Magnolia West is on the precipice of making history.
In their first appearance at the State Tournament, the Mustangs defeated Frisco Reedy 3-0 at the Dell Diamond in Round Rock, TX.
Had it not been for an unlucky single, with two outs in the seventh, senior RHP James Ellwanger would have secured a no-hitter in the Class 5A semifinal.
However, the Dallas Baptist-signee’s electrifying performance on the mound featured 17 strikeouts, which was the key factor that punched Mag West’s ticket to the season finale.
“He [Ellwanger] was upset about that [narrowly missing out on a no-hitter], but he gave us a chance to win, which is what it’s all about,” said coach Travis Earles. “17 Ks is nothing to sneeze at, but he’s such a competitive kid and he wanted it. He understands that the goal is to win though, and he accomplished that goal.”
Fortunately for Mag West, they didn’t have to play in the Final today, given that the 6A Semis are taking place. What has the team been up to, as they prepare to take on Argyle in the UIL-5A state championship, tomorrow at noon.
“We went to a local high school this morning, so that the team can practice and stay fresh,” Earles said. “We got them fed and we came back up to the stadium to watch some baseball. Later on, we’ll have a nice sit-down meal with the team, get them rested back at the hotel, and we’ll be packed up and ready to roll in the morning.”
The Mag West “Dirt Boys” have had quite the entourage throughout the postseason. Tomorrow’s game will be no different.
“We travel heavy here at Magnolia,” said Earles. “It seems like the whole town is up here. I don’t know who else is left there, to be honest–maybe they closed down some restaurants. But, our support from the community has been outstanding, and we hope we can finish it off for them.”
For Earles, this is his first year as the Mag West head coach, and he has already led the team to the furthest point in school history.
For the seniors, this is likely the last game they will play alongside one another, which Earles acknowledged has been recognized in their final push for a championship.
“It’s a bittersweet moment and our guys will try to enjoy that while we compete, but we all know that it’s kind of coming to an end, so it can be a tough time,” he said. “But, our guys are on a mission--it’s like a business-trip mentality since we’ve shown up. We’ll worry about all that other stuff once we take care of business.”