Chasing playoffs: Tigers shut out Longview, 2-0
TEXARKANA, Texas — It’s crunch time for Texas High baseball and Tiger coach John Mcclure is confident his young, but talented team is ready to make a serious run for the Class 5A playoffs.
The Tigers (12-8 overall, 5-4 district) shared fourth place in District 15-5A entering Thursday’s action with Marshall (14-8, 4-4) and Longview (8-16-1, 4-5).
Texas High then posted a crucial 2-0 win over Longview Thursday night at Atlanta’s new ballpark. The game was moved there because Tiger Field still had wet grounds following a couple of days of rain.
Tiger right-handed pitcher Worth Mcmillen scattered four hits (all singles) against Longview, tossing the game-complete victory He struck out eight and walked one.
Texas High had five hits, with Knox Pilgreen (2-for-2) and Kam Wrightner (2-for-3, 1 RBI, 1 run), leading the way. Austin Treadway also had a hit and scored a run.
Marshall, which was tied with the Tigers going into Thursday’s action, played Pine Tree (10-12, 1-7).
No. 5 ranked Whitehouse (18-5) is in sole possession of first place in district at 7-1, followed by Hallsville (16-7, 7-2) and Mount Pleasant (15-7, 6-3). Whitehouse’s only district loss was to Texas High on the Wildcats’ home field. Hapless Tyler (1-19, 0-8) is dead last.
Mount Pleasant knocked off second-place Hallsville, 4-2, in a key league game Tuesday.
The Tigers are counting on several players to spark their playoff run, including pitcher/second baseman Tanner Ross and shortstop Jacob Yowell. Ross is a senior and Yowell is a junior.
Ross has been one of the most steady pitchers for Texas High this season. He’s got a 3-1 record with a 3.14 earned run average. He’s struck out 43 in 35 innings.
Ross is hitting .321 with 16 RBIS, including two homers and three doubles.
Yowell, the Tigers’ leadoff batter, is batting .426 with 13 RBIS, and a .507 on base percentage. He’s also belted a homer, two triples and six doubles.
“Both of those guys are great leaders and great teammates,” said coach Mcclure; “They have been the heartbeat of our program for the last three years.
“Tanner and Jacob are two of the most-coachable players we have had around here.”
Yowell is one of those guys who gets the offense started for the Tigers. Against Tyler, he reached base five times, including a pair of singles and walks, and he ended up scoring four runs in Texas High’s 21-0, 5-inning thrashing of the lowly Lions.
Ross reached base four times and ended up scoring three runs. He also knocked in a run against Tyler.
“I think our district will be the most balanced/competitive that our district has ever been,” Mcclure said before starting league play. There will be 5-6 teams competing for four playoff spots.”
And it’s happened. The top two teams, Whitehouse and Hallsville, are probably the best of the eight teams, but the rest of the teams other than Pine Tree and Tyler, are capable of finishing third or fourth, depending on how they match up head-to-head.
“We know we have to beat those teams that are in the same boat we are,” Mcclure said. “We can’t afford to let down against anybody because I think the playoff chase is going down to the final game.”
Hallsville is the defending district champion, with the Bobcats (13-1) edging Whitehouse (12-2) by one game in league play. Texas High finished third at 9-5 and Marshall (5-9) snuck in as the fourth-place team.
Texas High eliminated Lufkin, two games to none, in the bi-district round of the playoffs. The Tigers then dropped two straight to Lucas Lovejoy in the area round.
“Making the playoffs is hard enough, and winning in the playoffs can be even harder,” Mcclure said. “We think we’re ready for the challenge and we were playing as well as any other district team before we lost to Hallsville (4-2) at home.
“We only had one bad inning by allowing Hallsville to score three runs.”
Following Thursday’s game at Atlanta, the Tigers have four district games remaining, two at home to complete a 7-game homestand, and two on the road.
Texas High will host Marshall on Tuesday and Whitehouse on Friday before traveling to Longview Pine Tree and Tyler the next week.