Class 5A
Amarillo High bats come up big in decisive game to beat Abilene
Like the other metro teams, Amarillo High had two solid pitching performances in their series against Abilene High, but it wasn’t until the Sandies came alive at the plate Saturday that they were assured they’d advance to the next round.
After struggling to hit the ball with only two runs in the first two games, the Sandies pounded out 19 hits in the decisive game three and rolled to a 10-5 victory at Lubbock-Cooper to win the series 2-1. They’ll advance to the Division I area round next week against El Paso El Dorado with date and location to be determined.
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Amarillo High (24-13-1) had two excellent starting pitching performances to open the series. The Sandies won the first game 2-1 on Friday, as Taegen Tate dominated, going the distance while giving up only four hits and striking out 12 with only one walk.
Still, Tate’s efforts looked like they might be all for naught as Amarillo High trailed 1-0 going into the bottom of the seventh. Gabe Ortiz began the inning with a single off Abilene starter Camp Churchill then pinch runner Talon Jones went to third when Clinton Rodriguez reached on an error.
The Sandies then pulled off a double steal to tie the game, with Jones coming home and Rodriguez taking second. Oliver Parsons then singled to left to drive home Rodriguez with the winning run.
Abilene (19-14-1) evened the series with a 2-0 win Saturday. The Sandies managed only two hits off Abilene’s George Ferguson, who dominated their lineup with 16 strikeouts and no walks.
Tate Blackwell threw well for the Sandies, giving up only six hits in six innings, but the two runs he gave up in the fifth were more than enough support for Ferguson.
The Sandies finally found their groove at the plate in game three, exceeding their run total for the previous two games with three runs in the top of the first. Every Amarillo High starter had at least one hit, with six of them having at least three.
Clayton Norrell pitched 6 2/3 innings to pick up the win.
Class 4A
Pampa rallies to beat Greenwood and advance
Pampa needed two wins Friday to advance and the Harvesters got them, beating Greenwood 12-7 and 6-1 at Lockney to advance to area.
The Harvesters (16-12-1) needed to win two on Friday since they lost the series opener since the lost the first game 8-3 on Thursday. They’ll play El Paso Riverside next week at a time and place to be determined.
Pampa jumped on Greenwood (17-10) from the start in the second game, opening the game with six unanswered runs. The Harvesters opened things up with three in the top of the firth, highlighted by Isaiah Anguiano’s two-run homer.
Anguiano was the star of the game for Pampa. Not only did he drive in four runs, he also started on the mound, allowing only four hits and an unearned run.
The decisive game was tied at three after four innings before Pampa broke out with eight runs in the fifth to take momentum. Isiah Estrada drew a bases-loaded walk to bring home the go-ahead run. Jarren Hill had a two-run single and Anguiano had another big hit with a two-run double which helped the Harvesters build an insurmountable 11-3 lead.
Hill, Anguiano, Max Neff and Brooks Barton all drove in two runs for Pampa.
Randall sweeps Fort Stockton
Randall had a pair of very different wins to sweep Fort Stockton at Lamesa, winning a 3-2 pitchers’ duel Friday, then rolling to an 11-1 run-rule victory Saturday to advance.
The Raiders (20-9-1) will play Clint in the area round next week at Seminole, with game one scheduled for Friday at 6 p.m. and game two for Saturday at noon.
Things didn’t start well for Randall starter Gio Miranda in the first game, as Fort Stockton (14-16) got on him for a 2-0 lead, one unearned run. But the left-hander was otherwise sharp, giving up only two hits and striking out eight.
Randall chipped away and eventually took the lead for the first time on an RBI single by Collin Miller in the bottom of the fourth.
In the seventh, Fort Stockton threatened by putting runners on with a walk and an error. Miranda then got Gama Corral to ground back to the mound and end the game.
Saturday’s game was much easier for the Raiders, who brought their bats in a big way, pounding out 12 hits.
Randall broke it open with seven runs in the top of the fourth to take a 9-0 lead. Kaison Benton had a two-run triple and Breken Melton capped the inning with a three-run double.
The Raiders scored two runs in the top of the sixth to attain the run-rule margin.
Even with the prolific offensive outburst, Randall still had solid pitching in the final game. Brae Silva threw four scoreless innings, giving up only an unearned run with two hits and six strikeouts. Paul Aguilera relieved and threw two perfect innings to close it.
