Clutch Performers Carry Carroll to 6A Title

ROUND ROCK, Texas- The last state championship game on the docket at Dell Diamond was perhaps the liveliest of them all. Both Reagan High School and Southlake Carroll High School, two talented, well-rounded ball clubs, played with an edge.

Though, only one sustained the fire.

The Southlake Carroll Dragons, aided by starting pitcher Kyle Warden’s efficient six innings of work, downed the Rattlers 7-2 to win the 6A state title. In spite of allowing five walks, Warden showed escapability, scattering six hits over six-plus innings. Warden recorded only one strikeout, a testament to the talent of the Rattlers lineup.

The Dragons didn’t delay the scoring, with right fielder Will Quillen (Grayson JC) lifting a two-out, two-run triple to right-center field in the first inning. A shutdown inning from Warden was rewarded with two more Dragon runs in their half of the second inning, including a Cade Bell (Grayson JC) RBI double.

Reagan starting hurler Travis Sthele (Texas) has an abundance of tools, but the Dragon offense never allowed him to get into a groove. Relievers John Fraga and Josh Buske (Incarnate Word) provided quality innings out of the pen, however.

Southlake Carroll would go on to plate two more runs in the 4th inning and an additional run in the 5th, as the Dragons entered the last half of the 7th inning ahead 7-0. Warden’s gas tank was likely empty, as lefty Adam Stephenson (Wichita State) replaced his teammate after the former allowed a leadoff walk and a subsequent single. Moving from center field to the mound, the future Shocker showed the versatility heading to the Wichita State campus this coming fall. 

The Rattlers fought to the bitter end, scoring a pair of runs in the final inning, but it was simply too little too late.

STATS
Southlake Carroll
Warden: (W) 6 IP, 97 TP, 2 ER, 6 H, 1 K, 5 BB
Stephenson: 1 IP, 28 TP, 1-4
Figueroa: 1-2, 2 BB, RBI
Millsap: 1-4
Quillen: 1-3, 2 RBI

Reagan
Sthele: (L) 2 IP, 28 TP, 4 ER, 3 H, 0 K, 2 BB, 1-2
P. Brown: 2-4, RBI
H. Brown: 0-3, RBI
Sanchez: 2-3
Brieger: 1-2, 2 BB, R