IRVING, Texas - When you coach for as long as Jesuit Dallas'
Brian Jones has, seasons and games tend to run together at times. But when you face an opponent that has eliminated you in recent years at the same point in the state playoffs, the memories are a little fresher.
Jones tried to prepare his team for game two of the UIL 6A Division 2 Area Round series against Denton Guyer without letting the team know how much he wanted the program to get back to the region semifinals. After all, the Rangers had not been to the third weekend since winning the 6A State Championship in 2016 - a span of eight eliminations in the second week (there was not a tourney in 2020).
But after 4-year starter
Braxton Barber delivered a 2-out, 3-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning to give Jesuit the 7-4 cushion it needed to clinch the victory, the players joyfully hugged their coach and welcomed the emotion on his face.
Jesuit (28-7-2) finished with eight hits and scored six of its runs with two outs.
The game went along through the first three innings looking like it would be a pitcher's duel. And it was just that. Jesuit struck first when
Brooks Kowal homered over the left field wall to lead off the fourth inning. The Rangers added two more an inning later for a 3-0 lead. Barber drew a 2-out walk and scored on a
Taylor Haddock bloop down the right field line. Kowal followed with a monster shot off the wall in center for an RBI triple for the 3-run margin.
But the Wildcats responded, scoring on a bases loaded ground out and taking a 4-3 lead on a Cole Terry 3-run home run.
That's how it stood going into the bottom of the sixth. The Rangers had a runner on second and two outs when a bit of luck found their side of the field. Pinch hitter
Charlie Wilson popped up to Colton Bird in right field but the ball caromed off Bird's glove, allowing
Preston Farragut to score and tie the game at 4-4.
Shane Parker followed with a single which set up Barber's heroics.
Hudson Voss (3-2) got the win as he worked the final 1.1 innings where he struck out three of the seven batters he faced. Starter
Jacob Martinez went 5.2 innings with four strikeouts while allowing six hits.
Haddock finished with a game-high three hits as he, Barber and Kowal - the top three in the lineup - combined for six hits, six RBI and four runs.
Braeden Waggoner (7-3) took the loss, also striking out four in 5.2 innings while allowing seven hits.
The win was number 599 for Jones in his 17th season at Jesuit. He will see if he can get number 600 against Midland (30-5) next week at a date, time and location to be announced.
