It says a lot about the Amarillo Sod Poodles’ season that they were able to overcome some missed opportunities and still come out on top. Baseball is a game of inches, and this week the Soddies showed that even when things don’t go perfectly, doing the little things right can make all the difference.
Needing just one win—or a Frisco RoughRiders loss—to clinch the second-half title in the Texas League South Division, Amarillo got their chance Wednesday night against the Midland RockHounds. They made the most of it, throwing their first shutout of the season at Hodgetown and taking a 4-0 victory to lock up the TL South second-half crown.
It’s been a week of familiar foes for the Sod Poodles and RockHounds, who still have four more games left in the regular season against each other. On top of that, the two teams will open a best-of-three series next Tuesday, with game two scheduled in Midland the following day. The stakes couldn’t be higher, with Midland having won the first-half title and Amarillo riding high off this latest win.
Tuesday’s series opener hinted at Amarillo’s potential, but the Soddies let a three-run lead slip away and suffered a 6-5 loss, leaving several men on base late in the game. That hangover could have carried into Wednesday’s matchup, as Amarillo left 15 men on base and twice loaded the bases. But baseball has a way of rewarding persistence, and Amarillo stayed focused.
The scoring started early when Midland starter Braden Nett allowed the first three batters to reach base, loading the bases. A double play brought in Manuel Pena for a 1-0 lead, and the Sod Poodles never looked back. Right-hander Jose Cabrera delivered one of his best outings of the season, going six strong innings while allowing just three hits and a walk, improving to 9-6 and setting a franchise record for single-season wins.
Amarillo added insurance runs throughout the game. Gavin Conticello hit a solo home run in the third, and Cristofer Torin, the youngest player on the roster, drove in a run with a double in the fifth. J.J. D’Orazio followed with another double to make it 3-0, and Jose Fernandez added the final run in the sixth. Cabrera and reliever Yordin Chalas retired 11 straight Midland batters, and Landon Sims closed the door with a perfect ninth inning.
It was the Sod Poodles’ first home shutout in over a year, coincidentally against the same opponent and by the same 4-0 score. Beyond the numbers, the game showcased what has made this season special: resilience, teamwork, and confidence in each player. Conticello summed it up best: the team is close, everyone steps up, and each player has a chance to be great.
In the end, the Sod Poodles didn’t need every opportunity to fall their way. They just needed to do the little things right—and that’s exactly what they did. For Amarillo, it’s a second-half title well-earned and a statement that this team isn’t just good—they’re a team built to thrive when it matters most.
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