ROUND ROCK — In its first appearance in school history at the State tournament, the Wimberley High School Texans baseball team finished as the 4A D2 State Runner-up after a 5-3 loss to Longview's Spring Hill High School Panthers Friday, June 6, at the Dell Diamond in Round Rock.
The Texans took a 1-0 lead over the Panthers early in the game. With two outs in the top of the first inning, starting pitcher Ty Thames singled up the middle and Wyatt Yeatter hit a single to left field. Thames scored from second base when Sage Hall singled to right center.
The lead would hold up until the bottom of the fourth inning when, in a way, Spring Hill stole the game. The Panthers had three stolen bases and rallied to score four runs with two outs after the Texans shortstop Jayden Hall fielded a grounder to start a double play.
Spring Hill pitcher Landon Bartell kept the Texans scoreless in the top of the fifth. After a strikeout and a walk in the bottom of the fifth, Jayden Hall came in to pitch for Thames. The Panthers scored a run from second base on a single after another stolen base to make the score 5-1.
With two outs in the top of the sixth inning, Cody Stoever and Gentry McGinnis walked and Jake Dewell got on base with a fielder’s choice, but Stoever was put out at third base, leaving two on base. Hall got a strikeout, a pop up to Stoever at first base for an out and a ground ball to Santana Raye at shortstop for the final out to end the inning.
After a fly ball for an out in the top of the seventh inning, Wimberley wasn’t done. Cayden Rhodes came in to pitch for the Panthers after Maverick Jacobs singled down the right field line and Bryson Anderson was hit by a pitch. Yeatter hit a single up the middle to score two runs before a ground out and strikeout ended the game in a 5-3 loss for the Texans (26-8-1 overall).
“I know this doesn’t feel good and it shouldn’t, but you hold your heads up,” first year head coach Jeremy Locke told the team in a huddle after the game, “You battled and never gave in and I’m proud of you.”
Wimberley earned the following All-District awards:
First Team: pitcher Ty Thames, shortstop Jayden Hall, first base Cody Stoever and outfield Bryson Anderson.
Second Team: pitcher Gentry McGinnis, outfield Sage Hall and designated hitter Wyatt Yeatter.
Honorable Mention went to pitcher Jackson Parker and outfield Maverick Jacobs.
Wimberley also earned several spots on the University Interscholastic League (UIL) 4A D2 Baseball All-Tournament Team: pitcher Ty Thames, senior; second baseman Gentry McGinnis, junior; third baseman Wyatt Yeatter, senior; and outfielder Bryson Anderson, senior.
