Been there, doing it again
PG reflects on strengths ahead of return trip to state tournament in clash with playoff-perfect Wylie
Pleasant Grove is in familiar territory. Having won the Region II-4A championship for the second straight year, the Hawks take on defending champion Abilene Wylie at 4 p.m. Wednesday on the University of Texas’ UFCU Disch–Falk Field for a chance to advance to the Class 4A state championship game. Waco Robinson (30-2) takes on Sinton (30-5-2) in the early state semifinal game at 1 p.m. The Class 4A state championship game is at 6:30 p.m. Thursday back on UFCU Disch-Faulk Field. The Hawks’ appearance marks their eighth state tournament bid within the last 10 years. Pleasant Grove (35-3) has 10 seniors on its roster, including No. 1 pitcher Caleb Bolden, No. 2 pitcher
Tyler Jeans, and third-hole batter, right fielder Heath Ferguson.
When Jeans isn’t pitching, he starts as the designated hitter, batting .368. Other Hawk starting seniors include second baseman Cade Thompson, third baseman Connor Ouellette and first baseman Will Hlavinka.
Both teams are undefeated in the playoffs, with the Hawks at 10-0, and Abilene Wylie at 9-0. The Bulldogs are making their third straight state tournament appearance.
The Hawks have won 11 games in a row, while Abilene Wylie (33-1) has strung together 19 consecutive wins. The Bulldogs’ only loss was to Wichita Falls Rider, 6-1, during the regular season.
None of Pleasant Grove’s seniors are content with just a state tournament appearance and a regional title.
“Clinching the regional title doesn’t mean anything,” Ferguson said. “We did it last year, and all we really want is that ring. We have two of the best pitchers in the state, and we play together as a team.”
Bolden (14-1) will start on the hill for PG in the semifinal and leads the team with a .569 batting average.
“Our bats have really come around this season,” Bolden said. “Last year, we didn’t hit this well. I don’t know what it is, but we just all came together. Because we came so close to the state title last year, we want that ring even more.”
Ferguson echoed Bolden’s sentiment about earning the state title.
“Last year, we were content with just making it to the state tournament,” Ferguson said. “This year, we want to win it.”
Jeans (13-0) gets the nod on the mound if the Hawks earn the right to play in the state championship game on Thursday.
“We have one of the best defenses in the state,” Jeans said. “I like being around my teammates all of the time; they are like a second family.”
Head coach Riley Fincher has led the Hawks to two regional titles in his three years at the helm and has a record of 88-13 with PG.
“One of the best things that Caleb has brought to the team is leadership and experience,” Fincher said. “The work he puts in and his hard work ethic carries over to his teammates.
“Tyler is the exact same way. He was on the playoff roster last year, but if anyone has seen the amount of work that he has put in in the off-season, they would know that he is successful, not because he just showed up and did it, but it was all of the hard work he has put into it.”
In the land of championships, pitching is king, and the top two Hawk pitchers are a combined 27-1 on the year.
Wins do not come from pitching alone, and Pleasant Grove has played cohesively in all aspects of the game: pitching, hitting, and defense.
“Regardless if we win 10-0 or 1-0, it’s always a total team effort, and we’re happy and excited to see that,” Fincher said. “The team has done a great job all season of steadily attacking and just staying the course. I think our offense will keep plugging away.”
Senior Collier Cordray is the statistician for the Hawks and has worked every game.
Paul Phillips, the pitching coach, Blake Worley, the first-base coach, and Jordan Knight are the assistant coaches for PG.
“This is not a one-man coaching show,” Fincher said. “Phillips has been a part of this coaching staff for nine or 10 years. All three of them bring, not only a knowledge of this game, but a passion for helping our student-athletes.
“We have the passion to see our kids be successful on and off the field; that passion, along with the cohesiveness between our coaches and players, makes it fun to be a part of this program.”