FRISCO – Rockwall-Heath’s Jake Thompson gave up three runs in the top of the first inning, but then he and his teammates scored seven runs the rest of the way for a 7-3 victory over Frisco in the first of a best-of-three Bi-District playoff game series at Smotherman Field last night.

Junior third baseman Jovan Hernandez hit a three-run home run to tie the game 3-3. Then Thompson also blasted a homer and the Hawks (28-5-1) outhit the Raccoons (   ), 10-2.

The series continues tonight at 7:30 pm at Smotherman Field.

WYLIE -

District 9-4A champion Frisco Wakeland pushed across a ninth-inning run on Paul Heinrich’s one-out, bases-loaded squeeze bunt to defeat Rockwall, 4-3, last night in the first game of a best-of-3 Bi-District playoff series.

The Yellowjackets (20-12-1) took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning, when Hunter Wade and Dustin Angiel singled in runs.

Wakeland, ranked fourth in the THSBCA 4A state poll, tied the game with two unearned runs in the third inning and went ahead 3-2 on Heinrich’s run-scoring single in the fourth.

With runners at first and second, Rockwall tied the game  in the seventh inning when Wolverines shortstop Shawn McCracken threw past first baseman Hayden Nixon, allowing pinch runner Logan Terwilliger to score the tying run.

With one out in the bottom of the ninth, Joey Swanner singled and continued to second base when the ball went off right fielder Chris Colacecchi’s glove. Nixon’s single and an intentional walk loaded the bases before Heinrich came to bat.

Although he took the loss, the Yellowjackets’ Thomas Anderson pitched a complete game, striking out 10 batters while allowing just two earned runs on eight hits and three walks.

Anderson and the Jackets did a much better job holding off Wakeland’s potent offense than it did last year. The Wolverines (30-4) scored 10 or more runs in each of four games while sweeping both Rockwall and Rockwall-Heath from the playoffs.

Rockwall will try to bounce  back and tie the series Friday at 7:30 pm at Wylie. Brewer Money is expected to be the Jackets’ starting pitcher.

By J.J. Smith, Publisher

ROCKWALL – High school boys baseball and girls softball play-off action continues this weekend as the Rockwall-Heath Hawks take on Frisco and Rockwall’s Yellowjackets play the Area’s top-ranked Frisco Wakeland in best-of-three Bi-District baseball game series.

Rockwall  baseball

Rockwall softball

District 10-4A champion Rockwall (20-6-1, 13-1) won its Bi-District playoff last week over Carrollton Newman Smith, 12-0.

Seagoville won its Bi-District playoff last week over Dallas Bryan Adams 16-1.

Pitcher Laycee Holcomb leads the Lady Jackets with an 18-3 record and 1.50 ERA, plus is hitting .478 with 40 RBIs.

Leading hitters are Cyndi Bertrand at .558, one homer and 46 RBI. Carlie Jenkins (.500), Ashton Atwell (.461), and Bailey Frierson (.422) are leading hitters.

Royse City softball

After ace pitcher and Kansas University recruit Alicia Pille gave up only one hit in two victories over Nacogdoches last week, 5-1 and 6-0, District 13-4A champion Royse City will battle Corsicana (25-12) Thursday at home at 7 pm and Friday there at 7 pm. If necessary, the teams will play there Saturday at Noon.

The Area’s top 4A pitcher, Alicia Pille, leads the Lady Bulldogs with a 17-2 record, ridiculously low .690 ERA, plus incredible 340 strikeouts in 142 innings.

Preslei Morrow is the leading hitter with a .400 batting average.

By J.J. Smith, Publisher

Rockwall-Heath’s mighty Hawks baseball team (27-8) will take on Texarkana in a Class 4A Region II semi-final best-of-three game series begining Thursday at 7:30 pm at Texarkana High School.

Their second game will be Friday at 7:30 pm at Rockwall-Heath. If a third game is necessary, it will be played Saturday at 8 pm at Northeast Texas Community College in Mt. Pleasant TX.

The Hawks earned the right to play in the semi-finals by sweeping Highland Park last Thursday and Friday nights, 17-10 and 5-1, behind the home-run hitting of U. of Oklahoma recruit Drew VerHagen and pitching of ace James Baune.

The Hawks (27-8) had finished the District 10A regular season in second place, one game behind Rockwall, but have won three straight playoff games over North Dallas and then Highland Park.

Texarkana Texas High School swept a two game series last week from Mesquite Poteet to advance to the semi-final.

The other semi-final series this weekend will pit Hallsville against McKinneyNorth, which knocked Rockwall out of the playoffs.

The winner of this series will meet in the Rockwall-Heath/Texarkana winner in the Class 4A Region II championship game at a date and time soon to be scheduled.

HIGHLAND PARK-Drew VerHagen homered for the third straight game and James Baune pitched a six-hitter as the Rockwall Yellow Jackets defeated District 10A rival  Highland Park again, 5-1, last night to win their best-of-three game series and advance to the Class 4A Region II semi-finals next week.

The Yellow Jackets beat the Scots, 17-10, Thursday night at Highland Park.

Drew Baxter also homered for Heath, which only managed five hits against losing pitcher Crayton Bare. Doubles by John Branum and Garrett Childers, plus one single, were all the Hawks could manage, but they were enough.

Highland Park’s Bryan Dickenson homered for the Scots only run.

The semi-final game opponent and date will be announced next week.

HIGHLAND PARK-Oklahoma signee Drew VerHagen homered for the second straight game and drove in four runs as Rockwall-Heath overpowered District 10A rival Highland Park, 17-10, in the first game of their best-of-three game Class 4A Region II quarterfinal series Thursday night at Highland Park.

The Scots led, 3-0, and Rockwall-Heath then scored 10 consecutive runs to pull away.

Drew Benefield was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs, plus earned the win on the mound; and Jovan Hernandez was 2-for-5 with a double and two RBIs and earned the save.

The Hawks had 13 hits, including doubles by Drew Baxter, John Branum and Connor Lewis.

The Hawks also capitalized on six Highland Park errors. The Scots had 12 hits, but the Hawks committed no errors.

Next game of the series is tonight at 7:30 pm at Highland Park. If necessary, the third game will be tomorrow at 1 pm at Highland Park.

Winner of the series will advance to next week’s Class 4A Region II semi-final game.