BY BRIAN GOSSET
X – @gosset41
X – @gmsportsmedia1
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Colleyville Heritage 3, Aledo 1
Blake Sibley tossed three innings in relief with no runs, one hit and four strikeouts as the Panthers edged out the Bearcats 3-1 in Game 1 of their Class 5A D1 Region 1 champ series on Thursday at Birdville.
Game 2 is scheduled for 1 pm Friday at Boswell
Aledo starting pitcher Ethan Hodo allowed two run on five hits in 4 2/3 innings.
The Bearcats, who swept Amarillo in the regional semifinals, took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fifth inning when Lucas Nawrocki singled to right field that drove in Brooks Burdine. Sibley came in after the run and got a double play, gave up his only hit and then induced a grounder to end the inning. The lead didn’t last long as Colleyville scored two times in the bottom of the inning.
Grant Rhodes and Regan Kelley hit back-to-back singles with one out.
Alexis Torres hit into a fielder’s choice and Rhodes scored from third. Logan Rose added an RBI single to give the Panthers a 2-1 lead. Kelley drove in an insurance run with an RBI single in the sixth inning.
Aledo got a two-out error in the seventh, but Sibley struck out the side.
The Panthers beat EP Americas in three games during the regional semis.
Boyd 9, New Diana 0
Elijah Webber and Hayden Miller combined to toss a two-hit shutout to lead the Yellowjackets past New Diana during Game 1 of their Class 3A D2 Region 2 champ series on Thursday at Dallas Baptist University.
Game 2 is set for 12 pm Friday back at DBU.
Boyd, which swept Grand Saline in the regional semis by a combined score of 23-5, improved its record to 32-5. The Jackets led 3-0 after four innings before putting the game to bed with six runs in the top of the sixth.
Landon Snider homered and scored three times.
Stephen Webber and Jax Heid drove two runs in each.
Elijah Webber pitched six innings with one hit, one walk and six strikeouts.
Brock 7, Graham 0
Evan O’Connor allowed three hits and struck out 11 to lead the Eagles past the Steers in their one-game Class 4A D2 Region 1 final on Thursday. Brock (29-2) advances to the state semifinals for the second straight season and fourth time in the past five years.
The Eagles will face the winner of Longview Spring Hill and Carthage.
Jesse Rusinek hit a two-run single to spark a three-run third inning. O’Connor singled in a run during the fifth to extend the lead to 4-0. Asa Parenteau put the game to bed with a bases-clearing double in the top of the seventh.
Lovejoy 4, Wakeland 2
After picking up a walk-off win in Game 1, the Leopards edged out the Wolverines to complete the sweep in their Class 5A D2 Region 2 champ series on Thursday.
Lovejoy moves to 30-6 while Wakeland ends at 28-8.
This will be the Leopards’ second straight appearance in the state semifinals with last season marking the first trip in program history. They fell to Grapevine in the title game, 6-5.
Reese Ogden homered and had two hits while Tyler Scarborough allowed one earned run on three hits with four strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings. Garrett Hutchins hit an RBI double for an insurance run in the the top of the seventh.
FM Marcus 5, SL Carroll 0
Emerson McKnight tossed a three-hit shutout and struck out 10 batters to lead the Marauders over the Dragons during Game 1 of their Class 6A D1 Region 1 champ series on Thursday. Marcus looks to close it out during Game 2 at 5 pm Friday at Dallas Baptist.
Carroll looks to force a Game 3 at 2:30 pm Saturday at DBU.
The Marauders opened the game with three runs in the top of the first inning. After two batters reached on a hit by pitch, Easton Mitchell hit into a fielder’s choice and Rock Duer scored to give Marcus a 1-0 lead. A third hit batter was followed by a two-run single from Ryan San Miguel.
Marcus added two in the fifth on an RBI double by San Miguel and RBI triple from Cole Schott.
