MARSHALL, Texas-Down, but never out.
There's a slogan the Golden State Warriors market, and the saying can be true for Pleasant Grove baseball as well: "Strength in Numbers."
The entire lineup is capable of doing big things to keep opposing teams honest, and no matter the situation, the Hawks seem to find a way to win. Saturday's Game 2 is just another example that adds onto their already rich postseason tradition.
Tied up with two outs and facing a full count, third baseman Ben Harmon played the next-man-up role for the Hawks and drove in the walk-off run with a three-bagger in bottom of the seventh inning to lift Pleasant Grove over Canton, 4-3, to complete the two-game sweep in the Class 4A regional quarterfinals at East Texas Baptist University.
The Hawks never gave up and fought for another week of play.
"We have outstanding kids who come from outstanding families," Pleasant Grove coach Riley Fincher said. "They do whatever it takes to win for their families and their school. They put everyone else in front of them and it shows what kind of people they are.
"Couldn't be more proud of them after this win."
Pleasant Grove (26-4) came into the final frame down, 3-2. Carson Cox led off with a single, Jackson Cobb reached on a fielder's choice and Seth Hopkins drove in the tying run with an RBI-single to left field, before scoring the winning run with Harmon's triple to left-center.
Carson Cox rebounded from last week's series against Bullard with four hits against the Eagles, including a triple and a single in Game 2. Six difference PG batters reached base in the second game.
"We swung the bats well today and in this series," Fincher said. "We talk about it all the time: If you put the bat on the ball and put it in play, we will make something happen."
Tucker Anderson got the start on the mound for the Hawks and pitched six innings. The freshman fanned three and walked just two, both coming in the first inning. Marshall Oubre came in relief and posted the win. Oubre scattered just three hits in three innings of work.
Canton (27-5) got on the board first in the first inning.
Lead-off hitter Blayne Clower was struck by a pitch and later scored on a Cade Shaw single to give the Eagles an early 1-0 lead.
Pleasant Grove answered back quickly in the bottom of the frame when Cobb connected on an RBI-single to score Carson Cox, who led off with a triple.
Both teams would go in order in the second and Canton took the lead again in the third after three errors helped Simon Miller get around and score to go up, 2-1. Later in the inning, the Hawks would be retired again.
The Eagles added to their lead in the fourth inning when Johnnie Krawietz drove in Clower for his second-and their last-run of the contest.
In the fifth inning, Cobb and Hopkins reached on a walk, but a throwing error led to Cobb coming in from second to cut into their deficit, 3-2.
Pleasant Grove advances to play unbeaten Argyle next week in the regional semifinals.
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Canton 101 010 2 - 3 7 2
Pleasant Grove 100 010 2- 1 5 3
Johnnie Krawietz and McGwire Martin. Anderson Tucker, Marshall Oubre (5) and Keaton Russo. WP-Oubre. LP-Krawietz.