Archives > Sports > Schools
Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
RSS
Share
Early Onslaught: Ten-run first inning lifts Sunnyvale to series win over Gunter, first trip to regional finals
By DEVIN HASSON, dhasson@starlocalnews.com
McKINNEY--Sunnyvale found itself in a position it had hoped to avoid on Saturday night.
After suffering their first loss of the playoffs earlier in the day--and first setback overall in more than two months--the Raiders found themselves on the brink of elimination against a Gunter team brimming with confidence after forcing a deciding game.
If head coach Tim Arden had any questions about how his team would respond, Sunnyvale responded with an immediate answer.
Sunnyvale (29-5) advances to the regional championship for the first time in school history where it will face Brock, the No. 1 team in the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Class 2A state poll, later this week at a time and place to be determined.
The smiling faces and high-fives late Saturday night were a far cry from a few hours earlier when the Raiders blew some key opportunities in a 10-6 loss in game two. Despite having a 20-game winning streak come to an end, Arden knew his team would be ready for the challenge.
"I don't ever have to worry about these kids," he said. "They have always been able to shake off losses. They are the loosest group I have had and they came right back and knew that it was a new game and it was time to get back to business as usual."
The tension of the first two games was not an issue in the finale, as Sunnyvale was more than happy to take advantage of what Gunter had to offer.
Will Moss led off with a single and Connor Nash followed with a big-bounce double to left. Zach Metzger, who drew eight intentional walks after he hit a home run in the series opener, drew one of those free passes to load the bases.
Brock Taylor drove in the first run of the game with a fielder's choice, Ryan Cottingame walked and Wesley Phillips just missed a grand slam, settling for a two-run double off the wall in left that made it 3-0.
That chased Gunter starter C.J. Ateek from the game, but the Tigers pitching problems were just getting started. Reliever Lucas Hampton walked Joey Rosato and then issued another to Devin DeLeon to force in a run.
Gunter then turned to Dylan Higdon, but he walked Mason Goodin and Moss to plate two more runs that stretched the advantage to 7-0.
Nash followed with a sacrifice fly and a free pass was issued to Metzger, Taylor blooped a two-run double to right that made it 10-0.
The beneficiary of that huge cushion was Moss, who pitched out of some jams but was able to earn the win on the mound.
"Getting out early really takes a lot of the pressure off," Arden said. "It allows us to leave a pitcher in to work out of some jams and Will was able to do that."
Moss walked Hunter Williams in the top of the second and after a wild pitch advanced the runner to second, Avery Higdon followed with a RBI single to get the Tigers on the scoreboard. They threatened further when two more walks loaded the bases, but Moss was able to get Cade Cruce to pop out to end the threat.
Sunnyvale extended the lead to 11-1 in the bottom of the third when Goodin scored on a sacrifice fly by Nash and then pushed it to 12-1 when Rosato doubled and scored on an error in the fourth.
Gunter took advantage of some control problems to temporarily stave off the run-rule by playing three runs in the top of the fifth, but that would be short-lived.
Moss walked to lead off the bottom of the fifth, Nash singled and Metzger was intentionally walked to load the bases. Taylor then drove in a run on a fielder's choice and Nash scampered home on a wild pitch to provide the final 14-4 margin.
This was Sunnyvale's second trip to the regional semifinals. Two years ago, the Raiders made it to this stage but were defeated by Brock in a 3-game series.
Sunnyvale, which has made it a habit of avenging past defeats during this playoff run, will now get a rematch with the state's No. 1 team with a chance to make its first state tournament appearance.
The following are comments from the readers.
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
You must register with a valid email to post comments.
Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Registered users sign in here:
Become a Registered User
- Return to: Sunnyvale «
- Home «
- Top of Page ^