Canyon swept by Seminole
Like their fellow Canyon ISD rival West Plains, the Canyon Eagles had two very solid games of pitching against Seminole. Unlike the Wolves, though, it wasn’t enough. It was heartbreaking way to end a year after a run to the UIL state baseball tournament just a year ago.
Canyon suffered a pair of heartbreaking losses, losing the first game Thursday at Seminole, 2-1, then falling in game two Friday at Canyon, 4-3 in eight innings. The Eagles finished their season 24-6.
The second game was tied 3-3 after four innings and stayed that way through seven, forcing extra innings. Zabien Urteaga pitched six solid innings but gave way to Bayler Schilling in the seventh.
Schilling threw a perfect seventh, but gave up a leadoff single in the eighth to Rowin Donaldson, who advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Obed Reyes then singled and Eloy Macias was intentionally walked to load the bases.
Pinch hitter Owen Youngblood then laid down a perfect squeeze bunt to bring home Donaldson with the go-ahead run. Donaldson retired the Eagles in order to end the game.
In the first game, Canyon’s Colt Cruth was masterful on the mound, giving up only three hits in six innings. However, a tough first inning doomed him and the Eagles, as the first runner reach on an error and scored and another scored on a wild pitch.
After giving up two hits in the first, Cruth only gave up one more the rest of the way.
Canyon’s only run came in the fifth on Urteaga’s RBI single. The Eagles had two runners on with one out in the seventh, but Jacob Burris lined into a double play to end it.
Class 3A
Childress sweeps Slaton
The Childress Bobcats are the only Texas Panhandle Class 3A team still standing after the opening weekend of postseason play.
The Bobcats were able to keep their season going getting a sweep of Slaton in the Class 3A bi-district Division II round thanks to getting 14-9 and 12-7 victories over Slaton on Friday and Saturday.
The Bobcats (14-11-1) are now going to play Lamesa in the area round at a time and place to be determined.
The Childress offense was on fire pounding out 29 hits in the two games. Drake Rabe was clutch in the first game going 2-for-4 with an RBI. Teammate Luke Rodriguez was a perfect 3-for-3 in the second game with an RBI. Rodriguez had two triples in the series.
Childress broke open Saturday’s game with a nine-run second inning.
Bushland, Dalhart and Tulia were all eliminated over the weekend.
Bi-district quick hits
Gruver opened the UIL Class 2A Division II playoffs with the same momentum they closed out the regular season with. The Greyhounds were able to use outstanding pitching that was more than enough to knock off Lockney with a 10-0 shutout followed by 1-0 blanking. The Greyhounds remain unbeaten on the year at 17-0 and will now face Tahoka in the area round at a time and place to be determined. Stephen Cowan and Briggs Satterfield both handcuffed the Longhorn bats in the sweep. Cowan threw a no-hitter over six innings in the opener racking up six strikeouts. Cowan was also 1-for-3 at the plate with two RBIs. Satterfield followed in Game 2 throwing a complete game scattering two hits with five strikeouts. Satterfield also went 2-for-4 in the first game with a two-run triple.
The Wellington Skyrockets made quick work of Sanford-Fritch with a 15-4 win in the Class 2A Division I bi-district round. Wellington (12-5) will face New Home in the area with Game 1 set for 4:30 p.m. Thursday in Floydada. TJ Salinas was 2-for-3 with three RBIs against the Eagles. Teammate Caleb Strickland went 2-for-2 with a double and two RBIs.
West Texas High picked up a sweep of Clarendon with a 3-2 victory followed by a 7-3 win in the Class 2A Division II playoffs at Tascosa High School. Brodey Stone tallied 11 strikeouts over 5.1 innings in the opener. Cash Fulton tossed a complete game with six K’s to close out the series. The Comanches (9-11) move on to the area round to battle Ropes at a time and place to be determined.
Nazareth bullied Borden County with a 14-1 victory and a 14-0 shutout in the bi-district round. The Swifts (16-2) advance to play Booker (12-4) in the area round with the first of a three-game series starting Thursday in Littlefield. Lincoln Pohlmeier went 2-for-4 in Game 1 with three RBIs. Zane Schulte worked five no-hit innings with seven strikeouts to close out the series.
Booker kept on cruising beating Shamrock 25-4 in the Class 1A bi-district round. Chase Nelson threw a no-hitter with 14 strikeouts.