West Texas Bi-District Playoff Roundup

LUBBOCK, TX- Wylie journeyed out west to Lubbock Friday night, for a bi-district playoff series with Lubbock Cooper in a best of three game series.

 A contest that was originally scheduled for a 5:00pm start time that was moved to 8:00pm after a large down pour that called for a three-hour rain delay. Cooper a solid ball club that will give any team a difficult time, with big time offensive fire power with guys like Midland JC commit Jarred Gibson serving as a catalyst in the lineup. This was our first look at the district champions of district 4-5A Abilene Wylie, that is led by Texas State commit Caleb Muton (No. 88 in the PBR Texas 2019 class rankings, No. 8 ranked C)

Wylie would come out swinging in this one, taking a three-run lead in the top half of the first on a three-run home run from senior 3B Kanon Doby

Cooper would answer with four runs in the fourth, on a fielder’s choice ball to the right-side from SS Austin Vaught (Regis University signee) and a clutch RBI triple from 2B Kaleb Scull. Two unanswered runs would come across from a costly defensive error that would give Cooper a 4-3 lead.

In the sixth, Wylie would reclaim the lead with the help of a two-run RBI single from Garret Graham, a two-run RBI double from 2B Tyler Martin, and a sac-fly from 1B Tyler Spears pushing a total of five runs across for the Bulldogs (8-4).

In the bottom half of the sixth, an RBI double from Gibson that would reduce the deficit to three (8-5). A batter later, CF Hunter Cook would drive in two more on a opposite field two-run RBI double, making it a one run ballgame (8-7). Cooper would be unable to get anything going in the seventh, that would result in a game one loss. Wylie would pick up the road victory, and take the series lead with the series heading back to Abilene.

 Wylie would go on to win the series Saturday afternoon, but not before Cooper would force a decisive game three.

Final Score: Abilene Wylie 8, Lubbock Cooper 7.

ODESSA, TX- Odessa High School hosted a neutral site bi-district playoff series this weekend between No. 2 seed El Paso Americas and No. 3 Frenship.

We were able to make the trip south to catch game two, after a 6-5 come from behind win from Americas decided game one, to give the Trailblazers a 1-0 series lead. Americas is a team that we have seen many times this season, led by two seniors in Texas Tech signee Darell Hernaiz (No. 53 in the PBR Texas 2019 class rankings, and No. 11 ranked SS) who is one of the premier SS the state of Texas has to offer, and New Mexico JC signee Erick Martinez, who has had arguably some of the top offensive productivity in the West Texas area. Frenship is also a ball club we are very familiar with, and a club that is likely to give any team difficulty with pitching staff that is very deep, with guys like Howard JC signee RHP Colton Brown, RHP Evan Johnson (No. 22 in the PBR Texas 2021 class rankings, No. 6 ranked RHP) at the front of that rotation. In addition to guys like New Mexico commit 3B Jacob Gutierrez, Odessa JC signee C Peyten Kennard, and Midland JC signee 1B Riley Robinson to help anchor the offense.

Early location troubles from Brown would result in an early lead for Americas, after a ball to the right-side from 1B Edgar Galaviz and an RBI single from C Eugenio Maravillo would give Americas and early 2-0 lead in the bottom half of the first.

Frenship would answer in a big way in the top of the fourth, with a solo shot from New Mexico commit Jacob Gutierrez to reduce the deficit for the Tigers (1-2). In the fifth, after a couple of back-to-back singles from SS Christian Kiser and LF Brennan McFarland would put runners on the corners for the Tigers. McFarland who would later score via called balk to give Frenship a 3-2 lead.

Americas would immediately answer with a run of their own on an RBI double from NMJC signee Erick Martinez to tie the game a three apiece in the fifth. Both Hernaiz and Johnson would work in relief, tossing a scoreless seventh to send the game into extras. d

 Wasting no time in the eighth, Frenship would scratch on a clutch RBI double from Kennard to give them a 4-3 lead. Americas would not be able to produce any runs in the bottom half of the eighth and would drop game two, to even the series to a game apiece. In game three Frenship would earn the 5-4 victory and will be advancing to the area round.

 Final Score: Frenship 4, Americas 3.

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SCOUT NOTES

Darell Hernaiz, SS, Americas, 2019
Texas Tech signee. Hernaiz currently ranked No. 54 in 2019 PBR class rankings. Handful of scouts were on hand to see the confident 6-foot, 170-pound athletic framed SS. Hernaiz possess high-ceiling tools, one of the premier SS in the state. Had a quiet day going 0-for-1 with a ball that was absolutely roped right at the 3B. Made a brief appearance on the mound, worked a fastball that was up to 85.

Jacob Gutierrez, 3B, Frenship, 2020
New Mexico commit. Muscular 5-foot-10, 185-pound frame, defined lower-half, proportional strength, substantial strength in forearms, barrel-chested. One of the premier corner defenders in the area, and one of the most well-rounded players in the 2020 class. Had an impressive solo shot that was driven to deep left-field. Made an impressive defensive play on ball that roped his way.