BB/SB: East Texas playoffs heating up
after making a spectacular catch during Tuesday's game vs. Latexo.
Game 2 of the series is set for 4:30 p.m. Friday. (Photo by John
Krueger)
High School baseball and softball teams are making their moves toward a possible berth in the State tournaments coming up later this month. Several area schools are in action in or around the Shelby County area, so there is plenty of action for those who love the games played on the diamond.
Shelby County Schools
There are two Shelby County schools that are still alive in the baseball playoffs. The Joaquin Rams have already begun postseason play, while the Shelbyville Dragons received a bye this week and are in warm-up action as they prepare for the Area round next week.
The Rams opened their first playoff run since 2005 on Tuesday night when they began a best 2-out-of-3 series with the Latexo Tigers at Central High School in Pollok.
The squads traded leads back and forth before Latexo tied the contest in the top of the seventh. But a steady pitching performance by senior Cody Holt combined with a tough defensive effort by the Ram defense and some opportunistic baserunning in the bottom of the eighth by Patrick Schmutz resulted in a 6-5 Joaquin win.
Joaquin (14-8-1) and Latexo will return to Central HS on Friday night to complete the series. The first pitch is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. at Rayburn Richard Baseball Field. The Rams can complete the series and move on to the Area round with a victory. Should the Tigers win the first game, the two squads would play a deciding game 30 minutes later.
The winner of the Joaquin-Latexo series will battle District 23-1A champion Chester in Area play next week.
The Shelbyville Dragons received a first-round bye in the playoffs with their 3-0 victory over Hemphill last week. The District 22-2A Co-Champions will be taking on Anahuac in Area play in a one-game playoff next Friday (May 14) at 7 p.m. at Woodville High School.
The Dragons (11-14-1) dropped a 6-3 decision to District 22-1A champion Douglass at home on Tuesday in warm-up competition for the postseason. SHS will be at home again on Friday when they battle District 19-2A champ Central Heights at 6 p.m. at Dragon Field.
Other Baseball Playoffs
Garrison Bulldogs
There will be several other East Texas baseball playoffs being played near Shelby County in the coming days.
The Garrison Bulldogs (16-11) had to win their final five regular season games to force a tie-breaker game with Troup last Saturday. The 'Dogs won that game, 12-3, to place third in District 19-2A. GHS will now battle Rosebud-Lott in a best 2-out-of-3 series. Rosebud-Lott was the runner-up in District 20-2A.
Game 1 of the series will take place Friday night at 7 p.m., with Game 2 set for Saturday at 1 p.m. A third game, if necessary, will follow Game 2. The entire series will take place at Palestine High School.
The survivor of the series between Garrison and Rosebud-Lott will take on District 17-2A champion Mount Pleasant Chapel Hill next week in the Area round.
Nacogdoches Dragons
The Nacogdoches Dragons captured third place in District 14-4A and will begin postseason action tonight in Carthage when they battle District 13-4A runner-up Hallsville in a best 2-out-of-3 series.
Game 1 will take place at 7 p.m. tonight (Thursday) at the Carthage City Park. Game 2 will be played Friday at 7 p.m. in Carthage. Should a third game be necessary, it will be played on Saturday at 2 p.m. All games will be played in Carthage.
The survivor of the Nacogdoches-Hallsville series will face either Terrell or Cleburne in the Area round next week.
Central Heights Blue Devils
The Central Heights Blue Devils received a first-round bye because of their District 19-2A title. After traveling to Shelbyville on Friday, the Devils will open playoff action against the winner of the bi-district matchup between Queen City and Harleton.
Mount Enterprise Wildcats
Despite knocking of league champion Douglass on the last day of the regular season, the Mount Enterprise Wildcats finished in third place in District 22-1A play. The 'Cats (14-8) will open the playoffs tonight when they face District 21-1A runner-up Alto in a best 2-out-of-3 series.
Game 1 of the series will be played at Dragon Field at Nacogdoches High School at 6:30 p.m. The second game of the series will be played Friday at 5:30 p.m. back at NHS. A third game, if necessary, will follow Game 2.
The survivor of the series will then be matched up against District 24-1A champion Evadale next week in Area action.
High School Softball Playoffs
Woden Lady Eagles
Two familiar playoff foes will square off tonight in a one-game Area playoff in Tatum when No.15-ranked Woden, the champion of District 19-2A, will meet Big Sandy Harmony, the runner-up in District 18-2A. The first pitch is set for 7 p.m.
These two teams are not strangers in the playoffs. Woden (26-5) defeated Harmony (20-8) in the regional semifinals in 2007, but Harmony ousted the Lady Eagles in the regional finals with a state berth on the line in 2008.
Woden received a first-round bye in the playoffs, while Harmony knocked off Mount Pleasant Chapel Hill, 6-4, in the first round.
The winner of tonight's game will take on the victor between Arp and Linden Kildare.
PLAYOFFS
THURSDAY, MAY 6
High School Baseball Playoffs
Nacogdoches vs. Hallsville - Game 1, at Carthage, 7 p.m.
Alto vs. Mount Enterprise - Game 1, at Nacogdoches HS, 6:30 p.m.
High School Softball Playoffs
Woden vs. Big Sandy Harmony - 1 Game playoff, at Tatum, 7 p.m.
Friday, May 7
High School Baseball
Warm-up Game: Central Heights at Shelbyville, 6 p.m.
Joaquin (1-0) vs. Latexo - Game 2, at Central HS, Pollok, 4:30 p.m.
Joaquin vs. Latexo - Game 3 (if nec.), at Central HS, Pollok, after Gm 2
Nacogdoches vs. Hallsville - Game 2, at Carthage, 7 p.m.
Garrison vs. Rosebud-Lott - Game 1, at Palestine, 7 p.m.
Alto vs. Mount Enterprise - Game 2, at Nacogdoches, HS, 5:30 p.m.
Alto vs. Mount Enterprise - Game 3 (if nec.), at Nacogdoches HS, after Gm 2
SATURDAY, MAY 8
High School Baseball
Nacogdoches vs. Hallsville - Game 3 (if nec.), at Carthage, 2 p.m.
Garrison vs. Rosebud-Lott - Game 2, at Palestine, 1 p.m.
Garrison vs. Rosebud-Lott - Game 3 (if nec.) at Palestine, after Gm 2