Lax on the spot for region-winning play
Many Langham Creek fans will remember it as the play that clinched state.
With the Lobos holding onto a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the seventh inning in Game 3 of the Region III6A final, the first Deer Park batter walked, then Chase Keng sent a sharp liner toward right field.
But sophomore Garrett Lax, at first after starting on the mound, caught Keng’s shot with a leaping grab, then dove left to tag Chad Dahnke as he retreated to first for a dramatic solo double play.
The next Deer batter struck out, sending Langham Creek to its first state tournament appearance.
“I felt that one coming actually,” Lax said. “I just had a feeling. I’ve been working at first, and it just happened.”
Lax worked hard to keep the Deer scoreless through the first 4 1/3 innings.
He didn’t give up a single hit in that span, with the only flaw in the outing three hit-by-pitches and a walk.
“I’ve been putting in work since the beginning of the season,” Lax said. “Coach (Armando Sedeño) put me in, he knew I could do it, had confidence in me, and I had confidence in myself and just went out there and did it.”
The first hit he gave up was to leadoff batter Tanner Goodwin in the fifth, and with a trip to Round Rock on the line, the leash was short for everyone, so Sedeño pulled him for senior Brady Perez.
But that only gave Perez another chance to shine – and Lax a chance to dazzle at first.
“I knew my arm was coming down, so it was a good decision to put Brady out there because he’s been doing it all season,” Lax said.
Perez allowed only one hit over the final 2 2/3 innings, handing Deer Park its first shutout loss.
Lax also went 1-for-2 at the plate, with a key single in their three-run second.
“It feels like a weight coming off,” Lax said. “It feels great.”