Garren Wiggins comes off bench, makes game-changing play as Wall wins I-3A series over Bushland
WOODROW — Garren Wiggins has plenty of time to think Saturday afternoon.
Wiggins — an outfielder for the Wall baseball team — walked around, leaned against the handrail and even took a seat in the Hawks dugout for about six innings in the rubber match of a Region I-3A semifinal series against Bushland.
But just as he did a day prior, Wiggins was called on and answered the bell — tasked with coming off the bench cold and playing left field in wet conditions due to steady rain in a situation where the Hawks held a 4-2 advantage and needed five outs to advance.
The sophomore played above his years and did just that as he sprinted to his right, dove headfirst, extended his right arm and caught the ball for the second out in the seventh inning. Teammate Augden Hallmark, who came on in relief in the sixth, as well, induced a pop fly to right field to end the contest and ensure Wall advanced to the Region I-3A finals.
"I knew that we were in a tough situation," said Wiggins, who took over left field when the Hawks made a pitching change from starter Dylan Gidney to Hallmark. "When I saw the ball hovering in the air a little bit, I knew I had to make the play. ... As soon as the ball hit my glove, I knew I had it.
"I think everybody on the team knows their job and can get the job done."
Hallmark, a junior who watched the entire play, pointed to Wiggins as he lost his hat before standing up and relaying the ball back to the infield.
"It kind of scared me a little bit because I knew he was a little shallow and playing back to not allow a double or anything more," Hallmark said. "It definitely scared me, but he caught it. And I definitely had confidence in him to do that."
Wiggins and Hallmark each played their parts to perfection the past two days to help the Hawks move on to play Brock. The two teams will begin their best-of-three series, where all games will be played at Abilene Christian University, with a 7 p.m. Thursday contest. The second game is slated for 4 p.m. Friday and, if needed, the rubber match is scheduled for 4 p.m. Saturday.
Wall coach Jason Schniers, who announced he will pursue an opportunity outside coaching at the end of the season, was pleased to be able to spend some more time with his team thanks to their two straight wins.
"When you get to practice baseball, and school's out, that's one of the best feelings in the world," he said. "Everybody else is focused on summer and we're still playing and have a goal that we're trying to reach."
Wiggins dropped a bunt that helped the go-ahead run cross in what turned into a 7-4 triumph to set up Saturday's contest. Hallmark, who struck out four in two innings a day prior, fanned one and allowed a run and issued a walk before shutting the door on the key victory.
"I felt pretty good out there, but I knew the entire time I just had to get the job done," Hallmark said. "I just needed to get them (the batters) to put the ball in play and let my defense work behind me."
Before thoughts shift to the next round, Wall can bask in the glory of a resilient win over a Bushland squad that went undefeated in District 1-3A and brought in a 17-game winning streak in the series. With the loss, the Falcons (29-5-1) will say goodbye to their longtime head coach Joel Love who, earlier in the year, announced his intentions to pursue other opportunities that will benefit his family.
"I'll never say never, but my heart and mind and my path is set on what I feel like the Lord has led me to do," said Love, who has been part of the coaching staff for the past 13 years, won more than 100 games and never lost a district game in the last five seasons. "I'm going to do that for a little while. I think I can have an impact anywhere I go. So, hopefully, I can do that."
Bushland did its best to extend the season by winning the first game 11-2, but dropping the second contest and being unable to get things going in the third ended those thoughts.
"Game 2, yeah, that's the one you want to finish when you get a chance," Love said. "I still felt like we were in it. And it just didn't go our way. That's part of coaching, you deal with that over a long career. I'm not disappointed. I'm grateful."
Unlucky play
The second inning appeared to be the Falcons' best opportunity to not only seize momentum but break a 0-0 score in the rubber match.
After Cannon Melbon drew a walk to load the bases, Bushland brought up Cole Warren with one out and plenty of pop to make things happen. But, the right-handed hitter struck out while Jaxon Fetsch was tagged out — sprinting home on a suicide squeeze — for the inning-ending double play.
Love said the sequence of events was " just a blunder. I don't think it was anything other than that. Just a mistake."
Region I-3A semifinal
GAME 3
Wall 4, Bushland 2
Bushland 000 001 1 — 2 5 0
Wall 001 300 0 — 4 8 0
Cole Warren, Ty Purcell (4) and Ty Askins. Dylan Gidney, Augden Hallmark (6) and Gunnar Dillard. W — Gidney. L — Warren. 2B — Bushland, Max Rodriguez 1, Kade Gavina 1. Wall, Gunnar Dillard.
Records: Bushland 29-5-1, Wall 32-6-1.
Notes: Wall wins series 2-1.
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Garren Wiggins comes off bench, makes game-changing play as Wall wins I-3A series over Bushland
