RIGHT NOW | Tatum, Gunter play a one-game, winner-take-all in 3A’s regional semifinal
Running it back?
In a huge one-game playoff?
Tatum and Gunter meet for the second year in a row in the Class 3A Region II baseball semifinals on Wednesday at 5 p.m. at Horner Ballpark on the campus of Dallas Baptist University in just that, a single game to determine who moves on.
Unlike last year, when the Tigers advanced winning two games against the Eagles to reach the regional finals before being eliminated with a 38-4 record.
This is Winner-Take-All. This is right now. (Right Now – VAN HALEN (youtube.com))
“We return a lot of experienced players off of last year’s team,” said Eagles coach Dustin Russell. “For us to have guys that are in a similar situation as last year is huge.
“Gunter is a good ball club, but so are we.”
Both teams have reached this the fourth round in dominating fashion.
While the Eagles (22-9) have swept White Oak, Winnsboro and West Rusk in two games each, Gunter swept Grand Saline (16-3 and 11-0) and beat Ponder in a one-game playoff 1-0, before winning two of three against Edgewood, winning 3-0 and 4-0, but losing 2-1 in the middle game of the series.
The loss was the Tigers first of the season, after having won District 11-3A with a 12-0 record. Tatum won 16-3A with an 11-1 mark.
The pitching matchup will in all likelihood pit Gunter starting pitcher Brooks Griggs-Bell against Tatum’s Carson Gonzalez (9-0).
Gonzalez allowed only three hits and one run in 5-plus innings against West Rusk in last Wednesday’s 6-1 Eagle victory over West Ruske. Against Winnsboro, in the area series, the right-hander was even more effective in going the distance allowing one run on only three hits.
Russell knows behind their ace (Griggs-Bell), the Eagles could also see lefty Jake Ivey on the mound.
Tatum comes into the fourth round of the playoffs batting .323 as a team.
Leading the way offensively for the Eagles (through 31 games) are first baseman Cooper Whiteus (.405, 16 RBI), designated-hitter Dustin Henigan (.370, 18), centerfielder Cayden Tatum (.368, 13) and Gonzalez (.360, 20).
Joining Gonzalez with 20 RBI is first baseman Brody Downs. Following with 18 and 16 RBI, respectively, are Henigan and Whiteus.
Other Tigers to watch are shortstop Cade Dodson, catcher Carter Layton, first baseman Colson Wood, third baseman Brock Boddie and Jordan Villagrana.
“They throw strikes, play defense and consistently put the baseball in play. Whoever makes the least amount of mistakes in the game will win.”
In the other 3A, Region II semifinal this week, Boyd (29-3-1) meets Harmony (26-5). That best-of-three series at North Forney High School begins Thursday at 7 p.m. and continues Friday at 11 a.m. If a deciding game is necessary, it will be Saturday at 6 p.m.
The winner of that series advances to face either Tatum or Gunter next week in the regional finals.