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STATE SEMIFINALS: Gunter enters 10th appearance at UIL State
With another successful season almost nearly wrapped up, the Gunter Tigers baseball team is set for the program's 10th appearance at UIL State-- third in four seasons. As they gear up to take on Franklin in the state semifinals, VYPE DFW takes a look at the team and what fans can expect moving forward:
So Far
Ready to put hard work to the test right out of the gate this season, Gunter went on a 15-game win streak through non-district play against other programs who have their own reputations in the area. Downing the likes of Prosper, Panther Creek, Kimball, Aubrey, Denison, North Garland, and others through their non-district schedule, athletes like Walker Overman, Brock Boddie, Cade Dodson, Colson Wood, Brooks Griggs-Bell, Jarrett Waggoner, Carter Layton, Jordan Villagrana, Jake Ivey, and others made sure that they were prepared for a district schedule that had the potential to challenge them.
With no doubt and zero hesitation, the Gunter Tigers shut out teams in eight of their 12 district matchups while posting an undefeated 12-0 district record; finishing at the top of their district standings. Defeating Bells, Leonard, Pottsboro, Howe, Blue Ridge, and more in dominating fashion helped the Tigers finish their regular season without a single loss against their opponents and head into the postseason on a high note.
With their only loss coming in the postseason, the Tigers have been able to play with resiliency and strength as they took down Grand Saline (16-3, 11-0), Ponder (1-0), Edgewood (3-0, 1-2, 4-0), Tatum (9-2), and Boyd (3-1, 3-2) before punching their ticket to the state tournament for the 10th time.
What To Expect
Gearing up to play against Franklin should prove to be a feat that the Tigers are up to. Franklin boasts a 33-5 overall record this season with tough athletes like Blake Autrey, Dylan Stallones, Josh Atomanczyk, and others, but Gunter has faced several talented teams that didn't even begin to phase them this season. Fans can expect hard hitters to come to the plate as Gunter enters their state semifinal matchup. Excellent hitting paired with phenomenal pitching and a smooth defense is sure to power Gunter to the state finals where they would play the winner of Corpus Christi London and fellow-DFW area team Brock should they advance!
Rockwall-Heath baseball players celebrate after a run crosses the plate in the 2021 UIL Class 6A State Title game against Keller (2021).
STATE SEMIFINALS PREVIEW: Defending State Champs, Rockwall-Heath, is back in the state tournament
It's one thing to be a great baseball team- it's another to make multiple state appearances. Last season, Rockwall-Heath made great strides against Keller in order to become the UIL Class 6A State Champion team. This season, the Hawks have put in the work to make their return to the biggest stage in Texas High School baseball. VYPE DFW takes a look at the team's season and lays out just what fans can expect in the UIL Class 6A State Semifinals.
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A Look Back
This season the Hawks posted an incredible 12-0 undefeated district record (32-6 overall). The team has played strong and kept their same level of strength from last season- channeling bigger moments for the team. So far in playoffs, Rockwall-Heath has battled against Garland, Mansfield Lake Ridge, Naaman Forest, Oak Ridge, and most recently- cross-town rival Rockwall. En route to the state tournament, the Hawks have outscored their opponents by a combined 196 runs.
Who To Watch
The defense has continued to be incredible behind pitchers Baylor Baumann and Johnny Lowe. Baumann has a 9-1 record on the mound this season with a 1.60 ERA while Lowe has an 11-1 record on the mound this season with a 1.24 ERA. In over 153 innings, Baumann and Lowe have combined for 181 strikeouts. Jett Williams, projected first-round draft pick and Mississippi State signee, leads the Hawks at the plate with 13 home runs this season and a .404 average. Williams has scored 53 runs this season. Brady Ladusau (.328), Alex Stowers (.323), and Caleb Hoover (.308) all lead the lineup with powerful hitting.
What To Expect
Rockwall-Heath is on the hunt for their third state title- second in a row. The team has gone 4-0 in their state tournament appearances and will likely not end such a great streak. However, the Hawks are going to face off against an intelligent San Antonio Reagan (32-6-2) sqaud who is known for keeping up with the best of the best. Fans can expect decisive fielding from both teams, but with the power at the plate for the Hawks, it's not likely that we will see Rockwall-Heath bow out of the tournament in the semifinals.
The game is expected to begin at 7 p.m. on Friday, June 10 at Dell Diamond in Round Rock, Texas.