MONT BELVIEU — Look who’s in the regional quarterfinals.

Nederland’s District 22-5A season has taken the Bulldogs to the third round of UIL 5A baseball playoffs, after they blanked Galena Park 13-0 in five innings Saturday at Barbers Hill High School.

The Bulldogs will take on either Barbers Hill or Fort Bend Elkins in the 5A Region III quarterfinals next week, with dates and locations to be determined. Barbers Hill won its first game in the 5A area round, 13-1.

Nederland (25-7-1) last made the third round in 2013.

Coach Bryan Spell shares thoughts on Game 2 @BigNedBaseball pic.twitter.com/x7yHTRfYMh

— I.C. Murrell (@ICMurrellPB) May 12, 2018

“I’m extremely happy for our players,” Bulldogs coach Bryan Spell said. “They worked extremely hard. Just happy for them at this moment. They’ve earned everything they’ve gotten this year.”

Conner Kemp held Galena Park (17-10-3) to one hit and tossed five strikeouts through four innings. Jacob Mares then threw a perfect fifth inning with a strikeout.

“The team had my back, no matter what,” Kemp said.

The Bulldogs’ offense scratched runs from start to finish, one game after needing a four-run fifth to break out of a 2-0 hole and win 7-2 on Friday in Crosby. Landon Hiltz, Trenton Simon, Angel Castillo and Alex Ortiz each had two hits, as Nederland totaled 11.

Angel Castillo (2 for 3, 3 RBI) talks about batting with confidence @BigNedBaseball pic.twitter.com/QfdGlGVTVm

— I.C. Murrell (@ICMurrellPB) May 12, 2018

“The first game, I think we just got a lot of confidence,” said Castillo, who along with Underwood batted in three runs each. “We were able to come out here and swing how we know how to and get the job done.”

With Port Neches-Groves’ 5-1 loss to Santa Fe up the road in Crosby, Nederland remains the only Jefferson County team in the UIL playoffs. PNG was the reigning state champion.

Asked about trying to keep the 5A title in Mid-County, Spell said: “The state championship is a long way off. We’re going to enjoy this. We talked to our players about celebrating Mother’s Day and honoring those women who do so much for us. Then, we’ll move on to the next round.”

The grit-and-grind style of the Bulldogs was not done in comeback mode this time.

Hiltz, Nederland’s leading hitter, singled to left on the game’s first pitch and scored as Alan Underwood reached on an error at first base. The Yellowjackets were poised to jump in front after Kemp loaded the bases with three straight walks on 3-2 counts, but a fielder’s choice to second ended their best scoring threat.

Kemp didn’t walk another batter until the fourth and gave up his lone hit, a single to Carlos Calvillo, with two outs in the fourth.

“He’s been steady for the last couple of years,” Spell said. “He loves the big spot[light], and it doesn’t get any bigger than the playoffs.”

Meanwhile, the Dogs had their day at the plate.

Ortiz lined a one-run single in the second to score Case Babino. Adam Roccaforte and Trenton Simon singled to start the third inning and came home on sacrifice flyouts by Alan Underwood and Case Babino. Brock Holton nearly homered when he lined a double to the wall, but a baserunning mistake on Ortiz’s hit allowed the Jackets to tag him out.

The fourth inning started with an Ortiz double and Brian Davila walk, which brought up Hiltz’s one-run single. Trenton Simon then scored two runs with a double, and Castillo slapped a one-run single.

Roccaforte reached on an error against the second baseman and batted in a run. Two walks followed with a run scored before Castillo lined a two-run double. Babino capped the scoring with a one-run single for his second RBI.

“I think the guys are playing with a lot of confidence,” Spell said. “That’s the result of playing well.”

Adam Salinas took the loss after allowing six earned runs on eight hits and striking out two in the first 3 1/3 innings. Cipriano Ayala (one inning), Gilbert Rios (no outs recorded) and Pedro Hernandez also took the mound for the Jackets.

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I.C. Murrell: 721-2435. Twitter: @ICMurrellPANews