They may have not been the most conventional ways to score runs, but four rounds deep in the playoffs, most high school baseball teams will take runs any way they can get them.
London scored single runs on an error, on a passed ball and on a bases loaded walk and Crosby Zeller tossed a four-hit shutout to put the Pirates back in the UIL State Semifinals for the sixth consecutive season with a 4-0 win against Falfurrias in Game 2 of the Region IV-3A Division I final series at Robstown’s Steve Castro Field.
The program is the third in Texas history to qualify for the semifinals in six straight years, joining Holliday (2001-06) and South San Antonio (1963-68).
London advances to face the Region III-3A Division I champion Huntington, the same team they faced in the state semifinals in 2025.
“These guys know the standard the previous players have set,” London head coach Albert Amaya said. “The see it and they want to go through it themselves. They live up to that standard and perform up to that expectation.
“We have a totally different pitching staff this year — a sophomore-dominated pitching staff — and I’m so proud of them. We tell those guys to attack the strike zone and we trust our defense.”
Zeller, one arm in the young London pitching rotation, said the first double play turned by his infield gave him confidence on the mound and allowed him to pitch comfortably.
“We were working hard throughout the week,” Zeller said. “Our pitching coach, coach (Michael) Galvan, keeps us level-headed and working week-in and week-out.
“I felt good and everything was working today. There were a few times things got out of control, but I zoned back in and persevered.”
The Pirates struck first as an error allowed Christian Olivares to score. A passed ball plated Bryce Phillips and Zachary Tyrone drew a bases loaded walk to stake London to a 3-0 advantage while Zeller stayed in control and got a pair of double plays from his middle infielders Aiden Salinas and JJ Villegas.
“At London we wait for our turn, support everybody and we know we are always going to be there,” Zeller said. “This is the best feeling in the world.”
Salinas added to the lead on a solo home run to left-center and that would be all the offense the Pirates needed for Zeller, who struck out four and allowed four hits in the complete game win.
Falfurrias coach Gus Esquivel, whose team was in the regional final for the third consecutive season said a few things made the difference in the tight Game 2 loss.
“We got some runners in scoring position in a few innings, but we were just missing that big hit,” Esquivel said. “Defensively they got a couple of runs on errors, but for the most part we competed. That is the game of baseball. London is a talented team, hats off to them.
“I told our guys to keep their heads up. Not too many teams can say they made the regional finals three years in a row.”
Colton Ramirez and RJ Huerta each had two hits for the Jerseys in the loss.
Despite numerous new faces on the roster and even coaching staff, London continue to dominate Region IV in its final year in Class 3A. The Pirates will move to Class 4A next year as part of UIL Realignment.
But for now, they are hopeful to get the job done for two more weeks and hoist the program’s third state title overall and second straight.
“It takes a lot of work — it is tough with the expectations — but we did it again for the sixth year in a row, to win the region,” Amaya said. “This was our last 3A regional final and we’re happy to win it again.”
This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: London baseball tops Fal to advance to sixth straight state semfinal