Lions swept by Union Hill in second round Image
Senior Draden Boyd (22) slides into third base to avoid being picked off during recent action. Boyd was one of two Lion seniors that saw their high school baseball career end after the Lions were swept in the Regional Quarterfinals by the Union Hill Bulldogs. Photo by DJ Spencer
Dj Spencer Sports Editor Tue, 05/14/2024 - 19:28 Subhead
Saltillo’s great season concludes
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PARIS — The Saltillo Lions had their season come to a bitter end this past Friday after losing their best-of-three Regional Quarterfinal series against the Union Hill Bulldogs at Paris ISD. Over the course of both games, the Lions were outplayed at most opportunities and weren’t able to establish any rhythm.
In the first game, the Bulldogs handed the Lions an 11-1 loss after six innings. Though the game was close through three innings, the Bulldogs caught fire in the fourth inning and never looked back.
The first inning saw the Bulldogs establish an early 2-0 lead. This was followed by a scoreless second inning.
After a scoreless third inning, the Bulldogs would score seven runs in the top of the fourth inning, increasing their lead to 9-0. The Lions would get on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning when Mason Stillwagoner scored a run, cutting the score to 9-1.
Following a scoreless fifth inning, the Bulldogs added two more runs in the top of the sixth inning, extending their lead to 111. After the Lions were held scoreless in the bottom of the sixth inning, the game ended, as the Bulldogs won the game 11-1 and took a 1-0 lead in the series.
As a team, the Lions batted just 1 for 20 (.050) from the plate, with Stillwagoner recording the Lions’ only hit and scoring the only run.
Stillwagoner took the loss on the mound. Across four innings, despite recording seven strikeouts, he gave up nine runs (eight earned), seven hits, and four walks. Lucas Womack pitched the final two innings in relief, allowing two runs and two walks, recording one strikeout.
In the second game, played 30 minutes after the first, the Lions lost 12-5. Once again, while the game started as a close battle, the Bulldogs turned up the heat, winning the game and the series.
The Lions would get on the board first in the top of the first inning when Womack scored a run, leading 1-0. The Bulldogs tied the game at 1-1 with a run in the bottom of the first inning.
In the top of the second inning, the Lions pulled ahead when Draden Boyd scored on a passed ball, leading 2-1. The Bulldogs would answer with three runs in the bottom of the second inning, takins a 4-2 lead.
Union Hill added three more runs in the third inning, increasing their lead to 7-2. The Bulldogs added another run in the fourth inning, extending their lead to 8-2.
The Lions would get on the board again in the fifth inning when both Grayson Gurley and Stillwagoner scored runs, trimming the score to 8-4. A run by Eathan Rees in the top of the sixth inning would cut the deficit to 8-5.
The Bulldogs would respond with four more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, extending their lead to 12-5. After the Lions were held scoreless in the top of the seventh inning, the game ended, as the Lions lost the game 12-5 and the series two games to none.
As a team, the Lions batted 7 for 27 (.259) from the plate. Stillwagoner led with two hits, while Boyd, Kolbe Cook, Gurley, Rees, and Dylan Teel added one hit each. Boyd, Gurley, Rees, Stillwagoner, and Womack all scored one run each.
Rees started the game on the mound. In 1 2/3 innings, he recorded three strikeouts, allowing four earned runs, two hits, and two walks. Potter took the loss in his one relief inning, giving up six earned runs, three walks, and one hit, recording three strikeouts.
Stillwagoner then pitched three innings, recording five strikeouts while allowing two walks, two runs (one earned), and one walk, notching five strikeouts. Womack pitched the last 1/3 of an inning, allowing a walk.
With theses losses, the Lions’ season has come to an end. They end their first season under Parker McCrary with an overall record of 9-7, finishing as District Runners-Up, Bi-District champions, and Regional Quarterfinalists.
These would also be the last two high school baseball games for two senior Lions: Boyd and Jordan Metcalf.
The Lions will look to improve in the offseason and make a deeper playoff run next year.
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