KYLE — The Hays High School Hawks hosted the Boerne Champion High School Chargers Saturday, May 2, in a tightly-contested playoff series that showcased two of the top teams in University Interscholastic League 5A Region IV.
The Chargers entered the series as District 26 champions with a 13-3 district record and a 29-5-1 overall mark. The Hawks, who finished second in District 25 with an 11-3 record, came in poised for a strong postseason run.
In game one, the Chargers secured a 6-2 victory. Following inclement weather Friday, game two was moved to Saturday afternoon at Hays High School. The Hawks responded with resilience, earning an 8-6 win to force a decisive game three.
In the final game of the series, Champion struck first, scoring two runs in the third inning. Both teams settled into a defensive battle, highlighted by strong pitching performances and clean fielding. The Hawks answered with a run in the fifth inning, keeping the game within reach heading into the final frame.
Trailing late, the Hawks mounted a rally in the bottom of the seventh inning. With a runner on first, head coach Frank Anzures called for a sacrifice bunt from catcher Ryder Pearson, who executed perfectly, advancing the runner into scoring position, despite being thrown out at first.
With the home crowd on its feet, the Hawks brought the tying run to second base, but the Chargers’ pitcher held firm, recording a strikeout to end the game and the series. The final score was Boerne Champion 2, Hays Hawks 1.
Despite the loss, the Hawks capped off a strong season, finishing 22-12-1 overall and improving from last year’s 18-10-1 record and fourth-place district finish.
Following the game, Anzures addressed his team, expressing both pride and appreciation: “I love you guys and I’m proud of you. What makes moments like this tough is that we built something special this season — something worth fighting for.”
Looking ahead, Anzures emphasized the program’s future, noting that the Hawks will continue building on this year’s success.
