BB/SB: Playoff teams look to continue runs
their first playoff appearance since 2005. The Rams will open their
Class 1A Area playoff vs. Chester on Tuesday at Lufkin's Morris
Frank Park at 6 p.m. (Photo by John Krueger)
A slew of Shelby County and area baseball and softball teams are still participating in the high school playoffs and they will continue this week as teams battle toward possible state titles in their respective classifications.
In Shelby County, the Joaquin and Shelbyville baseball teams participate in Area round games in Class 1A and 2A, respectively. The Rams will be involved in yet another best 2-out-of-3 series, while the Dragons, who received a first-round bye in the Class 2A playoffs, gets started in the 'second season' later this week.
Joaquin vs. Chester
Fresh off their two-game sweep of Latexo, 6-5 and 16-5, the Joaquin Rams move into the Area round of the Class 1A playoffs with both renewed confidence and postseason experience.
The Rams, who are 15-8-1 on the season and have won seven straight and nine out of their last 10, will take on District 23-1A champion Chester in another best 2-out-of-3 series this week in the Area round.
The series will be played at Morris Frank Park in Lufkin beginning on Tuesday. Game 1 of the series is set for 6 p.m., with Games 2 & 3 taking place on Saturday. Game 2 will get started at 12-noon, with Game 3, if necessarily, getting underway approximately 30 minutes after Game 2.
The winner of the Joaquin-Chester series will move on to the Region III Quarterfinals against the survivor of Colmesneil and Lovelady and battle sometime next week.
Shelbyville vs. Anahuac
After claiming the District 22-2A championship and receiving a first-round bye in the playoffs, the Shelbyville Dragons will open their postseason run with a one-game playoff with Anahuac later this week.
The Dragons (11-15-1) will meet Anahuac, the runner-up in District 23-2A, on Friday night at Woodville High School in a winner-take-all contest at 7 p.m.
After claiming the league title, the Dragons have had their hands full in warm-up play, falling to District 22-1A champion Douglass, 6-3, and District 19-2A champ Central Heights, 15-3.
The victor of Friday's Area contest will then advance to the Region III Quarterfinals next week.
No.5 Central Heights vs. Harleton
After claiming the District 19-2A title with a perfect 14-0 league mark and receiving a bye past the bi-district round of the playoffs, No.5-ranked Central Heights (23-5) will open the postseason this week, facing Harleton (25-3) in the second round of the Class 2A playoffs.
Central Heights and Harleton will meet in a best 2-out-of-3 three series which will be played in Tatum. Game 1 is scheduled for Thursday at 6 p.m., with Game 2 taking place at 5:30 p.m. Friday. A third game, if necessary, will follow Game 2.
Harleton, which finished second in District 18-2A, swept Queen City, 13-3, 4-2, in a best-of-three series last week.
The winner of Central Heights and Harleton will take on the survivor of Rosebud-Lott and Chapel Hill, who will play this week.
Douglass vs. West Sabine
The Douglass Indians posted an 11-1 record en route to the District 22-1A championship and receive a first-round bye in the playoffs. The Indians 22-6-1 will now open the postseason against West Sabine, the runner-up from district 23-1A.
The best 2-out-of-3 series between the Indians and Tigers will be played at Shelbyville's Dragon Field beginning on Thursday. Game 1 of the series will take place at 6 p.m., with Game 2 being played on Saturday at 12-noon. Game 3, if necessary, will follow Game 2.
Douglass defeated Shelbyville last week, 6-3, in warm-up action, while West Sabine advanced past Sabine Pass, taking the 2-out-of-3 series, winning 12-1 and 6-1, while falling by a 14-5 count.
The survivor of Douglass and West Sabine will move on to the Region III Quarterfinals against either Alto or Evadale.
Alto vs. No.8 Evadale
The Alto Yellowjackets finished second in the District 21-1A race and advanced past the Class 1A Bi-District round of the playoffs with a two-game sweep of Mount Enterprise, 9-6 and 18-8.
The Yellowjackets advance to take on No.8-ranked Evadale, which won the District 24-1A race and received an opening-round bye in the playoffs.
The best-of-three series between Alto and Evadale will be played at Huntington High School beginning on Thursday. Game 1 will start at 6:30 p.m. Game 2 of the series will get underway on Saturday at 1 p.m., with Game 3, if necessary, being played 30 minutes after Game 2.
The winner of the Alto-Evadale series will meet the survivor of the West Sabine-Douglass best 2-out-of-3 series next week in the Class 1A Region III Quarterfinal round.
Nacogdoches vs. Cleburne
After being slammed by Hallsville 11-0 in the opening game of its best 2-out-of-3 series last week, the Nacogdoches Dragons came storming back to claim the series 2-1 with wins of 8-3 and 10-0 on Friday and Saturday.
The Dragons, who placed third in District 14-4A, will now move to the Area round of the playoffs to face Cleburne in a best 2-out-of-3 series beginning Friday. The two squads will play at 7:30 p.m. at Corsicana High School, and then play Game 2 at Mike Carter Field in Tyler on Saturday at 1 p.m. Game 3, if necessary, will follow Game 2.
Cleburne is the District 16-4A champion and topped Terrell in the bi-district round.
The winner of the Nacogdoches-Cleburne series will take on the survivor of the Ennis-Sulphur Springs series next week in the Class 4A Region II Quarterfinal Round.
No. 6 Alto Softball vs. Waskom
The No.6-ranked Alto Lady Jackets advanced to the third round of the Class 1A softball playoffs and will take on Waskom this week in a best 2-out-of-3 series, which will be played at West Rusk High School.
