Twice as nice: Abilene Wylie captures back-to-back state titles

Getting to state is an accomplishment in itself.  To to take that next step and win a state championship is what every team has in mind.  The Abilene Wylie Bulldogs did that in 2016, capturing their first ever state championship.

The mindset coming into this season was to get back and get another one.  On Thursday, that goal became a reality as the Bulldogs won a thrilling 6-5 game over the Robinson Rockets for back-to-back state titles.

“It’s a special deal that does not happen very often,” said Abilene Wylie head coach Clay Martin.  “To repeat, it’s a long journey, and these guys have put in a ton of work.  It just doesn’t happen based on what happened last year.  It says a lot about this program and community.”

As you would expect with any state championship, things were tight all the way with many turning points throughout.  The Rockets got on the board first with a bloop single by Chris Morrow, plating Braxton Ashcraft for the 1-0 lead.

Wylie’s offense broke through in the third in a big way, and it started with the bottom of the lineup.  8-hole hitter Caleb Munton and 9-hole hitter Gatlin Martin both hit balls to the wall.  Zach Smith, the lead off batter, proceeded to hit a triple to the center field, moving the deficit to only 3-2.  He was later brought in by an RBI ground out by Bryce Gist to tie things up at 3.

The Rockets had a big inning of their own in the third.  To begin things, Mason Cooper struck out, but got to first on a passed ball.  Powell then singled hard to right, but a perfect thrown from Mason Schubert got Cooper at third.  However,  Dru Dziedzic and Ashcraft had almost identical hits to the same spot of the field.  Ashcraft’s cut the game to 3-2.  Freshman Jordan Rogers hit a come-backer to the Carlton on the mound.  He went to second to get the force.  A throw was not made to first and Dziedzic scored to tie the game.  It was a hard collision at the bag, which brought out the emotions in both teams.

“Emotions got the best of both teams for a little bit,” said Martin.  “But, both teams settled in and it was over quickly.  Things like that happen, but it’s in the way that you respond to them that is so key.”

In the fifth, Wylie went back on top as Cameron Hanna hit a ground out to short, scoring Gist, who had singled to begin the frame.

From there it was all about insurance for the Bulldogs.  In the top of the sixth, Smith drove a 1-2 curve ball over the left field fence to put his team up 6-4.  It was a pitch that Smith had already seen in the at-bat.  “He hung me a curve ball.  He threw it where I wanted it and I sent it for a drive,” said Smith.

The Rockets got the run back in the bottom half.  Lead off batter Jake Strain doubled and scored on a Peyton Powell single to bring it back to one, 5-4.

In the top of the 7th, it was Munton again that brought in a run with a single to right with the bases loaded.  Ashcraft homered to start the bottom of the 7th, but Smith induced three consecutive ground outs to end it.

“It was a roller coaster back and forth,” said Martin.  “When we got a lead they would answer and it ended up like that all the way to the end.”

“The leadership and the ability to keep their poise and keep answering,” said Martin of his team in the big moments.  “I can’t can’t say enough about that.  It just goes to show the character of this team and young men.  I’m so proud of them.”

Smith was named MVP, going 2-3 with a triple and the homer while also picking up the save on the mound.  Hutton Frazier picked up the win, moving to 11-0 on the year.

“It means a bunch to the team,” said Smith on winning back-to-back titles.  “We work day in and day out.  We had a goal coming into this season to win back to back, and we accomplished it.”

WP: Hutton Frazier (11-0)
LP: Braxton Ashcraft (9-1)