2A State Semi-Final Game 1 – Collinsville v Harleton

If the wind would just blow a little, it would be an amazing day for baseball.  Given no win, its just an outstanding day to watch the Collinsville Pirates take on the Harleton Wildcats.  The question on the street was pitchers duel or do the hitters dominate.  Some combination of these could also happen.  The Pirates will start Logan Jenkins with Peyton Davidson behind the plate while the Wildcats will throw Carson Wallace with Mason Clark receiving pitches.

Running his fast ball up to 86, Collin Wallace struck out the leadoff batter. Logan Jenkins one hoped the wall for a standup double.  Garrett Trevino singled to drive in the first run of the game.  Reed Peterson would put runners at the corners but that is all the offense the Pirates could get.  Jenkins would get some help from center fielder Rylan Newman with nice diving play to steal a hit from the leadoff batter.  A classic 6-3 and a strikeout puts the Pirates back up to bat.

Wallace would easily work around a one out walk and stolen base by Connor Ragsdale.  He would strikeout Payton Davidson followed by a Newman flyout to center.  Jenkins performed equally well in the bottom of the second allowing just one walk on no hits.  Jenkins leadoff the 3^rd with a single.

Collinsville picked up two big runs in their half of the 3^rd. After a Jenkins single to lead off the inning.  The Wildcats would commit an error with Jenkins in a pickle to put him on second.  A sacrifice fly, then a RBI by Trevino and Jenkins crosses home.  Paterson would later score Trevino on an inflield single. The bottom of the 3^rd was textbook pitching for Jenkins: 2 strikeouts and a ground out to third.

Wallace would have a textbook inning of his own in the top of the fourth with his first 1-2-3 inning.  Jenkins would feel  some pressure in the bottom of the 4^th.  With one out, Jenkins give up back to back singles and a walk to load the bases.  The Jenkins of the first 3 innings would come back to form with two strikeouts to extinguish any threat.  Wallace comes out dialed in again with another 1-2-3 inning.

Jenkins started the bottom of the Fifth with two quick outs but then Dylan Armstrong and Gage Shirts both singled.  Carson Wallace chased a pitch and end the inning.  Carson Wallace would return to the mound the top of 6^th.  Flyouts to right and center field delivered 2 quick outs.  A walk and stolen base by Connor Ragsdale was the only traffic as a groundout to second ended the top of the 6^th.  The Wildcats earned a 2 out walk but a strikeout ended the inning.

Braden Hopkins came in to pitch the top of the seventh inning.  He sat the top of the Pirate lineup in order.  Garrett Trevino comes in to pitch for the Pirates.  Peyton Murray leads off with a double.  The Wildcats failed to execute a bunt and then flew out to center for two outs and a runner on second.  Gage Shirts doubled to plate the first Wildcat run.  An intentional walk of Carson Wallace and a hit by pitch by Mason Clarks loads the bases and Rylan Newman will take the mound for the Pirates.

With one swing of the bat, Braden Hopkins would drive a double to the wall.  Scoring two and securing the victory for Harleton.  Harleton will face the Shiner v New Home winner.

WP –Hopkins
LP –  Newman

Player of the Game:  Braden Hopkins