Taylor Masterful in Eaton's Title-Clinching Win

ROUND ROCK, Texas- Without debate, the eagle sits higher on the food chain than the jackrabbit. With the 5A state championship for the taking, the Eagles stalked their prey.

Eaton High School put together enough offense against Forney High School’s Jonathan Childress (Texas A&M), as Eaton starter Riley Taylor soared for a complete game, three-hit effort in the Eagles title-winning 4-1 victory. Taylor added seven strikeouts to only three base-on-balls, surrendering only one earned run. The gritty right-hander mixed in a mid-80’s fastball with a stellar breaking ball, leaving the Jackrabbit offense searching for answers all afternoon.

Childress had his moments, too. The long-limbed lefty went five innings, striking out seven, though he struggled with control issues at times, as evidenced by his five walks.

The Jackrabbits grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the 3rd inning, with 2019 outfielder Sean Stephens singling to left field with two outs, scoring center fielder Ryland Kerby. The Stephens single wound up to be Taylor’s lone blemish on the scoreboard.

In their half of the 5th inning, the Eagles pounced. Back-to-back one-out walks would eventually come around to score, with 2018 outfielder Zach Wilson singling through the left side to tie the ballgame at 1-1. Fellow senior Sean Klein immediately singled to center field to break the stalemate, giving Eaton a 2-1 lead. Klein found himself at third base with two outs, but a Childress balk permitted him to score, with the Eagles now ahead 3-1 entering into the 6th inning.

2019 infielder/outfielder Jackson Angus opened the 6th inning with a walk, and advanced to second base on a passed ball. Angus would cross the plate later in the inning after a Forney error.

Eaton, in its second-year as a 5A program, rode the coattails of Taylor the rest of the ballgame, with their day ending as state champions.

STATS

Eaton
Taylor: (W) 7 IP, 107 TP, 1 ER, 3 H, 7 K, 3 BB
Seltzer: 2-4
Wilson: 1-4, RBI
Klein: 2-4, RBI
Seals: 1-2, 2 BB

Forney
Childress: (L) 5 IP, 93 TP, 4 R (3 ER), 5 H, 7 K, 5 BB
Ream: 2 IP, 22 TP, 0 ER, 3 H, 1 K, 0 BB
Stephens: 1-3, RBI
Jones: 1-3
Dickey: 1-4