GLEN ROSE – The Brownwood Lions dropped a one-run decision to the Wichita Falls Coyotes in Game 1 of their Region I-4A baseball area playoff series, but rebounded with a seven-run first inning and a no-hitter from Luke Gray to draw even and force a rubber game.
The Coyotes escaped with a 3-2 victory to start the series, and the Lions answered with a 12-0, six-inning rout in Thursday’s nightcap. Game 3 of the series between District 6-4A runner-up Brownwood (22-10) and District 7-4A champion Wichita Falls (18-14) is set for 5 p.m. Friday at Graham.
“When we show up tomorrow we have to have good energy, good attitudes, and the same kind of effort we gave today,” said Lions fourth-year head coach Brian Harris. “It’s not over. We have to go out there and play and the guys know that.”
The winner of the series will face either District 8 champion Springtown (19-9) or District 6 third seed Glen Rose (19-11-1) in the regional quarterfinals next weekend. Glen Rose won Game 1 of the series, 4-1, Thursday with Game 2 at Fort Worth Castleberry at 7 p.m. Friday and Game 3, if needed, at Castleberry at 2 p.m. Saturday.
After Wichita Falls secured a walk-off win in Game 1, the Coyotes stepped to the plate in the top of the first inning of Game 2 and were retired in order by Gray – who labored and gave up five runs in the first inning of Saturday’s 8-7 Brownwood victory at San Angelo Lake View.
Harris felt Gray’s first inning set the tone for the rest of the contest.
“The momentum really shifted to our dugout at that point and you could just see their demeanor got pretty quiet when we got up on them,” Harris said.
Gray added, “The last game against Lake View I struggled a little bit and gave up five runs in the first inning. Going into this I knew I needed to calm down and trust my fielders. It makes the game a lot easier for me.”
The Lions then took their first trip to the plate in the bottom of the first and erupted for seven runs off Wichita Falls starter T.J. McCraw, despite tallying just two hits. The Coyote defense committed four errors in the frame and Brownwood drew a pair of base on balls.
Jordyn Nickerson was hit by a pitch to lead off the home half of the first for the Lions, then Gavin Brandstetter doubled to left center field. David Turner then reached on a fielding error by the Coyote shortstop, allowing Nickerson to score. Taylor Bessent followed with a line drive that was booted at second base, which allowed Brandstetter to come home for a 2-0 edge.
Owen Huntsinger delivered an RBI single to right field that drove home Turner with the third Brownwood run. With one out, Case Markham reached on a fielder’s choice as the throw to third base was not in time. With the sacks full, Austin Wright drew a free pass that plated Bessent with the fourth run.
With two outs, Nickerson reached on another miscue at shortstop by Wichita Falls which permitted both Huntsinger and Markham to score for a six-run cushion. Later, Wright stole third base and a wild throw to the bag allowed Wright to come home for a 7-0 lead.
Gray went back out to the mound in the top of the second and again retired Wichita Falls in order, asserting his dominance.
“As a pitcher when you see the first couple of runs, it’s very reassuring because if you have a minor mess up you have some runs at your back,” Gray said. “I would say I just stayed relaxed on the mound and had more confidence in myself than I usually do today. My change up was OK and the fastball was pretty decent.”
Gray finished with eight strikeouts and three base on balls over his six innings pitched.
The only trouble Wichita Falls created came in the third inning when Hudson Milstead was hit by a pitch and Ryan Darden walked with two outs, and again in the fourth when Nolan Rice led off with a walk and McCraw reached on a two-out free pass.
The closest the Coyotes came to a hit was the sixth inning when Joseph Brownfield dribbled a grounder to first base that Turner was unable to field cleanly, then made a high throw to the bag for the Lions’ only error in the contest.
The Lions tacked on single runs in the fourth and fifth innings as Nickerson doubled with one out in the fourth, then Turner and Bessent walked to load the bases with two outs. Huntsinger came through with an RBI single to make the score 8-0.
In the fifth, Justin Valdez singled into right field with one out, advanced to third when Cameron Harte reached on an error, and scored on Nickerson’s RBI single up the middle.
“Game 2 was a very fun game to coach, and Game 1 was a very fun game to coach and they were completely opposite,” Harris said. “What I like most about Game 2, a lot of guys that grind every single day and don’t get a lot of innings, they got into the game. It was a lot of fun for me to see some guys get out there and get some at-bats and run the bases that led to a playoff win.”
The Lions put the game away in the bottom of the sixth where Cole Miller doubled to right-center field with one out, Aidan Howard followed with a single up the middle, and Logan Posey crushed a three-run home run over the center field fence.
“I struggled the entire day, I think I went 0 for 4 with four strikeouts so I knew I needed to do something there,” Posey said. “I finally got my foot down and swung level for once and ‘peace’d it like last time. It felt great.”
In Game 1, the Lions yielded two runs in the bottom of the first inning as Blake Vanderburg drew a lead walk off Brandstetter and scored when Milstead reached on a single and three-base error, making the score 2-0 two batters into the contest.
Brownwood, which struck out 13 times in Game 1, was held hitless by Vanderburg until the Top of the sixth inning when Brandstetter launched an opposite field home run to right field, bringing the score to 2-1.
Vanderburg was then lifted for McCraw in the top of the seventh after throwing 107 pitches. Huntsinger reached on a one-out error in the seventh, Valdez drew a two-out walk, and Wright delivered an RBI single past a diving shortstop that brought home Huntsinger with the tying run.
But in the bottom of the seventh, McCraw led off with an infield single, then Ty Cotton laid down a bunt that was thrown away. Carter Parsons drew a walk to load the bases, then on the first pitch to Milstead, Brandstetter was called for his second balk of the game, which advanced McCraw to the plate with the decisive run.
As for recovering from the Game 1 disappointment, Posey said, “It was definitely a winnable game in the first game. We knew we had to step it up if we wanted to play tomorrow. We had to do it for our seniors, we weren’t ready for them to hang it up yet. Now we know we got in their heads and they may not have a lot of pitching left, so we’re feeling very confident.”
