4A State Tournament Preview

All you have to do is look at this year’s lineup of teams set to compete in Austin to know you are going to get some quality baseball.  Abilene Wylie, Pleasant Grove, Robinson and Sinton all entered the season as top 10 squads in the state and have lived there the entire year.  Wylie, Pleasant Grove and Robinson were all at this tournament a year ago, and Sinton was there in 2014 and knows all about the big moments.  As you would expect at state, we should see some extremely close ball games in all three matchups that we get to watch.  Any blowout style games would be surprising and very impressive at the same time.

Region I – Abilene Wylie

Coach: Clay Martin

Season Record: 33-1

District Record: 8-0

Playoff Record: 8-0

Playoff Run: Bi-District (3-0 & 11-2 over Vernon); Area (8-0 & 6-5 over Midlothian Heritage); Regional Quarterfinals (14-1 over Alvarado); Regional Semifinals (3-1 & 12-3 over Levelland); Regional Finals (7-4  & 5-1 over Godley)

After winning the school’s first ever state championship in 2017, Coach Martin and the Abilene Wylie Bulldogs will be going for back-to-back state titles this week in Austin.  There is nothing on the resume for 2017 that says it can’t be accomplished.  The only loss on the season is to 5A Wichita Falls Rider, and since that point it’s been total dominance.  In district, only one game was decided by less than 10 runs, and so far in the playoffs there has not been too many high pressure moments.  It’s extremely difficult to win one state championship, but this Bulldog team seems fully capable of completing the repeat.

Region II – Pleasant Grove

Coach: Riley Fincher (132 career wins)

Season Record: 35-3

District Record: 9-1

Playoff Record: 10-0

Playoff Run: Bi-District (13-3 & 8-4 over Van); Area (3-1 & 10-0 over Longview Spring Hill); Regional Quarterfinals (9-0 & 1-0 over Canton); Regional Semifinals (6-1 & 8-0 over Argyle); Regional Finals (10-2 & 1-0 over Decatur)

Yes, Pleasant Grove is back at the state tournament again.  This marks the 8th trip to Austin the past 10 seasons.  That experience should only prove to be beneficial when you are talking about the state’s biggest stage.  The Hawks had quite possibly the most impressive playoff series out of any team in the field when they knocked off Argyle for the second straight year.  The Hawks had a 14-1 scoring advantage in the sweep..  Last season, Pleasant Grove fell behind early to Wylie and could not complete the comeback, 7-5.  Fast forward a year later, and we now see these two powerhouses meeting up again on the same field in the same game.  You could not ask for more.

Region III – Robinson

Coach: Bryan Kent (247 career wins)

Season Record: 30-2

District Record: 12-0

Playoff Record: 8-0

Playoff Run: Bi-District (11-0 & 11-0 over Fairfield); Area (5-2 & 11-4 over Taylor); Regional Quarterfinals (12-2 & 8-0 over Salado); Regional Semifinals (4-2 over West Orange-Stark); Regional Finals (8-4 over China Spring)

There are not many teams that could say they are more hungry to capture a state championship than the Robinson Rockets.  Much like with Abilene Wylie’s situation a year ago, Robinson has been to state on multiple occasions, but has not accomplished the ultimate goal of winning a state championship.  Will this be the year that the Rockets get over that hump?  Based on what we have seen this season, I would say there is a good chance of that happening.  The Rockets have a very deep pitching staff, and even with one game winner-take-all situations the past two weeks, this team has come through.  Can they continue that trend in Austin where it’s one and done?

Region IV – Sinton

Coach: Adrian Alaniz (53 career wins)

Season Record: 30-5-2

District Record: 13-1

Playoff Record: 10-2

Playoff Run: Bi-District (10-0 & 4-2 over Port Isabel); Area (15-0 & 3-1 over Pleasanton); Regional Quarterfinals (4-1, 1-2 & 3-0 over Zapata); Regional Semifinals (9-5 & 7-1 over Boerne); Regional Finals (0-6, 8-2, & 10-5 over Robstown)

It would be hard to argue that any team had a more thrilling regional final than Sinton.  For one, it went down to extra innings in game three.  Secondly, it was against your district rival in front of a capacity crowd.  Sometimes winning games like that tend to build big time momentum.  That is something the Pirates hope they can carry over into Austin for two more wins and a state championship.  Much like their semifinal round opponent in Robinson, Sinton has three very capable starters that could each go at any time.  Can the Pirates bring home another state championship to South Texas?

STATE TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

Wednesday

1:00 – Sinton Vs. Robinson

4:00 – Pleasant Grove Vs. Abilene Wylie

Thursday

6:30 – 4A State Championship