Four baseball teams from Northeast Texas compete in the state playoffs today in the area round, with only Redwater competing in the postseason this year already. Hooks, Maud and Atlanta received first-round byes.
Redwater and Brock clash in a Class 2A area game at 7:30 p.m. in Rockwall. Also in 2A, Hooks and Peaster meet at 7 p.m. at Weatherford.
The Rabbs square off against Farmersville at 7 o’clock at Paris Junior College’s Hub Hollis Field in 3A action, and Maud and Cayuga play a Class A area game at 6:30 p.m. at Tatum High School.
Class 3A
Atlanta vs. Farmersville
PARIS, Texas—Atlanta finished second in District 16-3A, and the Farmers received a bye after winning District 13.
The Rabbs (13-9) expect to face lefty Logan Edge, who is 9-0 on the year, while Steven Wiley (4-3) is expected to start against Farmersville.
“Steven has been hurt most of the year,” Atlanta coach Randy Raley said. “He struck out 11 against Mount Vernon and has a great curveball.”
Joining Wiley in the starting lineup will be leading hitter Garrett Aslin at catcher, Nic Parrott at first, Blake Cruson at second, Lee Raley at shortstop and Ethan Puckett at third. The outfield features Matt Boyd, Shawn Shepard and Josh Clements from left to right.
Aslin is batting .500 and hit .612 in district play, Raley holds a .407 batting average, Parrott is hitting .380, Wiley .356, and Puckett .325.
The winner advances to face Princeton, which received a second-round bye after beating Mineola in the bi-district round.
Class 2A
Hooks vs. Peaster
WEATHERFORD, Texas—Eighth-ranked Peaster, which was runner-up in District 9, presents a solid opponent for District 12 champion Hooks in the area round.
“They’re real good, and have one kid on the mound who will throw mid to high 80’s and has signed with Weatherford College,” said Hornets coach Robert Barber. “The middle of their order can hit the ball pretty good, but other than that they’re not a good hitting team.”
Justin Choate (9-1) will have the undaunting task of pitching against the Greyhounds for Hooks (18-8), which lost both its warmup games.
“I was concerned about the way we played in our warmup games,” Barber said. “I think the kids had the mindset that warmup games didn’t matter.”
Choate’s only loss came against Pleasant Grove in a warmup game last week, and his catcher is Dustin Bishop. Peyton Rumbo will be at first base for Hooks, Nathan Allen at second, Joel Rose at shortstop and Dustin Howe at third. The outfield will feature Justin Scoggins in left, Earl Jenkins in center and Kevin Sipes in right. Zach Kruger is the designated hitter.
The winner faces the Ponder-Howe winner later this week.
Redwater vs. Brock
ROCKWALL, Texas—Fresh off their 3-game win over Whitewright, the Dragons face stiff competition in Brock.
Hunter Flood, who pitched Redwater to an opening 8-3 win in the series last week, will start on the mound against the Eagles.
“We played good against Whitewright,” Dragon coach Roman Johnson said. “We hit the ball well in the last game, and Will Burris pitched a fine game. Brock is going to be good.”
Flood owns a 10-1 record on the hill and his catcher is Burris. Ty Lewis will be at first base, Austin Dodson at second, Daniel Francis at shortstop and Chance Edwards at third.
The outfield, from left to right, will be Rickey Oakes, Colton Lorance and Dylan Davis.
The winner advances to face Pilot Point or Gunter in the regional quarterfinals later this week.
Class A
Maud vs. Cayuga
TATUM, Texas—Third-ranked and District 18-A champion Maud gets in the playoff race against the Wildcats, who shut out Beckville in the bi-district round.
The game was originally set for Longview, but Lobo Field was double scheduled.
“Cayuga has a left-handed pitcher (sophomore Gunter Thompson), and he is phenomenal,” Cardinal coach Joel Windham. “They look like they have some pretty decent speed and a few big kids that can hit the ball pretty good. They could be a handful.”
Nathan Hartsell will take the ball first for Maud (20-2), and Jordan Starkey will catch. Stormy Jones will start at first base, Duston Brown at second, Bradley McClain at shortstop and either David Fletcher or Dakota Jones at third.
The outfielders will be Jake McClain in left, J.T. Stanley in center and Taylor Carlow in right. Jordan Wright is the designated hitter.
