Southlake Advances To Regional Finals

DALLAS, TX - Southlake Carroll clinched their spot in the Regional Final on Friday with a 3-1 win behind a strong pitching performance from 2018 RHP Nicco Cole (Howard JC). Cole, who went 6 ⅔ innings, allowed only one run on four hits, no walks, and seven punchouts. He gave up the lone run on a solo home run by 2018 SS Mateo Gil (TCU) in the first inning.

After Gil homered, Cole retired the next eleven batters in order before allowing a 1-out single in the fifth. In the sixth, he worked out of a first and third situation with one out, getting a pop-up and a punch out to end the inning.

Southlake Carroll’s offense has been relentless all year, and they can score runs in a number of ways. The Dragons tied the game in the third when 2018 3B Cole Johnson (Weatherford JC) hit an RBI sac fly to center field, then Will Quillen (Grayson JC) followed with another RBI sac fly to right field.

The Dragons added a run in the sixth when 2020 SS Jorge Figueroa (Miami) singled, moved up on an error, then stole third, and scored on a throwing error.

In the top of seventh, Timber Creek’s right fielder Riley Sands doubled down the right field line with two outs. Then Jose Luna reached on an infield error. With two on and two out, Coach Larry Vucan went to 2018 CF/LHP Adam Stephenson (the likely game three starter) to close out the game. The Wichita State commit got a chopper to shortstop to end the game and send Southlake Carroll to another Regional Final. The Dragons will face the winner of the Marcus/Keller series, who will play a decisive game three on Saturday at 7:30 at Coppell HS.

STATS

Southlake Carroll
Cole: (W) 6.2 IP, 81 TP, 4 H, 1 R, 7 K, 0 BB.
Bell: 0-1, R, 2 BB
Stephenson: (S) 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB. Batting: 2-3
Johnson: 0-2, RBI
Millsap: 1-3, 2B
Quillen: 0-2, RBI
Figueroa: 2-3, R
Miller: 1-2

Timber Creek
Paz: (L) 5.2 IP, 81 TP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 ER, K, 3 BB
Gregory: 1-3
Gil: 1-3, HR
Serrell: 1-3
Sands: 1-3, 2B

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