Hawks Edge Bullard In Class 3A Region II Baseball Quarterfinal
Photo by Jacob Reich
Pleasant Grove second baseman Clayton Reese leaps over Bullard Panther Stephen Langston while turning a double play during the bottom half of the third inning Friday
By SHANE STARK
Staff Writer
KILGORE — Bullard coach Ronnie Dent expected a pitcher’s duel in the Panthers’ playoff game against Pleasant Grove on Friday.
Staff Writer
KILGORE — Bullard coach Ronnie Dent expected a pitcher’s duel in the Panthers’ playoff game against Pleasant Grove on Friday.
Just call it a hunch.
Bullard’s Nick Rumbelow and Pleasant Grove’s Michael Wacha puzzled batters throughout complete games, combining to allow only five hits while striking out 21. But only Wacha’s team scored the run needed to advance, as the Hawks prevailed 1-0 in a one-game Class 3A Region II quarterfinal at Driller Park.
Bullard’s Nick Rumbelow and Pleasant Grove’s Michael Wacha puzzled batters throughout complete games, combining to allow only five hits while striking out 21. But only Wacha’s team scored the run needed to advance, as the Hawks prevailed 1-0 in a one-game Class 3A Region II quarterfinal at Driller Park.
Pleasant Grove (22-8) moves on to the regional semifinals with the victory. The Hawks will meet the winner between Kennedale and West next week.
Bullard finishes the season 21-8.
On paper, Rumbelow arguably put together the superior outing. The sophomore gave up only two hits and fanned 10. The run (unearned) came on an error in the fourth inning.
On paper, Rumbelow arguably put together the superior outing. The sophomore gave up only two hits and fanned 10. The run (unearned) came on an error in the fourth inning.
Wacha, meanwhile, allowed three hits and struck out 11 in a shutout performance.
“Nick’s just competitive; he’s going to find a way to get you out,” Dent said. “He could not have done any more than what he did. I mean, the only thing he could have done better is a no-hitter.
“The Wacha kid played well. He hit his spots and mixed his pitches up. Both of them are good pitchers, really good pitchers.”
Pleasant Grove missed a scoring opportunity when it left two runners on base in the third, during which leadoff batter Jake Rogers smashed a double that almost cleared the wall in left field. An inning later, the Hawks crossed the plate when Ryan Stephens walked and later scored on an error at second.
Rogers provided the second hit on another double in the fifth.
Bullard was led at the plate on hits by Stephen Langston, Ryan Clark and Charlie Moore (double). The Panthers stranded eight runners on the night, including five over the last four innings.
“We had our opportunities. We just couldn’t get the big hit when we needed to,” Dent said.
Despite the defeat, Dent was proud of his team’s performance. The Panthers’ seniors are Austin Camp, Travis Eudey, Cameron Agnew and Ryan Clarke.
“The season was very successful,” Dent said. “I will take (our) 13 guys anywhere. I’m that proud of them. …they are going to battle to the end, until the last out and not give up. They’ve done that all year long.”
Class 3A Region II Quarterfinal
At Driller Park, Kilgore
At Driller Park, Kilgore
Pleasant Grove 000 100 0 — 1 2 0
Bullard 000 000 0 — 0 3 2
Bullard 000 000 0 — 0 3 2
Michael Wacha and Michael Morris; Nick Rumbelow and Ryan Clarke. W – Wacha; L – Rumbelow. 2B – PG: Jake Rogers (2); B: Charlie Moore.
RECORDS –
Pleasant Grove 22-8; Bullard 21-8.
NEXT UP –
Pleasant Grove 22-8; Bullard 21-8.
NEXT UP –
Pleasant Grove vs. Kennedale-West winner, regional semifinals.
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