No. 1 Wall Comes Back After Facing Biggest Deficit of Season

MIDLAND, TX -- The playoffs are about one thing and one thing only -- win at all costs, which the top-ranked Wall Hawks did with an explosive 19-11 win Friday night at Midland College’s Christensen Field against Alpine.

The Hawks, after taking a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the first, fell behind 7-3 before erupting for five runs in the third and six runs in the fourth to go up 14-7. Ryan Gully delivered a two-run double in the third to give the Hawks the lead.

"We hadn't been in that situation all year long," head coach Jason Schniers said. "We're a pretty good baseball team as far as hitting goes and it showed. They stayed composed, we continued to work the count, we took good pitches and it resulted in a lot of runs being scored. But a very good job at the plate not trying to do too much."

Alpine would claw back with four runs across the fifth and sixth innings to move within 16-11. Wall added three more in the sixth to put the game out of reach.

Alpine got to Wall starter Luke Young on the mound early and often. Young finished his day after 2.2 innings pitched and surrendering seven runs. Jake Jansa stepped in and threw a solid 3.1 innings of work where he allowed four runs on three hits with a strikeout to his name to earn the win.

"I don't know what it was about (Alpine) and being able to hit Luke," Schniers said. "Everything he threw, they seemed to hit it really well. Sometimes you have that as a pitcher. So, we went with a different look just to throw something different at them and Jake did a great job of getting them out on their front foot, keeping them off balance."

Ryan Gully had a big day at the plate, going 3-for-4 with three RBIs and a pair of runs scored. Charlie Mascorro finished 3-for-5 with two RBIs and three runs scored. Caleb Heuertz went 2-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored to continue his hot start to the postseason. He now has 10 hits in four games for the Hawks.

Despite trailing early on, Schniers and the Hawks still felt comfortable as the game evolved from baseball to a slugfest. They knew they're offense would match the pesky Bucks.

"We did (feel comfortable)," Schniers said. "I felt we were zoned in at the plate. I knew also, (we) were gonna keep swinging it. Those two runs weren't gonna be enough. That's the thing it'll be tomorrow. It's gonna be a slugfest to every field. ... I don't wanna be in that situation, those guys over there swing the bat and play hard. It's gonna be a good series."

With roughly a 12-hour turnaround ahead, Wall is already turning their focus to game two tomorrow.

"You've gotta enjoy this one shortly. We've gotta be ready to go because they're gonna come back and they're gonna do whatever it takes to keep their season going," Schniers said.

Wall (32-0) leads the series and will go for the series sweep tomorrow at noon from Midland.

Mason Series Update

The Mason Punchers downed Brackettville at Converse Judson High School on Friday.

The Punchers won 10-7 to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series.

Game two is scheduled for noon tomorrow at Jake Insleman Field in San Antonio. The winner of the series will face defending champion Dallardsville Big Sandy.