In the scheme of things Monday's 4-3 loss to Mount Pleasant at Tiger Field was no more than a blip on Texas High's regular-season record.
Having already clinched the District 15-5A baseball championship last week, the Tigers used the regular-season finale as a warmup for this weekend's bi-district playoff with Whitehouse, while at the same time making sure all their seniors-with the exception of injured pitcher Zach Phillips-saw game action on Senior Night.
"You always want to win, but we had a plan going into the game," said Tigers coach John McClure. We threw four different guys, all the seniors got in the game, and we came out healthy. Our guys are disappointed-it's not like it's no big deal to them-and I'm glad to see that. But what we wanted to do is come out of this game being competitive when we start the playoffs Friday."
Mount Pleasant (13-10, 7-7) had already been eliminated from post-season competition, but the visiting Tigers came up with a strong performance to end their season with momentum. Dylan Shaw slugged a 3-run homer off starter J.T. Morgan in the second inning before junior Connor Gage's late-inning heroics did Texas High in.
Gage tripled home the tie-breaking run in the sixth inning, then came on in relief of winning pitcher Tyler Nelson with THS runners at second and third with no outs in the seventh and struck out the side.
"The home run was huge, but we still had a chance to win at the end," McClure said. "You have to give the kid (Gage) credit, but we needed those kind of at-bats late in the game because that's what we're going to see in the playoffs."
Morgan's solo homer to left off left-hander Chandler Curry staked Texas High to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first, but Shaw's blast on a 3-2 pitch after singles by Colby Milburn and Cage put the visitors ahead.
The Tigers tied it in the third on consecutive hits by Colby Adkins, Morgan and Kyrian Williams, a throwing error by the first baseman and a deep sacrifice fly to center by Trevor Danley.
Freshman Walker Davis pitched two scoreless innings, working out of a bases-loaded jam in the fourth, before Colton Russell retired the side in order in the fifth. But Russell hit leadoff batter Christian Moulton with a pitch, and Gage sent an 0-2 offering over the left-fielder's head for an RBI triple and the winning run. Adkins pitched a 1-2-3 seventh.
Texas High did not go down without a fight. Adkins blooped a single to center and raced to third with Morgan's hard one-hopper got through the second baseman for an error, Morgan continuing to second base on the throw to third from the outfield.
Enter Gage, who won a 9-pitch battle with Williams before fanning the next two batters to end the game.
Texas High (19-5, 12-2) managed only five hits-two each by Morgan and Adkins-but McClure was still relieved his team had the chance to play the game, which had been postponed twice since Friday.
"I was a little disappointed with how we swung the bats, but it's not like we're going to come out and get nine or 10 hits a game. That's just not us," he said. "Our game is pitching and defense and putting together enough runs to win. But that's one reason I wanted to play this game. We hadn't seen live pitching since last Tuesday, and our pitchers haven't thrown either. I think we'll be ready to go Friday."
Seniors honored with plaques before the game included Nick Kelly, Russell, Kyrian Williams, Wade Johnston, Pierson Swanger, Grant McNeil, Phillips, Morgan, Kip Williams, Tyler Bewley, Cobee Sheppard, Danley and managers Colby Gillespie and Javard Anthony.
The Tigers host Whitehouse at 7 p.m. Friday with Game 2 and 3, if necessary, starting at 1 p.m. Saturday at Whitehouse.
Mount Pleasant 030 001 0 - 4 8 2
Texas High 102 000 0 - 3 5 0
Chandler Curry, Tyler Nelson (4), Connor Gage (7) and Christian Moulton. J.T. Morgan, Walker Davis (3), Colton Russell (5), Colby Adkins (7) and Trevor Danley, Kyle Choate (5). WP-Nelson. LP-Russell. HR: THS-Morgan, 1st, none on; MP-Dylan Shaw, 2nd, 2 on.