The Brazos Valley Bombers dropped their playoff debut Monday night, falling to the Coppell Copperheads by a score of 4-2 on the road in Game One of the Division Series.
The series will shift to Brazos Valley Bank Ballpark on Tuesday night for Game Two, with a host of festivities planned. Prior to the game, Montelongo’s Fine Jewelry and Candy 95 will join the Bombers in giving away $7,500 in gemstones, including a ½-carat diamond worth $2,500. After the game, the B’s will have a spectacular fireworks display to celebrate the Bombers inaugural season.
The Bombers will come home with a 1-0 deficit in the best-of-three Division Series after Monday night’s opener. The Copperheads jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning off of starter Thomas Keeling. Keeling fought through a wild outing but settled down after that, giving up just one hit over four innings with seven walks and five strikeouts.
After falling behind 3-0 in the first, the B’s closed the gap to 3-2 with a pair of runs in the top of the second. Will Basom picked up a single and Blake Walker drew a walk before Kip Masuda singled them both home.
But within one run was as close as the Bombers could get. Evan Cox pitched four stellar innings, allowing three hits and no walks, striking out two. His only blemish was a solo home run surrendered to Jeff Nutt in the fifth frame.
The Bombers managed three hits on the night. In addition to Basom and Masuda, Joseph Towns posted a single on the evening.
On Tuesday, Bombers number one starter John Touchton will take the hill in a must-win situation. But before the game, 20 women will be winners. All women 18 and over will be eligible for the “Diamond In The Rough” promotion, with 20 finalists guaranteed to win. 19 of the finalists will each receive a “Bomber Blue” topaz worth $250, and one lucky lady will take home a ½-carat round brilliant-cut diamond. During the game, a Montelongo’s will pendant-mount all of the gemstones so the lucky winners can wear their stones home.
Following the game, the Bombers will present fans with another of their patented fireworks spectacular, celebrating Brazos Valley’s first-ever playoff appearance.
Tickets for the first home game of the playoffs are on sale now. Playoff tickets can be purchased Sunday at the ballpark, during the week at the team’s office at 405 Mitchell Street in Bryan, over the phone at (979) 779-PLAY, or online at bvbombers.com.
If a Game Three is necessary to determine a Division Series winner, it will be played Wednesday in Coppell.
The winners of the two Divisional Series move on to the Texas Collegiate League Championship Series beginning Friday, August 10. The team with the better regular season record is the first seed and hosts Game One of the best-of-three series. The second seed hosts Game Two on August 11, and if necessary the decisive Game Three would be played at the home of the first seed on August 12.