PLANO, Texas-The wheels came off for Maud, and Beckville didn't take the foot off the pedal until the result was well in hand.
The top-ranked Bearcats clinched the Region III-2A baseball title and berth to the UIL state tournament next week in Round Rock with a 17-0 rout over the Cardinals Saturday at Prestonwood Christian Academy's Graham Field, over 300 miles from where the teams played a 2-1 game Thursday in West Monroe, La.
Four Maud pitchers struggled and combined for 12 walks and a pair of hit batsmen. Beckville managed seven hits-a pair of triples and a double in the mix-and sent 12 to the plate in the fourth, when the Bearcats (32-1-1) scored eight runs
Braeden Wise picked up the pitching win, needing 88 pitches in five innings of work. He gave up just two hits, walked two and hit one-all of his free passes coming in the first inning.
"We came in more relaxed and Braeden settled down after the first inning," Beckville coach Jason Causey said. "That's a little expected, to be a bit nervous in this type of environment. After we were able to get out the first without any runs (against us) and then were able to go out and score, it really gave him some confidence.
"It was a good team win. We had good at-bats up and down the lineup and played good defense."
The Cardinals loaded the bases with one out in the top of the first, but a line drive was snagged by Bearcat shortstop Trey Lindsay, who doubled off the runner at second to complete an inning-ending double play without any damage.
"That ball (double play) was squared up and hit hard, and they ended up turning a double play on it," Maud coach Scott Sanders said. "I felt that turned the momentum. If it's not lined right at them, we score two and there's no telling how it changes the game.
"Then they were able to ride that swing at the plate, got on top and continued putting pressure on us."
Zach Collins delivered the big hit in the first for the Bearcats, smashing a 2-1 offering into the left-center alley and all the way to the wall for a 2-run triple after a walk and hit batsman.
Brooks Minter singled to right-center for Maud (21-10) with two outs in the second. He stole second and a passed ball moved to third. But a strikeout stranded him there.
A leadoff walk in the second inning to Beckville's ended starter Cade Townsend's time on the mound, and Wise got a one-out single off Logan Hemby, who struck out the next batter. John Michael Bounds' double to right field brought in two runs, making it 5-0.
A pair of throwing errors sandwiched around Ethan Harris' infield hit scored two more, extending the Bearcat lead to 7-0 in the second.
Three walks to start the third inning loaded the bags for the Bearcats with no outs. A wild pitch scored a run, and a fielder's choice made it 9-0.
"Our forte is to work the count and try to get to our pitch or a base on balls, and today we were fortunate enough to get some of those big hits that we haven't got the last three games," Causey said. "We came through with some big hits at the right times."
Maud walked the bases loaded and a run in to start the fourth. A hit batter pushed across another run, and Brandt Harris' sacrifice fly made it 12-0. A walk reloaded the bases for Wise's line-drive single to left for his second RBI of the game, and Collins picked up his third RBI on a hit to left-center, the Bearcats moving station to station on each of the hits.
A groundout scored another before Ethan Harris belted a 2-run triple to left-center before a flyout ended the frame.
Harris, Wise and Collins each had two hits for Beckville. Minter had both of the Cardinals' hits and was stranded at third both times.
Maud 000 00 - 0 2 2
Beckville 232 8x - 17 7 0
Game called after 4 1/2 innings, 10-run rule.
Cade Townsend, Logan Hemby (2), Rylie Martin (3), Gage Jones (4) and Triston Carlow. Braeden Wise and Ben Bridges. WP-Wise. LP-Townsend.