Texarkana Liberty-Eylau rides explosive start into Texas state baseball title: 'We can’t get too happy'
By Buck Ringgold | Photos by Andrew McCulloch
AUSTIN, Texas — One big inning was more than enough for Texarkana Liberty-Eylau, and that was before even its opponent came to bat.
The Leopards scored six runs in the top of the first in Wednesday afternoon’s Class 4A semifinal matchup with Canyon Randall. They later added five runs in the sixth after the Raiders made a push, as Liberty-Eylau eventually posted a 15-5 win at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
“I think we came out really hot, and coach (Zach Fowler) said, ‘Take it to them, and don’t come out there playing passive,’ and we did that (Wednesday),” said Leopard player WT Jones, who started that six-run first with a two-run triple.
Liberty-Eylau (33-6), making its first appearance at state since 2007, will now go for its first state title since the season before, 2006. The Leopards will play for the 4A championship on Thursday - also at UFCU Disch-Falk Field - against the winner of the second Wednesday 4A semifinal game between Sinton and China Spring.
“It feels great right now, but we know we can’t get too happy,” WT Jones said. “We want to win (Thursday), too.
“(We’ve been) playing hard and doing whatever it takes to win. … We’ve got to do the same thing (Thursday); come out here, play hard and compete.”
L-E started Wednesday’s semifinal with a double from Cal Jones, followed by a bunt single from Trison Haugh, which moved Jones to third.
That brought up WT Jones. On a 2-2 count, he proceeded to drill a triple deep into the right-field corner, scoring both runners, giving the Leopards a lead they never relinquished.
“It was two strikes, and I just wanted to sit back,” Jones said of his pivotal at-bat. “(Randall pitcher Duncan Bowles) threw me a curveball, and I had seen it and I just hit it.”
The Leopards didn’t stop there, as they added four more runs before the Raiders got to finally bat. Cal Jones accounted for the final two runs on a two-run single as he recorded two hits in the opening inning.
Randall (38-5) scored single runs in three of its first four innings to gradually chip away, trailing 6-3. L-E added a run in the top of the fifth, but in the bottom of the fifth, the Raiders took advantage of three Leopard errors to score two more runs, cutting L-E’s lead to two, 7-5.
However, L-E was able to escape further damage by turning an inning-ending double play. That momentum carried over into the top of the sixth, as the Leopards broke the game wide open with five runs.
L-E loaded the bases to start that inning; then Dylan Garton drove a run in by getting hit with a pitch. Aydan Easter and Collin Evans then had back-to-back RBI singles, while two more runs came in on an error.
The Leopards then scored three more runs in the top of the seventh.
“(Liberty-Eylau’s eight runs over the last two innings) was really big, because if it’s close and it comes down to the last inning, you never know what can happen.” WT Jones said. “And of course, it’s baseball, too, so you’ve always got to score and keep scoring. That’s how baseball is.”
For the game, L-E totaled 14 hits, with five Leopards having multi-hit performances.
Easter and Evans each went 3-for-5 and two runs scored. Evans also drove in three runs.
WT Jones was 2-for-3 with his two-run triple. Nabors and Cal Jones each went 2-for-5, and Nabors had three RBIs as well.
Cal Jones, who had a double for one of his hits, was also the winning pitcher in relief. He went 2 1/3 innings, allowing two unearned runs on one hit, striking out two.
WT Jones started the game on the mound and went the first 3 2/3 innings. He gave up three runs - two earned - on seven hits while striking out three.
For Randall, Payton Bush was 3-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored. Kaden Juarez was 2-for-4, with both of his hits RBI singles, coming in the first and fourth innings. The Raiders finished with eight hits.
--Buck Ringgold; Twitter @Buck_SBLiveOkla
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All photos by Andrew McCulloch
