TEXARKANA, Texas - It took a few innings, but once both schools settled down, it turned into the game the Texas-size crowd expected.
Liberty-Eylau (29-11-2) fell to Pleasant Grove (32-8) late, 7-5, in Game 1 of the Region II-4A best-of-three championship series Wednesday at Tiger Field on the campus of Texas High School.
Game 2 is today at Tiger Field, beginning at 7 p.
Tucker Anderson hit a 3-run triple in the top of the seventh inning with two strikes and two outs for the Hawks, regaining the lead and securing the win for Pleasant Grove.
Anderson went 2 for 4 with a triple and 3 RBI.
Gage Bellatti started on the bump for the Leopards. Bellatti tossed 6 1/3 innings, gave up four runs and eight hits.
Brenton Clark opened the scoring for both squads in the top of the third inning, driving in Hayden Koller and Alex Galvan, doubling over the left-fielder's head with two outs, giving PG a 2-0 edge over the Leopards.
Clark went 2 for 3 with a double and 2 RBI at the dish for the Hawks. Clark also started on the bump for Pleasant Grove. Clark hurled 2 2/3 innings, gave up two hits and no runs during his outing.
The Hawks were able to string together two consectuive doubles by Alex Murphy and Tucker Anderson, before Travler Couch's sacrifice fly to right field, driving in Murphy, giving PG a 3-0 cushion over L-E.
Murphy finished the game going 1 for 3 with a run scored for the Hawks.
During the next at-bat, Brock Bearden hit a solo homerun over the left-field wall, giving the Hawks a 4-0 advantage heading into the bottom of the fourth inning.
Bearden ended the contest going 2 for 3 with a homerun.
The Leopards were able to cut the Hawks' lead in the bottom of the fourth inning after Zach Brush hit a line-drive to centerfield, driving in Leopard pinch runner Krayson Battle.
Brush finished the game 1 for 3 at the dish with a stolen base and a RBI.
Xander Worthey drove in Bryce Blackwell before the Hawks were able to get out of the inning.
Blackwell went 1 for 3 with a double and run scored.
Colby Brooks hit a 3-run homerun in the bottom of the sixth inning, driving in Hunter Burks and Worthey, reagaining the lead for Leopards with two outs, 5-4.
Worthey went 1 for 3 at the plate with a RBI, while Burks finished 1 for 3 with a run scored.
Brooks ended the night going 4 for 4 with 3 RBI at the plate.