MUMFORD, TX - On a cool day in South Texas that looked as if the ballpark would play more to the offense with a steady breeze blowing out to LF, two pitchers stole the show.

Round Rock got on the board in the top of the second with two outs and a 1st & 3rd double steal. Oak Ridge tied the game in the fourth when Cole Rollins doubled to right-centerfield, scoing Zach Easterling.

With two outs in the top of the sixth, Rock Rock got a one out single from Cameron Dayton, then a booming triple off the centerfield wall from Reagan Doss, but the courtesy runner was gunned down at the plate. With two outs, SS Luke Almendarez drove in Doss with a single to left field. Dragons up 2-1.

In the bottom half of the inning, Oak Ridge had runners on first and second with 1 out and attempted a double steal, but C Colton Regan gunned down the lead runner at third base. Then Dayton got a ground ball to end the inning.

That score would hold up as Round Rock went on to win game one 2-1, and game two 4-0 to advance to the third round of the UIL State Playoffs.

After seeing the first game of this series we made our way 145 miles south to Sweeny, TX to see the Bulldogs host Bridge City in a 7 pm ballgame.

SWEENY, TX - This was Texas 4A Baseball at its best, as both crowds travelled well, each bringing their own cheer teams, and both making lots of noise between innings. You could feel the energy all over the ballpark; in the stands, in the dugouts, on the field, and especially on the mound, where two highly touted right-handers faced off.

2019 RHP Caden Homniok and the Sweeny Bulldogs are no stranger to big games and making deep playoff runs, playing for the UIL Championship Game last season. A senior heavy club, these guys have been playing together on varsity for the better part of the past four seasons. 2020 RHP Peyton Havard and the Bridge City Cardinals have a junior heavy squad with plenty of young talent around the diamond. After watching pre-game I/O, you could tell that these are two of the top 4A teams in the state.

Both starters put up three straight zero’s to start the game, but Sweeny got a run in the bottom of the fourth when 2019 CF Blake Benavides beat out an infield single in the six hole with two outs to score 2019 C Wes Folse, who led off the inning with a single.

The Bulldogs added a run on another run on a two out infield single from Caden Homniok in the fifth. 2-0 Sweeny.

On to the seventh we went, and Bridge City would not go quietly. After a leadoff walk and an error, 2019 Trevor Kimbell drove a ball deep over the left fielders head to bring the Cardinals within one one run of tying the game at 2-1. After another walk loaded the bases, Sweeny went to Incarnate Word commit, 2019 RHP Jackson Kiddy to try and close out the game. 

The Cardinals attempted to tie the game with a squeeze bunt, but the runner was caught at the plate after the batter bunted through it, and 2019 C Wes Folse applied the tag. Both runners moved up and the Cards had the tying and winning run on 2nd & 3rd, but Kiddy finished the game with a punchout to seal the 2-1 win.

Sweeny went on to win game two on Saturday evening 8-1 to advance to the third round of the UIL 4A Playoffs. Would not be surprised to see these guys back in the Finals again this year. As for Bridge City, they are athletic with lots of young talent. I would expect to see them back in the playoffs next season and primed for a deep run.