It came down to the top of the seventh inning with Thorndale’s baseball team up 5-4 over Weimar, the ninth-ranked team in Class 2A by the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association.
THS pitcher Bryson Beran had two outs with runners on second and third with a 1-2 count on Bryan Price, Weimar’s fifth batter.
On Beran’s next pitch, Price chased a high fast ball with a swing and a miss, earning Thorndale their second win in two days over the Wildcats and a bi-district championship.
“It’s playoff baseball, it’s just exciting,” said coach Kelly Kuhl. “We know we’re a good team and we felt like last week was a fluke and I think that kind of ate at the kids.”
The week before, Thorndale lost twice to rival Thrall, the eighthranked team in Class 2A and moving the Bulldogs from a three-way tie for first to being the third place team in District 27-2A.
Going into the series, Kuhl laid his focus into making sure his young team knew they could take on the reputable Weimar, whose pitching staff featured Trent Chenard, a McNeese State University signee.
“We preached all week that we’re better than Weimar, we can beat them and we believed that.” Kuhl said.
GAME ONE—On Friday evening, the Bulldogs defeated Weimar on the road 8-2 in game one.
Logan Davis led on the mound and at the plate Friday with nine strikeouts and a double and a triple in their 8-2 win in Weimar.
Layton Mogford and Kaden Kovar each had one hit.
“After we won the first one, we were saying ‘hey, there’s no pressure on you’,” Kuhl said.
“We got the number nine team in the state coming to your house and they have to beat you twice. Put the ball in play and good things will happen,” he said.
GAME TWO—In Saturday’s series-clinching win, the Bulldogs had just five hits with two each from Davis and Mason Lindig and one by Beran but were aggressive on the bags with seven stolen bases from Coy Stutts, Hunter Thigpen, Kovar, Lindig, Mogford, Carter Brymer and Beran.
EVADALE—Thorndale moves on to the area round of the playoffs where they will face Evadale.
The Rebels won District 25-2A with eight run-rule victories and are coming off a sweep of Somerville in bi-district with wins of 15-0 and 15-2.
Thorndale/Evadale Area Baseball Playoffs
Texas A&M’s Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park
Game 1: 7 p.m., Thursday
Game 2: 4 p.m., Friday
Game 3: If necessary, 30 minutes after game two ends.
Tickets: $10 and only sold at stadium entrance.
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