singled, Andrew Dunn singled, Chad Rogers doubled and Bob Pfaff singled. Leaving a 9-5 lead.
Game 27 Seguin Steelers 11 Houston Apollos 0 This was the winners bracket championship game with the winner almost for sure to win the tournament. The Apollos received bad news earlier in the day as starter Sean Kelly would not be attending the game, this was a set back that would not be overcome. The Apollos started Matt McCllough and he didn't escape the first inning. Allowing 8 runs on 5 hits and 3 walks. Zak Williams came in for relief and allowed both runs he inherited to score but pitched 4-1/3 innings allowing only 3 more runs. The only Apollos hit was a double by Bob Pfaff.
It was impossible for the offense to get started facing Seguin's ace with an 8-0 hole before their first at bat. This is the first time in 5 years the team had been run ruled and goes to show at this level pitching depth is everything.
Game 26 Houston Apollos 6 Austin Gold Sox 4 The Apollos advanced past the Gold Sox but lost their #1 tournament pitcher Tanner Hamilton.
Johnny Roberts started and pitched 3-2/3 innings but continued to get into jams but somehow escape them. Tanner came on in the 4th and got Johnny out of a jam and then pitched a scoreless 5th. He went to the mound for the 6th and could not pitch with elbow pain. The Apollos sent Bob Pfaff to the mound and he responded with 4 quality innings to lead the Apollos to victory, he didn't give up a run until the 9th and closed the game out. Offensively, Kyle Eaves got a key 2 rbi single up the middle of the Gold Sox starter. Once the starter was out the Apollos scored 4 runs off the Sox Bullpen and should have scored more but escaped with a victory.
Game 25 Houston Apollos 11 Austin Expos 6 The Apollos drew the Expos in the first round of the tournament.
things did not start well for the Apollos falling down 2-0 in the 3rd inning. The Apollos quickly came
back to tie the game in the bottom of the inning at 2-2, Alex Ruiz's single scored Andrew Dunn and Chad Roberts.
Bob Pfaff's 5th inning homer left the score at 3-3. Abe Garcia fielder's choice left the score 4-3.
The Expos pulled their starter in the 6th, and the Apollos responded with a leadoff double by Andrew Dunn, infield single by Chad Roberts, infield error by Bob Pfaff.
Alex Ruiz singled in two runs. Then Austin Gracie singled in two more runs. Kyle Eaves walked and Matt Clark walked, Andrew Dunn singled in two more runs leaving the score 11-3.
Paul Montabono pitched 6 innings allowing 6 runs, Mike Panozzo came on to throw the final 3 innings not allowing a run. Bob Pfaff homered over the large net in right field. Abe Garcia made a quality catch in right field to end a scoring threat.
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Game 24 Houston Apollos 5 LC Hornets 0
Johnny Roberts threw 6 innings of shutout ball to cool down the hot Hornets bats. He struck out 6 and only walked 3 and used his defense to get him out of a jam in the 2nd. The turning play of the game was Matt Clark hit an infield ball that the Hornets made 3 errors on one play and threw the ball in the outfield allowing Clark and two other runners to score, It was a little league home run. This took the score from 2-0 to 5-0 and put the game out of reach. Mike Panozzo threw the final inning.
Game 23 LC Hornets 8 Apollos 1 Michael McClib started and gave up 5 runs in 2-2/3 innings. Matt McClough came on to pitch 3-2/3 innings allowing 3 runs. The Hornets pounded the ball. The Apollos chance came in the third with bases loaded and no outs they only scored one run.
Game 22 Apollos 7 LC Hornets 5 The Apollos took complete control of this game with a 7-1 lead only for the Hornets to storm back in the bottom of the 7th with 4 runs and almost tie the game. Cody Elliot started the game and threw 2 innings but removed himself due to arm problems.
Sean Kelly came on and threw 4 good innings, Bob Pfaff struggled but got out of the 7th inning to end the game. Pfaff had three hits.
Game 21 Apollos 7 Mykawa Hawks 5 This game served as the last regular season game for Coastal Baseball League's 16 game regular season. The Apollos sent Chris Ryan to the mound and he threw two scoreless innings before hitting his pitch count. In the bottom of the first the Apollos scored 5 runs with consective hits from Dunn, Carroll, Pfaff, Garcia, Eaves and Hall to start the game. Kyle Eaves pitched two innings and Matt Clark pitched 2-2/3 innings Bob Pfaff had to pitch the last out with the HAwks getting back in the game, Eaves allowed two runs.
