4A State Semifinals: Abilene Wylie 7 Pleasant Grove 5

Bulldogs build early lead to earn trip to state championship game

Last week in the regional final round, Abilene Wylie found themselves in an unfamiliar position. The Bulldogs, which had few problems reaching the regional championship, made a huge comeback in the 7th to advance past Godley and to state. In the state semifinals, the complete opposite occurred as Wylie scored 6 combined runs in the first two innings to help secure their ticket to the state championship game.

The Bulldogs struck for one run in the 2nd inning as John Paul Topel sent a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Mack Mueller who had singled to right field earlier in the frame.

Wylie broke the game open in the 2nd with 5 runs crossing home plate. The Bulldogs took advantage of Pleasant Grove miscues in this contest, and the 5-run second began with an error by the shortstop, allowing Tyler Henson to get aboard at first. Cameron Hannah would lay down the bunt trying to advance Henson to second, but at the same time was able to beat out the throw for an infield single.

Riley Hedge would then proceed to lay down the sacrifice bunt, moving both runners up to second and third. After Lane Bourland RBI single, Mueller 2 RBI double, and an error by the shortstop, Wylie had built themselves a commanding 6-0 lead.

Mueller finished the game a perfect 4-4.

“I’m just trying to do what I can to help the team win,” said Mueller. “That’s the most important thing. I want to help pick everybody up and just do my part. I think our experience of being here before is what really helped us today. The whole atmosphere in the dugout just seemed a lot calmer and better than last year. We came here today to do our job and execute and that’s what happened.”

Pleasant Grove would try to make a push with two runs in the third and then another three in the sixth, but the lead was too much to overcome as the Bulldogs shut the door in the seventh.

Top Hitting Performances:

Zach Smith, Abilene Wylie, 2-2, 2 BB, 3 R, 1 RBI

Mack Mueller, Abilene Wylie, 4-4, 1 2B, 1 R, 1 RBI

Carson Cox, Pleasant Grove, 1 3B, 1 R, 1 RBI

Pitchers

WP: Connor Carlton – 7 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 K

LP: Joe Pearlman, 1.2 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K