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REGIONAL FINALS: Forney and Lovejoy baseball go head-to-head
Ready for anything, the Forney Jackrabbits and the Lucas Lovejoy Leopards baseball teams have been working all season for the chance to make their way to the UIL Baseball State Tournament. Now, both teams are just one series victory away from punching their ticket-- all they have to do is make it past each other! VYPE DFW takes a look into these teams' seasons so far as they enter their regional finals series!
Forney Jackrabbits (31-11-1, 9-3)
Boasting an incredible record this season, the Forney Jackrabbits have made it their mission to put a stop to anyone they play against. Learning from tough moments on the field, the team posted several victories through non-district play that set the tone for the rest of the season. Securing wins over Sunnyvale, Mesquite Poteet, Kaufman, Lake Ridge, and more helped the team prepare for a tough district schedule.
Finishing second in their district with only three losses against district opponents, the Jackrabbits recorded big victories over Crandall (3-2, 10-0), Terrell (6-1, 13-2), Ennis (2-0), Lancaster (10-1, 7-0), and more before finding themselves poised for a strong playoff run. So far in the playoffs, the likes of Dylan Clark, Caleb Turner, Lucas Ramsey, Eli Benavides, Andrew Swint, and others have helped guide the team to victories over Melissa (1-0, 8-0), Whitehouse (0-4, 2-1, 3-1), Lufkin (4-1, 0-1, 4-3), and Frisco Lone Star (0-2, 10-0, 3-2).
Lucas Lovejoy Leopards (27-7-2, 12-0)
Dylan Sears, Aarren Marshall, Grant Harland, Kyle Branch, Matthew Mainord, Nolan Novotny, Parker McGrael, and other talented athletes have helped lead the Leopards to a successful season so far this spring. Setting the tone against non-district opponents, Lovejoy defeated Frisco Wakeland, El Paso Americas, Prosper Walnut Grove, Conway, and others as they sharpened their skills for the rest of their regular season schedule.
In district, the Leopards left no stone unturned as they took down each opponent with zero hesitation. Showcasing their power over the likes of Melissa (1-0, 5-2), Greenville (3-0, 11-1), Denison (10-0, 19-1), and others, the Leopards outscored their opponents in dominating fashion by utilizing timely hits and powerful defensive plays. Once in the playoffs, the team downed Red Oak (10-1, 7-2), Porter (3-2, 4-1), Hallsville (2-3, 3-2, 3-0), and Frisco (10-2, 7-1) in order to make it to the regional finals.
What To Expect:
Both teams are tested, challenged, resilient, and focused. As they enter the regional finals series, fans can be sure that these squads are going to leave it all on the field. Looking to make a statement victory, Forney is willing to pull out all the stops while Lovejoy is looking to take an early lead and hold it. Both teams can be expected to play hard with high hopes of punching their ticket to the state tournament.
Forney looks to shut down Walnut Grove's hot streak
With only two losses this season, the Forney Lady Jackrabbits have been dominating over their opponents. In the regional semifinal round, they're set to face off against the newest team in the metroplex: the Prosper Walnut Grove Lady Wildcats! VYPE DFW takes a look at the Lady Jackrabbits' season so far:
Having outscored their opponents by a combined 305 runs this season, the team has had powerful performances on the plate that has continued to lead them to impressive victories. In non-district play, the team showcased impressive skill as they took down the likes of Plano East (2-1), Midlothian Heritage (11-2), Prosper (16-4), Midway (10-8), McKinney Boyd (11-1), Conroe (6-5), and more before heading into district play.
Once in district play, the team was able to finish at the top of their district standings with an undefeated (12-0) district record. Getting the job done against their area opponents like Lancaster (22-0), Terrell (18-0), Crandall (14-1), Aledo (1-0), and others, the team showcased their ability to dominate the field whether it was while playing defense or batting.
Channeling the energy they've had all season long, the team defeated Princeton in two games to start their playoff journey this season (10-0, 11-1) before taking down Mount Pleasant in three games (9-1, 0-0, 16-0) and then coming back to win the series against Lucas Lovejoy after dropping the first game (0-3, 11-1, 4-1).
As the team prepares for Walnut Grove, it's clear that they have what it takes to shut down this new team's advances. However, if Forney does take the series, it will be no easy feat nor will it be a given victory for the Lady Jackrabbits. Walnut Grove has the potential to be the toughest opponent the Lady Jackrabbits have seen all season. Check out this series as it begins at 7 p.m. tonight, Thursday, May 16th!