Game 1 of the series will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday, while Game 2 is set for 6 p.m. on Friday. Game 3, if necessary, will follow Game 2 Friday night.
Alto received a first-round bye in the playoffs after claiming the District 20-1A title. The Lady Jackets topped McLeod in a one-game playoff last week, 3-2, to region the Region III Quarterfinals.
Waskom had to go three games to defeat Cushing in the opening round, winning 10-6 and 8-5, while losing 5-3. The Lady Wildcats then swept Big Sandy last week in Area play, 9-7, 2-1.
The winner of the Alto-Waskom series will meet the survivor of Slocum and Grapeland in the Region III Semifinals.
No.15 Woden Softball vs. Linden Kildare
The 15th-ranked Woden Lady Eagles looked sharp in a 7-2 win over Big Sandy Harmony in the Area round of the Class 2A State Playoffs last week. The 15th-ranked Lady Eagles will now face Linden Kildare in a best 2-out-of-3 series this Thursday and Friday at Tatum.
Game one of the series will be played Thursday at 7 p.m., followed by Games 2 and then Game 3, if necessary, on Friday.
While District 19-2A champion Woden received a bye in the opening round and knocked off Harmony, Linden Kildare won the District 17-2A title and then swept Arp, 3-0, 8-0, in the Area round to reach the Region III Quarterfinals.
The survivor of Woden and Linden-Kildare will face the winner of Deweyville and Anahuac in the Class 2A Region III Semifinals.
Mount Enterprise Softball vs. No. 6 Beckville
The Mount Enterprise Lady Wildcats will have their hands full with No.6-ranked Beckville this weekend in the Class 1A Region III Quarterfinal series.
Note: This series was changed Wednesday morning. Game 1 of the best 2-out-of-3 series is now scheduled to be played at Beckville's Lady Cat Field beginning at 5 p.m. Thursday. Games 2 & 3 will be played beginning at 5 p.m. on Friday at Douglass.
Beckville is the District 19-1A champion and received a first-round bye in the postseason before knocking off Detroit 8-6 in a one-game Area playoff last week.
Mount Enterprise, which finished second in District 20-1A, swept Joaquin in the opening round, 17-0, 13-8. before edging Maud in a one-game playoff in the Area round, 9-8.
The winner of the Beckville-Mount Enterprise series will take on the winner of the series between Lovelady and Malakoff Cross Roads, which will be played in Rusk on Friday and Saturday.
TUESDAY, MAY 11
High School Baseball Area Playoffs
Joaquin vs. Chester (Best 2-of-3 - Game 1), at Morris Frank Park, Lufkin, 6 p.m.
THURSDAY, MAY 13
High School Baseball Area Playoffs
Central Heights (23-5) vs. Harleton (25-3) (Best 2-of-3 - Game 1), at Tatum, 6 p.m.
Douglass vs. West Sabine (Best 2-of-3 - Game 1), at Shelbyville, 6 p.m.
Alto vs. #8 Evadale (Best 2-of-3 - Game 1), at Huntington HS, 6:30 p.m.
High School Softball Quarterfinal Playoffs
Alto vs. Waskom (Best 2-of-3 - Game 1) at West Rusk High School, 7 p.m.
Woden vs. Linden Kildare (Best 2-of-3 - Game 1) at Tatum, 7 p.m.
Mount Enterprise vs. Beckville (Best 2-of-3 - Game 1) at Beckville HS, 5 p.m.
FRIDAY, MAY 14
High School Baseball Area Playoffs
Shelbyville vs. Anahuac (1 game), at Woodville HS, 7 p.m.
Nacogdoches vs. Cleburne (Best 2-of-3 - Game 1), at Corsicana HS, 7:30 p.m.
Central Heights vs. Harleton (Best 2-of-3 - Game 2), at Tatum, 5:30 p.m.
Central Heights vs. Harleton (Best 2-of-3 - Game 3), at Tatum, if nec., following Game 2
High School Softball Quarterfinal Playoffs
Alto vs. Waskom (Best 2-of-3 - Game 2) at West Rusk High School, 6 p.m.
Alto vs. Waskom (Best 2-of-3 - Game 3) at West Rusk High School, if nec., following Game 2
Woden vs. Linden Kildare (Best 2-of-3 - Game 2) at Tatum, time TBA
Woden vs. Linden Kildare (Best 2-of-3 - Game 3) at Tatum, if nec., following Game 2
Mount Enterprise vs. Beckville (Best 2-of-3 - Game 2) at Douglass HS, 5 p.m.
Mount Enterprise vs. Beckville (Best 2-of-3 - Game 3) at Douglass HS, if nec., 30 min. after Game 2
SATURDAY, MAY 15
High School Baseball Area Playoffs
Joaquin vs. Chester (Best 2-of-3 - Game 2), at Morris Frank Park, Lufkin, 12-noon
Joaquin vs. Chester (Best 2-of-3 - Game 3), at Morris Frank Park, Lufkin, if nec., following Game 2
Nacogdoches vs. Cleburne (Best 2-of-3 - Game 2) at Mike Carter Field, Tyler, 1 p.m.
Nacogdoches vs. Cleburne (Best 2-of-3 - Game 3) at Mike Carter Field, Tyler, if nec., 30 min. following Game 2
Douglass vs. West Sabine (Best 2-of-3 - Game 2), at Shelbyville, 12-noon
Douglass vs. West Sabine (Best 2-of-3 - Game 3), at Shelbyville, if nec, following Game 2
Alto vs. #8 Evadale (Best 2-of-3 - Game 2), at Huntington HS, 1 p.m.
Alto vs. #8 Evadale (Best 2-of-3 - Game 3), at Huntington HS, if nec., following Game 2