Game 20 Seguin Steelers 10 Houston Apollos 4
The Apollos took a 2-0 lead into the 3rd, the doors fell off, Mike Panozzo started and threw well, in the 3rd he gave up 5 consecutive hits allowing 4 Seguin runs. Several balls were misplayed by Andrew Dunn and Andrew Lamont which could have ended the inning. Chad Rogers came on in relief he allowed 4 more runs and Andrew Lamont relieve Rogers and he allowed 2 more runs. Game 19 Houston Apollos 2 Seguin Steelers 0 Paul Mantalbano threw a 7 inning shutout scattering 5 hits and key defensive help. He started the game on 5 minutes notice as Louie Lee was a game time scratch due to elbow soreness. Chad Rogers and Matt Clark turned a key double play in the 6th. Andrew Dunn threw out a runner at the plate in the 3rd to end the inning. Kevin Els threw out Seguin's fastest baserunner attempting to steal to end the game. There was little offense in the game as the winds blew directly in from Left Field. The game remained scoreless through 5 innings. In the 6th Andrew Dunn walked stole 2nd and scored when Chad Rogers doubled down the line. Rogers then attempted to steal third and the throw got away from 3rd baseman allowing him to score leaving the score 2-0. That would be the only hit allowed from Seguin's pitchers but enough for the Apollos to Salvage a win.
Game 18 Texas Blaze 9 Houston Apollos 5 Before the game the Alemeds Academy announced they would no longer be playing and the Texas Blaze would forfill their schedule. The Apollos sent Chris Ryan to the mound against Texas Blaze in Dickinson. Chris was on a pitch count that should have ended sooner, he dominated hitters in the first two innings striking out the side in the 1st, after allowing 1 run in the 2nd, he walked a man with two outs, gave up a hit then a three run homer. This left the Apollos down 4-0. Alex Sample came in and gave up 3 runs and the score was 7-0. Matt McClough pitched 2-1/3 inning allowing one run. Finally the Apollos woke up down 8-0 with Matt Clark scoring on an Andrew Dunn single. Then in the 7th Tim Brown's 2 run homer had the game at 8-5. That was as close as it got with time expiring in the 8th, the Apollos were lead with 3 solid hits from Matt Warren, 3 hits from Andrew Dunn. Amazingly the Apollos managed to lose an 8 inning game with 15 hits leaving 12 men on base.
Game 17 Houston Apollos 4 League City Hornets 3
This turned out to be the championship game of Coastal Baseball League as the Apollos had a 1 game lead going into the game and a Hornets win they would have had the tie breaker. The Apollos relied on Bob Pfaff and he came through in large fashion. At the plate he was 3-4 with a monster homer that landed in the top of the trees in deep Coastal Baseball Park. He also landed three solid singles. Then Pfaff came on to pitch the 5th, 6th and 7th to preserve his 4th save, he allowed two runs. Ethan Brown started on the mound going four innings escaping a first inning jam with just one run allowed. Alex Ruiz homered as well for the Apollos after Bob Pfaff in what proved to be the games tieing run. Abe Garcia singled and he was removed for a pinch runner (Joe), who scored the games winning run on a hit and run. Abe also had a key sac bunt in the game. It was Bob Pfaff day at Coastal Park, on the mound and at the plate.
Game 16 Houston Apollos 14 South Belt Sox 2 This game was over in the top of the first after Andrew Dunn singled to lead the game off Robert Carroll homered, Alex Ruiz doubled, Bob Pfaff and Tim Brown were HBP. Abe Garcia Sac Fly, Matt Clark walked in a run. Eric Brown grounded out leaving the score 5-0. Robert Carroll continued his assault with another double. Johnny Roberts threw 6 innings allowing 2 runs striking out 5.
Game 15 Houston Apollos 7 Alemeds Academy 6 The Apollos traveled to Dickinson and played on a natural surface for the first time this summer.
The Apollo offense finally got into full gear for the first time this sesaon with some help from Alemeds wildness. In the 2nd Zak Williams lead off inning by being hit, Matt Clark walked, Andrew Lamont walked, Robert Nichols hit into a fielders choice, Andrew Dunn singled (RBI). Tim Brown singled (RBI). Brian Fisher singled (2 rbi), Reggie Veal and Wilson Rodriguez Ked leaving the score 4-1, Alemeds jumped on Mike Panozzo in the 3rd scoring 4 runs on 4 hits and two key errors. Leaving score 5-4. The Apollos regrouped and make another strong rally in the 4th. Robert Nichols walked, Andrew Dunn singled, Alex Sample Sac bunted them over(sample was in game because he was only available player). Chris Fisher walked setting up the games biggest play. Reggie Veal hit a tailor made double play that the 2nd baseman booted not even getting a single out. Wilson Rodiriguez followed with his only hit of the day scoring 2 leaving score 7-5. Matt McCollugh came on and pitched the 4th and 5th strong and had a hurricane of problems in the 6th, the umpire declared the game over due to time. With a two run lead he walked the lead off batter, Ked a batter got a ground ball out to third, then gave up two hits and walked another batter leaving the score 7-6, the Apollos stayed with him and struck out the final batter of the game.
