UIL playoffs: Cedar Ridge advances to first high school baseball regional final

After winning 12-3 Thursday in Game 1, the Raiders needed every bit of what their duo on the mound provided as Game 2 was a pitchers’ duel. (Johnson starter Kason Hullum tossed a complete game with 11 strikeouts.)

Christian Olivas provided the game’s key hit in the top of the first inning when he belted a two-run single to right to score Kasen Langerhans and Matt Mabry. It turned out to be the only offense Cedar Ridge needed.

“I got down two strikes, and I was just like, ‘Let’s go be a dawg,’” Olivas said. “I just battled and was tough, and it ended up being good for me.”

Johnson (26-9-2) put two runners on in the sixth and loaded the bases in the seventh, but Batton worked out of both jams, recording strikeouts to end both innings.

“Bryson comes to us late (because he plays basketball for the Raiders), and the past two years, his arm is getting in shape when the (regular) season starts to finish up,” Reeves said. “He was phenomenal against Bowie, phenomenal against (San Antonio) Reagan and then he pitched his rear off last night and tonight. So I’m super proud of him, for sure.”

Paul Hernandez Jr. and Langerhans both finished with three hits for Cedar Ridge (25-11-2), which will play either Lake Travis or Laredo United South in the regional final.

To still be alive in late May is something particularly sweet for the Raiders’ seniors.

“I get to keep playing baseball and keep playing with my brothers,” Rice said. “I’ve been in this program for four years, and this isn’t just a team, it’s a family. … This moment means everything.”

It’s also significant for Reeves, who in his 11 years leading Cedar Ridge has turned the Raiders into a strong program that perennially makes the playoffs.

“It’s the first time in (program) history to reach a regional final, and we’ve hit some buzzsaws (in the playoffs) in the past,” he said. “We’ve had talent and just never achieved that goal that we want. We talked about it, and sometimes you just have to have stuff go your way. … And our kids believe right now.”