BY BRIAN GOSSET
X – @gosset41
Rainy conditions couldn’t stop a historic match-up between Fort Worth Arlington Heights and Fort Worth Paschal during the final game of the 9th annual Drew Medford Memorial Baseball Tournament on Saturday night.
Heights pitcher Morgan Garrett threw a five-inning complete game and allowed only one hit as the Yellowjackets won on their home turf 2-1.
The Jackets and Panthers were realigned into District 7-5A by the UIL last February. This is the first of at least two seasons in the same district – which hasn’t happened for the two schools in more than 20 years. The two teams will play a home-and-home in district play on March 25 and March 28.
Garrett, who is signed to play at Cisco Junior College, hit a batter with one out in the top of the first inning, but ended the frame on back-to-back strikeouts. Noah Castillo led off the bottom of the first with a single to right field and stole second. Castillo advanced to third on a passed ball and scored on a sac fly to right by Bryson Tenorio.
Paschal tied the game in the top of the second inning on a walk, error, fielder’s choice and double steal. Dwight drew a one-out walk and advanced to second when Keith reached based on an infield error. Courtesy runner Riojas got to third on a fielder’s choice and then scored with the Panthers pulled off a double steal.
Garrett picked up his third strikeout to limit the damage.
Seven Yellowjackets came up to the plate in the bottom half of the second. Soto reached first base on a dropped third strike. Reyes singled two batters later to put runners on the corners. After Paschal starting pitcher Owen Settle struck out a batter for out No. 2, Castillo loaded the bases with a walk.
Solo scored on a wild pitch and the Jackets took a 2-1 lead.
Garrett retired Paschal in order during the third. He would single a half inning later, but the Jackets were caught stealing second and Settle got his sixth strikeout to end the inning.
Paschal put pressure on Garrett and Heights in the top of the fourth with the first two batters reaching base. Garrett picked off a runner for the first out and got a batter to fly out to left field for the second. Garrett then got a grounder to Hernandez at shortstop to flipped it to second base for the third out.
Settle allowed a double and walk in the fourth, but kept Heights off the board.
Two Panthers were on base with two outs in the fifth, but Garrett ended it with a fly out to second base. Garrett’s run was unearned, also finishing with six strikeouts and two walks. Settle allowed the two runs on five hits with seven strikeouts and three walks.
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Prior to first pitch, 29 players from the participating teams were recognized with scholarships by the Drew Medford Tournament. It’s the most scholarships given out by the tourney in its existence. Each player received a $1,000 college scholarship grant.
Overall through nine years, the DMMT has given out $218,000 in scholarships. This is the sixth consecutive year that the tournament has awarded at least 20 scholarships. Scholarship recipients are chosen by each participating team, and the player must embody the characteristics of the tournament’s namesake: drive to succeed, humility and empathy for others, and a leader on his baseball team.
Medford was a district MVP, all-state and honorable mention All-America baseball player for Paschal High School. He signed to play baseball at TCU but was killed in an automobile accident in August of 2016. His family and lifelong friends created the baseball tournament to honor his memory and create a legacy for other high school players. In 2017, the inaugural Drew Medford Memorial Tournament, which featured a six-team field, was played.
Scholarship Winners:
Aledo – Johnny Rufflin
Arlington – Jeremiah Taylor
Arlington Heights – Scooter New
Arlington Lamar – Colton McKay
Arlington Martin – Min Bae
Azle – Ethan Hadaway
Benbrook – Jax Stockton
Birdville – Gabe Winans
Boswell – Ramon Corona
Burleson Centennial – Max Irwin
Cleburne – Vincent Martinez
Fort Worth Country Day – Hudson Holm
Fossil Ridge – Brett Holmes
Greenbrier – Jackson Gill
Joshua – Gavin Massey
Keller Central – Darron Scott
Lake Belton – Rohde Smith
L.D. Bell – Callan Pate
Mansfield – Hector Aguilar
Mansfield Lake Ridge – Cannon Day
Mansfield Legacy – Caiden Skelton
Nolan Catholic – Carter Smith
Oakridge – Piero Figueroa
Paschal – Hudson Sharp
Poly – Tomas Sanchez
Richland – Noah Tippett
South Grand Prairie – Isaac Rios
Trinity Valley – Jayden Lopez
Weatherford – Tristen Henn
