Alamo Heights 5
College Station 2
Alamo Heights captured a 5-2 win over College Station to become the 6th Region 4 team in 7 years to reach the State Final. Forrest Whitley was going to start and was going to get drafted. It was something everyone knew was coming. How it would end up was the mystery.
The Mules scored in the 1st to take an early 1-0 lead after a leadoff single by Parker Taylor, that was followed by a Sac Bunt by Preston Taylor and a RBI Single by Nathaniel Prete. Textbook baseball at its best. The lead did not stay for long as College Station played baseball by the book as well. In the 3rd they tied the game at 1 when Reece Eastling drew a base on balls, stole second, was moved over on a hit to the right side and scored on a uncharacteristic wild pitch by Whitley.
As Whitley and College Station hitters went to battle the mules offense opened it up in the 4th. Sending 8 batters to the plate that inning the Mules put up 4 runs that inning. Michael Kelleher started it off with a leadoff single and moved to second on a sac bunt. After that came 2 hits, BB, and a HBP which put Alamo Heights up 5-1. With a 4 run cushion and getting stronger as the game moved along Whitley went out in the 5th and 6th and struck out the side.
Whitley was pulled by Coach Jason Thompson with 1 out remaining in the game due to pitch count limit. Whitley had done his job; 1 out away from a complete game, 11 strikeouts, while scattering 4 hits. Oh and he was drafted at 7:53 17th overall to the Houston Astros. James Tyng came in to throw 4 pitches to one batter and get the final out.
College Station showed tremendous fight and might have put together the best swings vs Whitley this season. More impressive was the fact that they had Soph Travis Hester on the mound along with Freshman Bryson Lucas who came in relief. The Cougars have some arms to build around and make another run a Round Rock very soon.
Alamo Heights will now start Jack Woodland vs Grapevine for the State Championship.
