WALL, TX — The No. 2-ranked Wall High School baseball team should face its biggest challenge of the playoffs so far when it takes on No. 10 Jacksboro this weekend in the Class 3A Division II regional finals.
Wall head coach Jeremy Gordon said he believes it’s a matchup of the two best teams in Region I.
“We’re split up into big-school and small-school divisions now in the playoffs, but regardless I think us and Jacksboro are the two best teams in the region,” Gordon said. “I truly believe it’s as good as it gets for a regional final.”
Wall has a record of 29-5, while Jacksboro is 24-4.
Wall has mostly cruised through the playoffs to this point, but the one bump in the road came in the second round in a 4-2 win over Henrietta, which is one of Jacksboro’s district rivals.
Gordon said the Tigers are well prepared from their district, which also includes both regional finalists in 3A Division I - Holliday and Iowa Park.
“They’re battle-tested for sure,” Gordon said. “And those guys win at everything. They were successful in football and basketball, and they (played in the regional final) last year in baseball.”
Wall is coming off a sweep of Idalou last week in which the Hawks again showed off their formidable 1-2 punch on the pitcher’s mound with juniors Gage Reichenau and Reid Ballard.
The two combined to allow just one run in the two games, while the Hawks’ bats provided more than enough offense in 10-0 and 11-1 wins.
“Our leadoff hitter, Kellan Oliver, is an unbelievable pitcher as well,” Gordon said. “It’s a blessing to have three starting pitchers. They’re really 1A, 1B and 1C. Any of them could be our ace on any given day.”
Wall’s offense is highlighted by catcher Gunnar Gillard, a University of Oklahoma signee, but the Hawks have talent up and down the lineup.
Shortstop Caleb Braden is a versatile hitter with speed and power, while center fielder Hagyn Barbee is one of the state’s fastest players on the basepaths. He was a member of the Hawks’ relays at the state track meet.
“Last year, we had a bunch of heavy hitters. We still have guys that can launch the ball for sure, but one through nine there’s not really a weak spot, and that makes it really tough for opposing teams. Everyone really swings it well, and we can have up to seven lefties in our lineup, and that obviously makes it very tough as well.”
Wall’s baseball program brought home a state title in 2019, and the Hawks were in the state final as recently as 2023, when they lost 6-4 to Boyd.
Wall was upset in the second round last year by Iowa Park, 5-2, and the Hawks have been on a mission ever since.
Their only losses this year have been against Class 4A and 5A schools.
If Wall wins this weekend, the Hawks will take on the winner of New Diana and No. 4 Boyd in the state semifinals next week.
After Game 1 at 2 p.m. Friday in Graham, Wall and Jacksboro have an unusual schedule Saturday in Brownwood, where they will be awaiting their actual start time.
Lubbock-Cooper and Grapevine will play Game 2 of their series at 1 p.m. Saturday. Wall and Jacksboro will play 30 minutes after that game — unless the series goes to a Game 3, which would force them to wait until the conclusion of that game.
So, best-case scenario, Wall and Jacksboro begin about 3:30 p.m. Saturday. Worst-case scenario, they play about 6 p.m. and then end up playing their own Game 3 even later that night.
Subscribe to the LIVE! Daily
Required
Post a comment to this article here: