Digging In: Texas Regional Semi-Finals

TEXAS, USA - Here we go, we are down the regional semi-finals with only sixteen teams left standing in each classification, and four in each region. Let’s dig-in and take a closer look at the Semi-Final landscape.

6A

Keller vs. Marcus

Keller was a pre-season Power 25 team, climbing as high as 17 after a two-game clean sweep of cross-town foe Timber Creek. They have two quality starters in 2018 RHP Kyle Rich (DBU) and 2019 LHP Will Johnston (Texas A&M). The Indians have an experienced lineup that does a nice job of executing, and they have some thump in the middle of the order. The Marcus Marauders have quietly gone about their business all year. We featured them as a “Sleeper Team” for the Preseason Power 25. They finishing third in district with a 9-5 clip, and enter this round with a 27-10 overall record. 2019 RHP Blake Mayfield (Texas A&M) has been the number one starter all year, but 2018 RHP Justin Kleinsorge (Regis) has been steady-eddie in the number two role. The bullpen has emerged as a real strength with 2018 RHP Steve Hayward (Grayson JC), the return of 2018 LHP Cayden Lopez (Midland JC), and the emergence of 2019 RHP Tyler Morgan. This series will be one of the most evenly matched of this round, and could come down to three close games.

Timber Creek vs. Southlake Carroll

The Timber Creek Falcons have a powerful lineup with two highly touted hitters in 2018 3B Zackary Gregory (Arkansas) and 2018 SS Mateo Gil (TCU). Gil is currently ranked No. 6 in the Texas 2018 Class, No. 58 Overall and No. 99 on the PBR Draft Board. 

Southlake’s offense is one of the best in the state when you break it down, they have plus speed at the top of the order, and real power potential in the middle with Cole Johnson and Nik Millsap. The problem for opposing pitchers is that there are very few, if any holes in the lineup. 2018 RHP Nicco Cole and 2018 LHP/CF Adam Stephenson have carried the torch for the pitching staff all year, but keep an eye on 2018 RHP Kyle Warden. Warden has won big games this season, both as a starter and out of the bullpen.

The Woodlands vs. Klein

The Highlanders took game one last night by a final score of 12-4, banging out 16 total hits. Seven starters had multi-hit games, including Will Swope who had 2 triples, and Zayne Watson who had a 2B and a 3B. Steven Beard got the win on the mound, hurling six innings, allowing four runs on eight hits, three walks, and four punchouts.

Game two will not be until Friday at 6 pm, with game three to follow (if necessary).

5A

Forney vs. Joshua

The Forney Jackrabbits have the top 1-2 punch on the mound with starters Mason Englert and Jonathan Childress. These two have the ability to take over a game single handedly, but it takes a team effort to win the series. Good news for Forney, the offense is coming around, having scored 12, 10, and 9 runs in three of their past four playoff games.

Cleburne vs. Prosper

More baseball games are lost than won, which translates - if you don’t lose the game, you have  a better chance of winning. Cleburne and Prosper don’t beat themselves, they play clean, throw strikes, and execute on offense. When you look at their combined win loss record, there are only 7 losses between the two of them, which is the fewest of any Semifinal series in the state (6A & 5A). Expect this series to be a close one.

Georgetown vs. Kingwood Park

Georgetown has been riding high ever since the start of district play. The Eagles won 20 games in a row this year, and they just upset one of the best teams in the state last week when they beat Magnolia in a three game set. Kingwood Park moved on after a difficult game following the tragic events at Santa Fe last week. But the Panthers have won 17 games in a row and they have plenty of their own momentum. 

Colleyville Heritage vs. Amarillo

Colleyville Heritage will travel to Snyder to take on Amarillo Golden Sandies. The Golden Sandies are no stranger to strong competition, they played a tough early season schedule and have a couple of arms that could match up with a potent Colleyville offense, including RHP Aaron Haase (Wichita State), and LHP Coby Bolen. Colleyville will need to keep speedster 2018 CF Max Marusak (Texas Tech) off the bases, as he can create a run without the ball ever leaving the infield. 2019 SS Rhett Maynard anchors the defense along with Marusak in CF, and hits in the middle of the order.

Colleyville is a heavy favorite as they have six of the top 2019 graduates in Texas on one team. The defense in the middle of the field is the strongest in the state with SS Bobby Witt Jr., 2B Mason Greer, and C Nicolas Balsano. This lineup will be tough to navigate when you add in Chandler Freeman and Jacob Guerrero. LHP Jakob Berger is the staff ace, and if the panthers have a lead late in the game, they will hand the ball to closer - and shortstop Bobby Witt Jr.

4A

Sweeny vs. Cuero

The Sweeny Bulldogs took game one of a three game series last night against Cuero. 2019 RHP Caden Homniok earned the win with six innings of two-hit baseball. He allowed only one run on two walks and nine strikeouts. Wes Folse and Quinton Martin paced the Bulldog offense. Folse was 2-for-4 with a double and a home run, while Martin was 3-for-4 with three doubles. Final Score: Sweeny 3, Cuero 1. Game two will be Saturday at 5 pm at Weimar, game three to follow (if necessary).

Argyle vs. Pleasant Grove

We discussed this briefly last week, but Argyle (32-0) is playing Pleasant Grove (26-3) in a one-game playoff. Argyle is the favorite but Pleasant Grove has made some noise this year. I am still not a fan of having a coin flip decide how many games are played, that rule needs to be changed. 

These two teams will meet tonight at 7:30 at Rockwall High. I would imagine that all arms are ready to throw for both teams, should be an exciting game to watch.

Link to Argyle writeup from two weeks ago > CLICK HERE