REGION 2 FINAL: Argyle Eagles(26-7) vs Pleasant Grove Hawks(26-3)

[regaleagle]

Well, it's on again.....the rematch for the umpteenth time. PG is hands down the best baseball program in 4A nowadays. They've been to the State Tourney 7 of the last 8 years....or something to that effect....and won 2 titles. Argyle and anybody else in Region 2 has to go thru PG to win the region. PG just destroyed its competition in the playoffs to get to this final against Argyle. Both teams have swept their opponents in every playoff series so far. This series will be a good one. The team that plays the best defense will probably win.

[regaleagle]

Well.....the first game went into extra innings. Tied 3-3 in regulation, PG scored a run in the top of the 8th to take the lead 4-3. Argyle got runners on 1st and 2nd w/no outs in the bottom of the 8th and then tied it. With 2 outs and runners on the corners, Argyle gets the clutch hit and wins the first game 5-4. Great game tonite by both clubs.

[regaleagle]

Game 2 Sat. @ 12 noon in Plano at John Paul II field. It's a turf field. Game 3 to follow if needed. PG supposedly started their Ace in last night's game. He only struck out 13(haha) and went 7 and 2/3. Argyle's got several good starters.....all very capable. What the Eagles lack in hitting they tend to make up for on the mound....but lately they've been hitting these opposing pitchers pretty well. 13 strikeouts is a lot to still be able to score 5 runs and win. 13 strikeouts is also a lot to throw and then lose the game.

[regaleagle]

Denton Record Chronicle had the Box Score on this game. PG had 4 runs on 5 hits and 2 errors. Argyle had 5 runs on 8 hits while committing FIVE errors. At one point early in the game, PG was winning 3-0. I think most of the errors by Argyle happened early on to allow that early lead.....then they buttoned down and played well. They booted the grounder in the top of the 8th and the lead off batter made it all the way to 3rd on the play, then eventually scored to take the lead.

[slingshot]

To overcome 5 errors and 13K's and still win against a team like PG is impressive...

[regaleagle]

Top 5th
Argyle at bat

PG 3
Argyle 2

Markwardt hits a liner up the middle and is on 1st to lead off the top of the 5th.

[regaleagle]

Argyle plates one in the top of the 5th to tie it up 3-3. Now PG coming to bat.

[regaleagle]

End of 5th

Argyle 3
PG 3

[regaleagle]

2 outs for Argyle, but Connor Mushinski hits one deep to center that bounces over the fence for a ground rule double. Connor is stranded as the next batter strikes out.

[regaleagle]

Bases loaded w/2 outs and Argyle pitcher Lundy hits the batter as he check-swings. The umpire calls it a hit batter and allows the runners to advance. Next batter flies out to end the inning. Call goes against Argyle on very questionable call in that situation. PG leads 4-3 after 6.

[regaleagle]

Markwardt leads off the 7th for Argyle with a hit. He's the fastest runner maybe in all of 4A on the basepaths. He got a silver in the 200 at the State Track Meet.

[regaleagle]

PG pitcher walks the next batter, so now runners at 1st & 2nd and Cutter McDonald up. Looks like the PG bullpen is getting busy. New pitcher in for PG and McDonald is the #3 hitter for Argyle. No outs.

[regaleagle]

Argyle needs Markwardt at 3rd bigtime. Here's the bunt attempt. It goes foul.

[regaleagle]

2-1 on McDonald as the PG pitcher cannot find the plate. Now ball 3 on McDonald. No outs. Full cut fouled straight back. Full count. He pops it out of play foul. Outside ball 4. Bases loaded....nobody out. #4 batter Riley Balch(sr. catcher) is up now.

[regaleagle]

Balch hits one to center to score Markwardt. Tie game. Danny Linahan up now. Bases still loaded. 2 balls, no strikes on Linahan.

[regaleagle]

Breaking pitch just misses. 3 balls no strikes....bases loaded. Called strike. 3-1 now. BALL FOUR as PG walks in the leading run with the bases still loaded and no outs for Argyle. Riley King up now.

[regaleagle]

King strikes out on a breaking ball. 1 out now. Argyle could use some insurance runs here in the top of the 7th.

[regaleagle]

Fly ball is infield fly rule. Worst thing besides a double play for Argyle. That was on a 2-0 pitch. 2 outs now. Connor Mushinski(soph.) hits a 2-run double in center as Argyle plates 2 more to take a 7-4 lead in the top of the 7th. 2 outs and 2 on for Argyle.

[regaleagle]

Now Seth Green is hit by Jacob Smith of PG. The bases are now loaded again for Argyle. Markwardt is back up as Argyle has batted around in this 7th inning.

[regaleagle]

Markwardt is the lead-off hitter for the Eagles and gets 2 at bats this inning. He pops it up. Argyle plates 4 runs on 3 hits and bats around in the top of the 7th.

Argyle 7
Pleasant Grove 4

Pleasant Grove has one more at bat to tie it up or win it. 3 outs away for Argyle to head back to Austin.

[regaleagle]

Mushinski on in relief. Connor pitches from the left side. Flyout to Markwardt for first out.

[regaleagle]

Strike 3 as Mushinski rings him up. He's only a soph. and will develop into a good prospect for the next level like his brother at TCU.

[regaleagle]

Grounder to second pulls the first baseman off the bag and Mushinski cannot cover first base in time, so the runner gets an infield single. First baseman should have stayed around the bag on that one, esp. with 2 outs here in the bottom of the 7th. That would have ended the series.

[regaleagle]

3-2 now to the #8 hitter for PG. Full count. Strike 3 on the outside corner as the Eagles are returning to Austin. They have beaten the Pleasant Grove Hawks in 2 games in this series.

Argyle 7
Pleasant Grove 4

Final Game 2 Final Series Finally.....they overcome PG again this season to return to Austin for the 2nd year in a row. Good stuff. Way to Eagles!!!

[regaleagle]

Argyle goes to 28-7 while Pleasant Grove's stellar season is ended at 26-5. Looks like Argyle's pitching staff is better and perhaps even the hitting. They are playing very good right now.....better than at any time this season.

[regaleagle]

Congrats to the Pleasant Grove Hawks on a very stellar season.....Argyle just outplayed them in this series. Argyle goes to Austin as the #1 Seed in the Tournament this year, I believe. The Tournament gets underway Wednesday.

[regaleagle]

The Eagles still made a couple of errors and mental mistakes in today's game, but still found a way to win despite it. I don't know if they can keep making mistakes and keep winning.....we'll see next week.