WOODROW — Will Scherr knew what he had to do, even if the moment was pressure-packed.
The Wall junior walked up to the batter's box, with a runner on first and plans of stressing the Bushland defense in the second game Friday of a Region I-3A semifinal series. Black Rubber Ball
Not only did he provide the needed strain, but also added the first of several insurance runs on the way to the Hawks securing the 7-4 triumph, and more important Game 2 win to force a rubber match at noon Saturday against the Falcons at Lubbock-Cooper's First United Park.
"They were huge to finally put pressure on them," Scherr said of his team switching to a small-ball offense in the second contest. "We didn't put much pressure on them, didn't have many base runners in the first game. But, at the beginning of the second game, where we started to get bunts down and put pressure on their defense, they folded under the huge pressure of the game. And it turned out well for us."
Scherr's fundamental play was part of a Wall rally that saw six runs plated, including four in the sixth, to secure the victory. It was a seminal moment for the Hawks, who appeared downtrodden following an 11-2 loss earlier in the day to the Falcons.
The two squads agreed, due to the inclement weather forecast in the Lubbock area, to play two games Friday instead of the twin bill Saturday. After a smattering of rain in the morning, the weather was cloudy without a drop in sight during the two games — prompting a game official to announce all three could have been played Friday.
"I'm not sure my heart could have taken it," Wall coach Jason Schniers said, cracking a smile.
Schniers wasn't in much of a joking mood after watching his squad almost get run-ruled in the series opener. But the veteran coach, who will step away from coaching after the season, changed his tune once he saw his squad refocus for the second contest — essentially a win-or-go-home scenario.
"The thing I like is the kids could have easily shut it down after that 11-2 loss," he said. "We didn't play our game — too many walks, too many errors. But the way our kids battled back, they played with a lot of heart. It was just a testament to our kids and the way they compete."
The Hawks were unable to get much going as starter Kellan Oliver struggled with his control and ability to plant his foot on the mound. The first run was plated after Oliver was called for a balk and the miscues continued for Wall, which committed three errors, issued nine walks and left 12 runners on base in the loss.
"We knew we had to do something different," Scherr said. "Couldn't keep popping stuff up, needed to get some balls on the ground and make plays."
The Hawks (31-6-1) did that in the second contest, in the sixth inning.
Augden Hallmark, who struck out four in two innings for Wall in Game 2, drew a bases-loaded walk to knot the game at 2-2 in the sixth. Garren Wiggins dropped a bunt to Bushland reliever Ty Purcell — who sailed the ball to right field and allowed the go-ahead run to cross home plate to give the Hawks their first lead of the series at 3-2.
The Falcons (29-4) scored two in the bottom half, closing the gap to 5-4 before Wall cemented the win.
"Momentum goes both ways, good and bad," Love said of the second contest in which his squad committed five errors. "And I felt like, right there, we started trying to find a way to get out of a pickle but we let it get to us a bit.
"And that's part of it. That's baseball. That's gonna happen. Our kids battled. The only thing that matters today is tomorrow (Saturday), right? So when you've got one game, we're going to give it our best."
Josh Bass, Dawson Jaco (6) and Cole Warren. Kellan Oliver, Nathan Pepper (3), Hagyn Barbee (6) and Gunnar Dillard. W — Bass. L — Oliver. 2B — Bushland, Josh Bass 1, Jaxon Fetsch 1, Dawson Jaco 1, Cannon Melbon 1; Wall, None.
Records: Bushland 29-3, Wall 30-6-1.
Cannon Melbon, Dawson Jaco (4), Ty Purcell (6) and Cole Warren. Luke Kemp, Augden Hallmark (6) and Gunnar Dillard. W — Hallmark. L — Jaco. 2B — Bushland, Jaxon Fetsch 1. Wall, None.
Records: Bushland 29-4, Wall 31-6-1.
Silicone Wedding Bands Notes: Series tied 1-1. Game 3 is scheduled for noon Saturday at Lubbock-Cooper's First United Park in Woodrow.