The winner faces top-ranked Price Carlisle or North Hopkins later this week.
Redwater and Brock clash in a Class 2A area game at 7:30 p.m. in Rockwall. Also in 2A, Hooks and Peaster meet at 7 p.m. at Weatherford.
The Rabbs square off against Farmersville at 7 o’clock at Paris Junior College’s Hub Hollis Field in 3A action, and Maud and Cayuga play a Class A area game at 6:30 p.m. at Tatum High School.
Class 3A
Atlanta vs. Farmersville
PARIS, Texas—Atlanta finished second in District 16-3A, and the Farmers received a bye after winning District 13.
The Rabbs (13-9) expect to face lefty Logan Edge, who is 9-0 on the year, while Steven Wiley (4-3) is expected to start against Farmersville.
“Steven has been hurt most of the year,” Atlanta coach Randy Raley said. “He struck out 11 against Mount Vernon and has a great curveball.”
Joining Wiley in the starting lineup will be leading hitter Garrett Aslin at catcher, Nic Parrott at first, Blake Cruson at second, Lee Raley at shortstop and Ethan Puckett at third. The outfield features Matt Boyd, Shawn Shepard and Josh Clements from left to right.
Aslin is batting .500 and hit .612 in district play, Raley holds a .407 batting average, Parrott is hitting .380, Wiley .356, and Puckett .325.
The winner advances to face Princeton, which received a second-round bye after beating Mineola in the bi-district round.
Class 2A
Hooks vs. Peaster
WEATHERFORD, Texas—Eighth-ranked Peaster, which was runner-up in District 9, presents a solid opponent for District 12 champion Hooks in the area round.
“They’re real good, and have one kid on the mound who will throw mid to high 80’s and has signed with Weatherford College,” said Hornets coach Robert Barber. “The middle of their order can hit the ball pretty good, but other than that they’re not a good hitting team.”
Justin Choate (9-1) will have the undaunting task of pitching against the Greyhounds for Hooks (18-8), which lost both its warmup games.
“I was concerned about the way we played in our warmup games,” Barber said. “I think the kids had the mindset that warmup games didn’t matter.”
Choate’s only loss came against Pleasant Grove in a warmup game last week, and his catcher is Dustin Bishop. Peyton Rumbo will be at first base for Hooks, Nathan Allen at second, Joel Rose at shortstop and Dustin Howe at third. The outfield will feature Justin Scoggins in left, Earl Jenkins in center and Kevin Sipes in right. Zach Kruger is the designated hitter.
The winner faces the Ponder-Howe winner later this week.
Redwater vs. Brock
ROCKWALL, Texas—Fresh off their 3-game win over Whitewright, the Dragons face stiff competition in Brock.
Hunter Flood, who pitched Redwater to an opening 8-3 win in the series last week, will start on the mound against the Eagles.
“We played good against Whitewright,” Dragon coach Roman Johnson said. “We hit the ball well in the last game, and Will Burris pitched a fine game. Brock is going to be good.”
Flood owns a 10-1 record on the hill and his catcher is Burris. Ty Lewis will be at first base, Austin Dodson at second, Daniel Francis at shortstop and Chance Edwards at third.
The outfield, from left to right, will be Rickey Oakes, Colton Lorance and Dylan Davis.
The winner advances to face Pilot Point or Gunter in the regional quarterfinals later this week.
Class A
Maud vs. Cayuga
TATUM, Texas—Third-ranked and District 18-A champion Maud gets in the playoff race against the Wildcats, who shut out Beckville in the bi-district round.
The game was originally set for Longview, but Lobo Field was double scheduled.
“Cayuga has a left-handed pitcher (sophomore Gunter Thompson), and he is phenomenal,” Cardinal coach Joel Windham. “They look like they have some pretty decent speed and a few big kids that can hit the ball pretty good. They could be a handful.”
Nathan Hartsell will take the ball first for Maud (20-2), and Jordan Starkey will catch. Stormy Jones will start at first base, Duston Brown at second, Bradley McClain at shortstop and either David Fletcher or Dakota Jones at third.
The outfielders will be Jake McClain in left, J.T. Stanley in center and Taylor Carlow in right. Jordan Wright is the designated hitter.
The winner faces top-ranked Price Carlisle or North Hopkins later this week.