San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
Rangers can’t handle Hawks’ early barrage
ROUND ROCK — Smithson Valley, which worked through jam after jam on its way to the UIL state tournament, couldn’t get out of trouble Friday night.
Rockwall-Heath piled on baserunners early, and the Rangers struggled to keep them from crossing home plate, resulting in an 8-4 Hawks victory in a Class 6A state semifinal at Dell Diamond.
The loss ended the Rangers’ longest playoff run since 2005, when they were last at the state tournament. Smithson Valley (35-6) is still seeking its first victory in the state final four after three trips there.
“It was just a blessing to make it this far,” said Rangers senior left fielder Garrett Brooks, who is bound for UTSA. “We didn’t want to lose, obviously. We came out here with the mindset to win, but we just didn’t get it done. But, looking back at the season, I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
Rockwall-Heath (37-11-1) played Keller (36-7) for the Class 6A state championship Saturday at Dell Diamond.
The Hawks took a 5-0 lead heading into the bottom of the third.
Rockwall-Heath came up empty after its first two batters of the game reached.
However, that changed in its second and third. The Hawks went up 2-0 when Johnny Lowe scored on Alex Stowers’ infield single to shortstop and Caden Fiveash scored on a fielder’s choice by Jett Williams.
Rockwall-Heath added three runs after loading the bases to start its third. Lowe and Stowers singled in runs, and Zach Rike scored on a fielder’s choice.
The Rangers cut the lead to 5-2 in the bottom of the third after Kasen Wells scored Christian Keller on a sacrifice fly to center, and Ryan Ruff scored on a fielder’s choice.
Smithson Valley starter Brandon Taylor (14-1) left after two-plus innings — throwing to four in the third — and allowed five runs on eight hits.
That was more than enough for Hawks starter Baylor Baumann, who allowed two runs on four hits with four strikeouts in a complete game.
“He was tough to figure out,” Brooks said. “He could throw his curveball for a strike and his fastball had run and it looked different every time.”
After getting through the rough patch in the third, Baumann retired nine in a row while his team built an 8-2 lead thanks to a threerun sixth. Lowe had a tworun double to highlight the inning.
The Rangers threatened to cut into the lead in the bottom of the sixth, but Baumann struck out Keller to end the inning.
Smithson Valley pounced on a tiring Baumann again in the seventh and scored twice. However, Baumann struck out Brooks and Ethan Gonzalez to end the game. Baumann got Gonzalez swinging on his 111th pitch. Had Gonzalez reached, Baumann would have come out because he reached the 110-pitch limit.
The Hawks recorded 13 hits. Lowe and Fiveash each went 3 for 4.
“We didn’t come here just to come here,” Smithson Valley coach Chad Koehl said. “Unfortunately, we tip our hats off to Rockwall-Heath. They swung the sticks really well tonight. … It’s not easy to get here. I’m going to tell you that. Our guys did, and I’m proud of them for that. And I’m proud of them for winning Region IV.”
After the game, Koehl hugged each one of his seniors, including Taylor.
“The thing I am going to remember the most was how everyone loved each other,” Taylor said. “Everyone was here for each other. Everyone grinded. At the end of the day, it didn’t go our way, but we all love each other, and that’s all that really matters.”