Game 14 Houston Apollos 7 Mykawa Hawks 2 Cody Elliott pitched 4 scoreless innings controlling the game, Alex Sample came in and pitched two scoreless innings, before giving up two runs in the 7th. The Hawks pitcher threw at Apollo hitters and the umpires didnt care. Sample hit one of the Hawks hitters and a fight nearly broke out. The umpires have no control of anything and luckily this occured with local teams and not teams from out of town and with a pitcher who wasnt throwing hard. Matt McCollough had two hits. Ryan Fisher made his debut with solid hit balls. Matt Clark had two more hits.
Game 13 League City Hornets 7 Houston Apollos 5 Casey Newman pitched 3 innings allowing 4 runs. Zak Williams pitched 1-1/3 innings allowing 3 runs. Zak pitched a perfect 5th striking out the side, but then struggled in the 6th with 2 walks and a double, Bob Pfaff came in and limited damage, but the Apollos were down 7-1. The Apollos mounted a huge rally in the top of the 7th, Bob Pfaff walked. Alex Ruiz walked, Tim Brown doubled, Kevin Els walked, Matt Clark singled, Landon Lee singled leaving the game 7-5 with bases loaded in the 7th, the Hornets got Robert Nichols to fly out to end the game. Andrew Dunn was thrown at twice at the plate making the difference in the game. Alex Ruiz had the best power hitting day in recent years, went a ball of the top of the fence and a homer in what had been a dead ball park.
Game 12 Houston Apollos 4 SouthBelt Sox 1 Louis Lee pitched 6 innings and the Apollos sat back and let the Sox make mistakes. Bob Pfaff lead the charge for the Apollos, The Sox balked in Bob Pfaff after he had reached on an error in the 1st. In the 3rd Pfaff lead off the inning with a double that hit a tree in fair territory, Alex Ruiz walked, Zak Williams and Tim Brown walked scoring a run. Landon Lee was hit by a pitch scoring another run. Alex Ruiz hit the ballparks first left handed home run leaving the score 4-0. In the 4th the only run the Sox scored the Apollos made two costly mistakes, Matt Clark bobbled a double play hit back at Louis Lee which would have ended the inning. Andrew Dunn and Tim Brown had a ball land in between them in the outfield. Bob Pfaff came on for the save pitching a scoreless 7th.
Game 11 League City Hornets 2 Houston Apollos 1 Eric Brown was again responsible for the Apollos loss with 2 outs in the 4th inning and runners on first and second he attempted to pick off a runner and threw the ball into right field allowing the winning run to score. And in the 2nd inning with the bases loaded and a 3-1 count he attempted to score on a passed ball and got thrown out ending a rally. Johnny Roberts pitched 4 innings allowing 1 unearned run for the win. Alex Sample pitched two innings and somehow didnt give up a run. Abe Garcia scored the only run of the game on Casey Newmans bases loaded walk.
Game 10 Houston Apollos 3 Southbelt Sox 2 Casey Newman threw all 7 innings escaping numerous jams. The Apollos again failed to score runs. Tim Brown scored on a hit by pitch in the first, Matt Clark scored after a walk in the 2nd. The game was tied going into the bottom of the 7th. After the Sox retired Eric Brown, they walked Andrew Dunn and intentionally walked Tim Brown. Bob Pfaff hit a game winning single to end the game.
Game 9 Mykawa Hawks 4 Houston Apollos 3 The Apollos faced the Hawks ace and came out swinging. Andrew Dunn, Alex Ruiz and Robert Carroll all had first inning hits to give the Apollos a 2-0 lead. Mike Panozzo turned around and gave up 3 runs to the Hawks in the 1st. Tyler Harris took the loss walking a batter in the 5th and allowing him to score. Alex Ruiz had two hits for the Apollos who failed to score on the Hawks bullpen with bases loaded. Eric Brown decided to try to stretch a single into a double and got thrown out by 5 yards. Andrew Gay hit a double and then got picked off 2nd.
Game 8 Houston Apollos 3 Alemeds Academy 2 The Apollos held off Alemeds Academy 3-2 behind pitching performance Louis Lee. Lee went 6 innings allowing 2 runs. Zak Williams pitched a scoreless 7th for his first save. Andrew Dunn lead the game off by reaching on error stealing 2nd and scoring on Robert Carrolls single. Eric Brown singled in the 5th and stole 2nd. He scored on Zac Williams rbi single. Abe Garcia walked in the 6th stole 2nd and scored the winning running on a rare pass ball with a great jump.
