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Rockwall-Heath athletes hoisting the State Championship trophy after defeating Keller in the UIL Class 6A State Title game (2021).
DFW to State: Eight teams to represent Dallas-Fort Worth in the 2022 UIL State Tournament
As the baseball season nears a close, twenty-four teams from around the state are gearing up to step foot into the biggest Texas high school baseball stage. Of the twenty-four teams, eight are representing the Dallas-Fort Worth area. VYPE DFW takes a look at the DFW teams that are still vying for a state title this season.
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3A
Gunter Tigers (36-1)
There's no doubt that Gunter is more than prepared for their ninth state tournament appearance. After finishing last season in the state tournament, Gunter is ready to make an even bigger splash this season. The Tigers have shown the strength and resiliency that it takes to make it this far in Texas High School baseball and they aren't about to stop before the biggest game of their lives. So far this season, the Tigers have outscored the opposition by a combined 255 runs. The team is currently on a hot 29-game winning streak and will stop at nothing to succeed. In playoffs, the Tigers have taken down Edgewood, Whitesboro, Maypearl, Harmony, and Pottsboro. Gunter is set to take on Corpus Christi London (24-13) at 9 a.m. on Friday, June 10th at Dell Diamond in Round Rock, Texas in the UIL Class 3A State Semifinals.
Brock Eagles (35-3)
Dropping only three games all season, Brock has been on a mission from day one. After losing in the state tournament last season, Brock is back and ready for revenge. The team is making their seventh state tournament appearance (third in four seasons) and has the talent to go all the way. Brock has outscored their opponents by 285 runs this season. Their offense plays smart, but their defense plays strategic. With the heart of champions, Brock is ready to finish their season stronger than ever. In playoffs, the Eagles have ended the seasons of Breckenridge, Coahoma, Holliday, and Idalou. Brock is set to take on Diboll (38-4) at 12 p.m. on Friday, June 10th at Dell Diamond in Round Rock, Texas in the UIL Class 3A State Semifinals.
4A
After a season of working hard, the Argyle Eagles are back in the state tournament. This will be the team's fifth state tournament appearance- third in four seasons. This season, the Eagles have outscored their opponents by a combined 187 runs. In playoffs, the Eagles have defeated Fort Worth Western Hills, Graham, Springtown, Canyon, and most recently Stephenville en route to the UIL State Tournament. Argyle is set to take on China Spring (32-8) at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, June 8th at UFCU Disch in Austin, Texas in the UIL Class 4A State Semifinals.
Celina is battle tested and ready to show their strengths at their second state tournament appearance. The last time the team made it this far was two decades ago in 2002. They are back and ready to prove that they have what it takes to compete with the best-of-the-best in the state. So far this season, the Bobcats have played smart offense- outscoring their opponents by a combined 213 runs. In playoffs, Celina has ended the seasons of Irving Ranchview, Life Waxahachie, Van Alstyne, Liberty Eylau, and most recently Spring Hill. The Bobcats are set to take on Sinton (34-1) at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, June 8th at UFCU Disch in Austin, Texas in the UIL Class 4A State Semifinals.
5A
Mansfield Legacy Broncos (32-9)
Mansfield Legacy is headed into their first-ever state tournament appearance after getting the job done all season. The team posted a notable 12-run final inning in an intense matchup against state tournament regular Aledo last week to advance. The team has used critical moments to define their season and has outscored their opponents by a combined 158 runs so far and doesn't look to be slowing down either offensively or defensively. In playoffs, the team has taken down Fort Worth Trimble Tech, Justin Northwest, Birdville, Lubbock Cooper, and Aledo. The Broncos are set to take on Friendswood (29-7-1) at 4 p.m. on Thursday, June 9th at Dell Diamond in Round Rock, Texas in the UIL Class 5A State Semifinals.
Frisco Wakeland Wolverines (25-13)
Wakeland is geared up for their third state tournament appearance after battling through a tough season of ups and downs. The Wolverines have been able to make big plays when it matters in order to continue advancing forward and showing that they are meant for high-caliber baseball. So far this season, the team has outscored their opponents by a combined 65 runs. With smart defense, Wakeland continues to hold strong against the opposition. In playoffs, the Wolverines have ended the seasons of Dension, Dallas W.T. White, Frisco Independence, Lufkin, and Forney. Wakeland is set to take on Georgetown (33-7) at 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 9th at Dell Diamond in Round Rock, Texas in the UIL Class 5A State Semifinals.
