Mineral Wells Area News

Longhorns rally in the seventh comes up short

By DAVID MAY | Special to Mineral Wells Area News

ROUND ROCK – Down to their last out, Gordon had runners on second and third. A base hit could tie the game. Unfortunately, the Longhorns in their first-ever trip to the state baseball title game would not leave Dell Diamond with the championship trophy.

In a game with a few what ifs and a questionable umpiring decision or two, sometimes you just have to tip your cap to the opponent. The Fayetteville Lions (19-4) claimed the Texas UIL Class 1A baseball title in a 4-2 win over Gordon (23-6) on a toasty Saturday morning in Round Rock.

It capped a tumultuous two weeks for the Gordon team and community that is still recovering from a May 18 tornado that ripped through the southwest Palo Pinto County community. Especially hard hit was Gordon ISD’s athletics facilities, wiping out its baseball field and fieldhouse. The ‘Horns football stadium was also heavily impacted.

Gordon head coach Ligon West commended his team for its accomplishments this season, always playing hard and playing the game “the way it is supposed to be played.”

“It goes without saying,” West said afterward. “We go from, I think, never making it past the second round to all of a sudden making it to the next round and the next round to making it to the state championship. It’s not easy. These kids played their hearts out and left every bit of it on the field and I am so proud of them.”

Lions starting pitcher Jack Schley got the win to stay undefeated (7-0) on the year. Chance Konvicka threw three innings in relief to earn the save. The pair gave up just five hits and four walks, with four strikeouts apiece.

Gordon’s pitching nearly matched the Lions’ effort. Junior Aiden Shank (8-3) started and worked through five innings, allowing seven hits and four earned runs. He walked four and fanned five in his 100-pitch effort. Maddox Stewart relieved Shank, allowing no runs, hits or walks while striking out five over two innings. He kept the game close late and gave Gordon a chance to rally back, which they almost did.

“Anytime you win over 20 games in a season, it’s a good season,” West added. “It is not the way you want the season to end. It’s hard to put into words. When you are as proud of these guys as I am and to get this far. It says a lot about their effort and their character.”

The ‘Horns have a team that is built for another state title run next season. They lose just two seniors – pitcher/shortstop Maddox Stewart (8-2) and designated hitter Landon McDonald. It will be a senior-laden squad that will carryover this year’s experience.

Fayetteville was able to mount a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning with three hits and an error on a pickoff attempt from catcher to first.

The ‘Horns got one of those runs back in their half of the first inning. Shank was hit by a pitch and moved to second on a balk. Stryker Reed, who had two hits and knocked in both of Gordon’s runs, singled Shank home. He stole second and advanced to third on a groundout before Schley got the third out.

The Lions scored a single run in the top of the second. A walk and a fielder’s choice led to a steal of second. A single down the right field line scored the runner for a 3-1 Lions lead.

Fayetteville extended their lead to 4-1 in the top of the fourth. A one-out walk and and a pair of singles sent a run home.

Gordon’s half of the fourth inning went a long way to determining the outcome of the game. With one out and Noah Kostiha batting, Brayden Walters smacked a double into left field. With two outs, Walters took off for third. The catcher’s throw bounced in the dirt and skipped past the third baseman into left field. Walters scampered home with what appeared to be Gordon’s second run. However, Kostiha was ruled to have interfered with the throw. Walters returned to second base. 

Kostiha worked a walk to put two runners on. Again Walters stole third, and again the catcher’s throw went into left field. Walters bounced up and raced home, but the Lions’ shortstop backing up the play was able to field the ball and fire it to the plate. The ball arrived home just ahead of Walters and he was called out making a head-first slide as the catcher applied the tag.

The game remained 4-1 into the bottom of seventh inning with Gordon having one last chance to make something happen offensively – and they did. Corvin Seymour led off with a single. Kaden Crowe was called on to pinch run for Seymour. With one out, Stewart (2-for-4 hitting) singled into right. Shank reached on a fielder’s choice that forced Stewart out at second. That put runners on the corners with two outs.

Shank stole second. Reed singled Crowe home to make it 4-2, with Shank reaching third. Reed stole second to put the tying run at second. It was now hit or miss at this point. Evan Jackson took a swing but got under the pitch, fouling the ball straight up behind home plate. The ball’s trajectory seemed it might it into the backstop screen. But it didn’t, falling into the waiting glove of Lions’ catcher Dylan Henneke near the wall to end the game. His Lions teammates dogpiled him in celebration.

Despite the loss, Gordon ISD will celebrate a remarkably successful athletics year for both the boys and girls programs. The football team won its second consecutive state football title. The boys basketball team won district and made it to the area round of the playoffs. The boys track team won its second consecutive state meet title, with Reed winning his second top male athlete award. The Lady ‘Horns won 22 games in basketball with a bi-district title and earned several medals at the state track meet.

GISD Athletics Director and head football coach Mike Reed noted the year and the many successes Gordon athletes had, defining a program that is arguably the best overall in Class 1A.

“I think any time you can start it on the very first day you can start then you end it on the very last day the UIL says you can end it, and you push it all the way through, I am really proud of our community and our kids and out coaches because it’s been a long, resilient year and to know you are going to turn around and go back in a month and-a-half and try to do it again,” Reed said.