Game 7 Houston Apollos 7 League City Hornets 2 The Apollos went back to basic formula of speed in this game. Andrew Dunn, Tim Brown and Dane Yelovich lead the way. Dunn scored three runs on 1 hit and 2 walks, Brown had two hits, 2 steals and two runs. Yelovich had the days best bunt and hit every ball hard. Derek David had several key hits as well. Alex Sample took the hill for the Apollos throwing three scoreless innings. Matt McClollugh pitched three innings allowing 2 unearned runs and pitched out of a game. Tyler Harris threw the 7th.
Game 6 Houston Apollos 2 South Belt Sox 1
In a game where hitting was at a premium the Apollos found themselves in a deadlocked 1-1 game.
Johnny Roberts threw 4 innings not allowing a hit, but he walked a batter, threw a passed ball and balked a run in giving Sox 1-0 lead. Cody Elliot came in and threw 3 scoreless innings allowing only one hit.
Apollos would answer with Abe Garcias rbi Sac Fly scoring Matt Warren. With two outs in the bottom of the 7th Casey Newman hit a ball up the middle that drew a wide thrown allowing him to reach first. He stole 2nd and Andrew Dunn singled to right field setting up a play at the plate, the throw beat Newman but was wide, The catcher missed Newman, Newman missed the plate, he beat the catcher to the plate in a scramble which ended the game.
Game 5 Houston Apollos 9 Mykawa Hawks 1 In what was the inaugural game for the Mykawa Hawks, things started well for the Hawks as their third baseman crushed a homer in the first inning. That would be it for the Hawks as Louis Lee quickly landed them, he threw 5 innings only allowing the homer. Derek David had two doubles and he hit a Sac Fly to center field that was so deep Andrew Dunn tagged up and scored from 2nd. Bob Pfaff singled in his only at bat, Justin Ard pitched a scoreless 6th and Zak Williams pitched a scoreless 7th. The Hawks will continue to improve
Game 4 Houston Apollos 4 Alemeds Academy 0 The Apollos and Alemeds played the first official game at Coastal Baseball Park and Bob Pfaff took all of the honors. He hit the parks first home run barely clearing the massive left field wall. Then he threw out the first base runner and later threw the final innings for the save. Casey Newman threw the first pitch and got the first win, going four innings before getting tired. Dane Yelovich got the parks first hit and scored the first run. Derek David got two solid hits, Alex Ruiz continued to lead the offensive surge for the Apollos with a double. The Apollos should have broken the game open in the 1st already leading 2-0, courtesy runner Jose Rosales was thrown out at the plate on Zak Williams hit.
Game 3 (Exhibition Game) Houston Apollos 6 Alemeds Academy 5
The Apollos beat a young Alemeds Academy team when Tim Brown scored on a pass ball in the final inning. Zak Williams and Manny Lujan had scored earlier on another Alex Ruiz rbi double. Matt McClollugh pitched very poorly with the Apollos up 3-0 he walked several batters then threw a bunt attempt into right field
Game 2 (Exhibition Game) Houston Apollos 3 Baytown Outlaws 1
The Apollos played their first game at Coastal Baseball Park and the huge dimensions and 20 mph wind eliminated anyone from considering a home run. It took wooden bats for the Apollos to finally beat Baytown, who swung the bat pretty well. Casey Newman started and threw 4 good innings. Louis Lee came in and threw 4 good innings, Bob Pfaff pitched the 9th for his first save. Manny Lujan stole 3 bases. Alex Ruiz had two rbi’s with a key double. It was Alexs day he turned 3 double plays on the artifical turf. The Apollos turned a team record 5 double plays in a 9 inning game.
Game 1 (Exhibition Game) Bay Area Toros 9 Houston Apollos 5
The Apollos were invited to play an exhibition game against the Continental Baseball Leagues Bay Area Toros. The game served as the final exhibition game for the Toros and the opening summer game for the Apollos.
In the 2nd inning Eric Brown Singled, Jose Molina bunted for a hit, Tim Brown bunted for a hit, Matt Clark walked RBI. Toros starter removed. Andrew Dunn walked RBI. This left the Apollos 2-3-4 hitters with bases loaded and no outs. But instead of breaking the game open, they had some real cowardly at-bats, Mike Wilson struck out, Manny Lujan check swung at the first pitch and grounded to the pitcher, and Bob Pfaff grounded out. Ending a chance to break the game open.Still The Apollos controlled the game through 5 innings leading 3-0, Chris Ryan pitched brilliantly allowing only one hit Chris reached his pitch count and didn’t return for the 6th. In the 6th the Toros scored 7 runs before an out was recorded…Casey Newman didn’t get an out before giving up 3 hits. Chip Olipant pitched to 4 batters without getting an out. Finally Louis Lee came in to get the Apollos out of the jam, but not before 7 runs had scored. Bob Pfaff gave up two more runs in the 8th to leave the score 9-3, Mike Wilson homered in the 9th leaving the game 9-5. The Apollos depleted bullpen was full of guys who couldn’t get outs or throw strikes.
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