6A
Southlake Carroll Dragons (32-8)
After missing the state tournament last season, the Dragons are ready to play hard and finish their season strong. Southlake Carroll is making their 10th state tournament appearance (third in four seasons) after an incredible season. On a 14-game win streak, the Dragons have outscored their opponents by a combined 168 runs this season. The team is known for playing fast and setting the tone- fans can expect that through the tournament. In playoffs, the Dragons have defeated Hurst L.D. Bell, El Paso The Americas, Frenship, Coppell, and last season state runner-up Keller. Southlake Carroll is set to take on Fort Bend Ridge Point (35-5) at 4 p.m. on Friday, June 10th at Dell Diamond in Round Rock, Texas in the UIL Class 6A State Semifinals.
The reigning UIL Class 6A State Champions are at it again. The Hawks have continued to showcase their talent on the field, at the plate, and during practice to secure their third state tournament appearance (second in-a-row) as they defend their title and go for a repeat. The team had an incredible season filled with highs as they powered through district play and continued taking down the opposition in playoffs. En route to the state tournament, the Hawks have outscored their opponents by a combined 196 runs. With a laser-sharp focus on another title, the Hawks can be expected to turn up the heat and continue playing to their usual strength. In playoffs, the Hawks have ended the seasons of Garland, Mansfield Lake Ridge, Naaman Forest, Oak Ridge, and cross-town, school district rival Rockwall. Rockwall-Heath is set to take on San Antonio Reagan (32-6-2) at 7 p.m. on Friday, June 10th at Dell Diamond in Round Rock, Texas in the UIL Class 6A State Semifinals.
Regional Finals Preview: Keller baseball vs. Southlake Carroll
The Keller Indians and Southlake Carroll Dragons are set to face each other in the UIL Class 6A Region I Regional Finals. Not only do both teams have a fight that never dies, but the receipts to prove it. Let's take a look at how the teams got to this point.
Keller (32-6)
This season, the Indians jumped right in ready to show their opponents that they meant business. Despite an early loss in the season, Keller continued to fight for their place at the top. En route to playoffs, Keller won bigs games over the likes of Highland Park, McKinney, Arlington Martin V.R. Eaton, Timber Creek, Weatherford, and more.
The Indians have spent all playoffs eliminating team after team. First a sweep over El Paso Americas (8-0, 13-3) before finishing with the upper hand in a three-game series against V.R. Eaton (9-4, 1-2, 13-10). Last week, Keller won the Regional Semi-Finals over Coppell in three games (5-2, 5-6, 7-1) in order to advance to the Regional Finals against Southlake Carroll.
Keller has been known this season for coming out swinging and getting on the board quickly. The Indians have outscored their opponents by over 175 runs on the season so far, proving that their defense is just as poised as their offense. Fans should expect no less coming into the Regional Finals.
Southlake Carroll (28-16)
The Dragons had a much different start to their season than Keller did. Southlake Carroll started rough, but has been able to bounce back and prove themselves throughout the course of the season.
With a strong defense, Southlake Carroll has been able to post great wins against the likes of Flower Mound, Friendship, South Grand Prairie, Mansfield Legacy, and more. The Dragons defense has been able to hold their opponents to low runs throughout the season while the offense has really stepped up to the plate and taken their run scoring role seriously.
Fans will find that the Dragons are consistent throughout the games that they play. Getting on base early and doing what it takes to get home. It should be assumed that Southlake Carroll will focus their efforts on a strong Keller team in an attempt to repeat each series in the playoffs so far. In playoffs, the Dragons have taken down Paschal (3-0), El Paso Montwood (1-4, 10-0, 11-0), Odessa Permian (5-1, 2-3, 11-1), and Flower Mound Marcus (5-4, 9-0).
Previous Meetings
As district opponents, the Indians and Dragons have already seen each other on the diamond a handful of times this season. In a mid-March meeting, Southlake Carroll held Keller scoreless in a 3-0 Dragon win. In mid-April, Keller flipped the role and won a 7-4 match.
Seeing each other already while also playing the same opponents all season, it's going to be a heck of a showdown. Fans can expect to see a series unlike most in the Regional Finals.
Game 1 of the series between Keller and Southlake Carroll is set to begin Thursday at Dallas Baptist University with a first-pitch time of 7:30 p.m.