MAUD (16-6), No. 9 in coaches' poll, vs. HAWKINS (14-10)
LAST WEEK: In the bi-district round, Maud eliminated Sulphur Bluff, 11-0, 12-1. Hawkins, the third-place team from 19-2A, swept Martins Mill, 13-0, 9-4.
AT STAKE: Class 2A area championship
SITE/TIME: One game. 6 p.m. today at Hughes Springs High School
KEY MAUD PLAYERS: Jake McDonald, Sr, P/SS (Texas Tech signee); Triston Carlow, Sr, C: Kendall Mathis, Sr, 1B; Logan Hemby, Sr, P/3B; Rylie Martin, Sr, P/OF; Conner Morton, Sr, P/OF; Gage Jones, So, P/SS/OF; Brooks Minter, So, OF.
KEY HAWKINS PLAYERS: Caleb Turner, Sr, 3B/P; Jesse Harwell, Sr, C; Chris Sneed, Sr, OF; Casey Jasper, Sr, OF; Joey Akers, Jr, P; Josh English, Jr, 2B/SS;
COACH'S COMMENTS: Maud's Scott Sanders-"We have to continue to play good defense. Gage Jones made a big play at second base. The pitchers handled hot shots up the middle. Overall, we just made the plays.
"Last week, we got great pitching. Jake (McDonald) had a little trouble in the first inning, and then was unhittable. Logan Hemby was great in the second game. His deceptive delivery really frustrated them.
"You worry about a one-game playoff, because anything can happen, but if we go out and play, I like our chances against anybody in the state."
UP NEXT: Winner of Avery vs. Union Grove in regional quarterfinal.
HUGHES SPRINGS (19-4)
vs. FARMERSVILLE (23-4)
SITE, TIME: 7 p.m. today at Northeast Texas Community College; 7 p.m. Friday at Copeland; if needed, 7 p.m. Saturday at Sulphur Springs.
AT STAKE: Class 3A area championship.
LAST ROUND: The Mustangs swept New Boston, and the Farmers beat Mineola in two games.
LINEUP: Hughes Springs-Bo McEntire, catcher; Harrison Reagan, first base; Shawn Pope, second base; Alex Bruce, shortstop; Jake Moore or Riley McKinney, third base, pitcher; Zach Pilgrim, left field; Ty Menefe, center field; Brady McEntire, right field; Garrett Bowman, designated hitter.
COACH'S COMMENTS: Hughes Springs' Kent Craig-"Farmersville is a good baseball team, a top 10 baseball team. We're going to have to play well to beat them. Pitching is probably their strong suit, what they like to do and can do. We've seen two really good arms from them. They're scrappy at the plate. They've got some pop, and we're going to have to pitch 1-9 because they don't have any dead outs in the lineup.
"We seem to be peaking at the right time; we've been preaching that for a while now. It's about who peaks when and doing it at the right time. Our pitching has been consistent all year, and while our offense has been up and down, we've been working hard to get better. That's part of being young because we start seven sophomores and a freshman. We do seem to hit better pitching better. We have better approaches and are focused more against the better pitchers."
NEXT ROUND: Winner of Hooks vs. Grand Saline in the regional quarterfinals.
Hooks (20-3)
vs. Grand Saline (19-6)
SITE, TIME: Longview's Lobo Field, 7 p.m. Game 2 is 7 p.m. Friday. Game 3 is 3 p.m. Saturday, if needed.
AT STAKE: Class 3A area championship.
LAST ROUND: Hooks defeated Queen City, 19-12. Grand Saline swept Whitewright 2-0 in a three-game series, 11-9 and 8-4.
LINEUP: Hooks: Bailon Powell, P; Jake Whitten, C; Dylan Poole, 1B; Colton Horneman, 2B; Blake Starett, 3B; Jordan Johnson, SS; Seth Mahar, LF; Carter Duncan, CF; Jacob Ragland, RF.
COACH'S COMMENTS: Hooks' Michael Ruth-"Grand Saline did well in district. They were runner-up to a top-10 team. I watched them play one game, and they swing the bats well and have good pitching. Hopefully we knocked some of the rust off Friday after we had a two week break. We'll have to pitch well, and we need to get a solid 4-6 innings from our starters. We have to play smarter baseball. We made a lot of mental mistakes Friday. I hope we can keep swinging the bats well."
NEXT ROUND: Winner of Hughes Springs vs. Farmersville in the regional quarterfinals.
James Bowie (14-7)
vs. Price Carlisle (7-4)
SITE, TIME: Harmony's Eagle Field 6:30 p.m. Thursday. Game 2 at 5 p.m. Friday with third game to follow, if needed.
AT STAKE: Class 2A area title.
LINEUP: James Bowie: Kolby Clark, P; Branson Wilson, C; Caige Crowley, 1B; Logan Graham, 2B; Bailey Obenoskey, SS; Cody Roberson, 3B; Dylan Trissell, LF; Dalton McBride, CF; Kendal Byram, RF; Mason Plunk, DH.
COACH'S COMMENTS: James Bowie's Drew Webster-"Price Carlisle is in a strong baseball district so they're not going to be an average four seed. They play good competition. They have a good lefty and play solid defense. They throw a lot of pitches for strikes. We are going to have to focus on our execution. The small things matter. If a bunting situation comes up, we need to execute and move the runner from first to second. We need to make the basic plays and if we make extraordinary plays that will be great too."
NEXT ROUND: Winner of Harleton vs. North Hopkins in the regional quarterfinals.