GRAHAM, TX — The Wall Hawks traveled to Graham on Friday to face off with Jacksboro for Game 1 in the Region I Final. Despite a tight defensive battle throughout the contest, Wall found a way to claim victory with a late offensive explosion. The Hawks won Game 1, 6-1.
Hear from Head Coach Gordon after the game below:
Gage Reichenau received the start in Game 1 and delivered another gem of a pitching performance. Reichenau pitched the entire contest and helped the Hawks secure the win in what seems to be a recurring trend. The young man allowed a single run in Friday's matchup.
The defensive battle finally saw some action in the 4th inning when Jacksboro finally broke the stalemate to take a 1-0 lead. Wall did not let that disadvantage stand long, however, as the Hawks scored one of their own at the top of the 6th.
Knotted at 1-1, Wall had one final opportunity to take the lead in the top of the 7th inning. The Hawks took full advantage. Making his first start in place of the injured Garren Wiggins, Kyler Oneal jumpstarted the Hawks' offensive in the 9-hole when he safely made it on base with no outs. He take the lead for Wall just a bit later.
Wall Hawks Baseball after their Game 1 Regional Final Victory over Jacksboro
(San Angelo LIVE! Photo/Ryan Chadwick)
"Kyler Oneal is the definition of a culture kid," Head Coach Jeremy Gordon said after the win. "He shows up every day and does things the right way. He finally had the opportunity to get in the lineup and was absolutely unbelievable for us today."
Oneal snagged one of the final three outs in the outfield in the bottom of the 7th.
After Oneal took the lead for the Hawks, Wall's offense exploded. With bases loaded and nobody out, Hagyn Barbee roped a two-run RBI to left field to give the Hawks a three-run advantage. Shortly after, a 2-RBI double from Jake Braden secured the win for the Hawks.
Reichenau and the rest of Wall's defense secured the final three outs in the bottom of the 7th, and Wall took Game 1 over Jacksborough, 6-1.
"They stayed the course," Gordon continued after the game. "They just kept swinging the axe. They knew if they took enough swings at it, that tree would eventually fall. It just so happened to go until the top of the 7th that the tree fell down, but man, it fell."
Wall plays Jacksboro in Brownwood on Saturday, May 24, for Game 2. First pitch will commence immediately after the conclusion of Lubbock-Cooper's matchup with Grapevine. Game 3 will follow if necessary.
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