With a season-ending sweep on the line and a program-best conference record in the balance, Bret Deegan stepped to the plate with an opportunity for a storybook ending to his Amarillo College baseball career.
The second-year Badger proceeded to capture the pressure-packed moment in dramatic fashion on Friday against Clarendon College.
Deegan launched a two-run homer over the right-center fence, giving the Badgers a 16-14 lead during the top of the 10th frame of game four at Wilder Field in Plainview.
“At storybook time, he came to the plate – much like he did during the Howard series last year – back against the wall and it was a no doubter,” AC head coach Brandon Rains said. “As soon as it left the bat everybody knew it was gone.”
Deegan’s third homer of the season proved to be the game-winner as AC went on to secure the series sweep and finish the season with a program-best 19-17 record against Western Junior College Athletic Conference opponents.
“It was an exciting way to end his career. College baseball is all about making memories and that’s going to be a memory for the program and him for a long time,” Rains added.
Before Isaac Garza stepped on the mound in his hometown to close out game four, the Bulldogs erased a 14-10 AC advantage in the top of the bottom of the ninth inning when Deegan took to the hill for the final time as a Badger.
Amarillo College’s 2024 Pitcher of the Year walked the first two batters and gave up a single to load the bases with no outs. A Clarendon single with one out and a double with two outs tied the game.
AC proceeded to intentionally walk Noah Gagol, who homered earlier in the contest. A wild pitch by Deegan advanced the Clarendon College baserunners to second and third with two outs and the score tied at 14-14.
A spectacular play by first baseman Aidan Young ended the frame. The third-year sophomore scooped an erratic throw from the infield to prevent a potential walk-off hit.
“Aidan Young has made many outstanding plays like that during his career and none proved to be bigger than that,” Rains said.
The Badgers season-ending clash at Wilder Field proved to be one for the books in more ways than one.
Gerardo Prado set the team’s school-record for doubles in a season (23) during game three on Friday.
Fellow sophomore David De Hoyos scratched out his second three-homer series of the season as the San Antonio native hit a two-run shot in his final at bat during the eighth inning of game four, extending AC’s lead to 14-10.
The trio of home runs last week vaulted De Hoyos to second all time on the AC career homers list. De Hoyos hit 23 homers during his time in Badger uniform, including a team-high 14 home runs this spring.
On Thursday, the Badgers defeated CC 6-3 in game one and 13-4 in game two.
Freshman CJ Thornton recorded his first victory on the mound to start the series. The Weatherford, Texas native had five strikeouts, one walk, and three earned runs over his five-inning stint as the game one starter.
De Hoyos hit his first homer against the Bulldogs during the series-opener. The third baseman ended game one with a team-high three RBIs.
De Hoyos picked up where he left off in game two, recording a team-best four hits and three RBIs for the second consecutive game.
In game two, the Badgers tallied 13 hits, including four doubles and a De Hoyos homer, en route an eight-inning run-rule victory.
Zyon Hamilton, Brooks Carter, and Deegan added doubles during the 13-4 win.
Badger ace Logan Tibbett ended his AC pitching tenure with a near-shoutout on Friday. The Appalachian State University baseball signee recorded his fourth complete game of the season and allowed no earned runs, capping a 14-1 run-rule victory in five innings.
Carter hit his first of two homers against the Bulldogs in game three and finished the game with a team-high four RBIs.
Payton Bush and Hamilton tallied a team-best three hits apiece.
The series marked the first time the Badgers swept Clarendon since the reboot of athletics at AC in 2022.
AC previously went 3-1 against the Bulldogs over the previous two seasons.
The Badgers finished in sixth place in the WJCAC with their 19-17 conference mark.
El Paso Community College received the fourth and final WJCAC playoff bid via a 21-15 conference record. The Tejanos, who ended with the same WJCAC record as Howard, won the tiebreaker over the Hawks.
AC is set to graduate 14 second or third sophomores, who will be moving on to four-year colleges.
Rains expressed his gratitude for the group’s dedication and leadership over the past few seasons.
“I’m proud of the guys because they never quit. They always played hard. We took a few on the chin, but I thank the sophomores for all the work they put in,” he said. “Now it’s the freshmen’s turn. We got a good thing going and a strong class of recruits who will arrive next fall.”
