KRXT SPORTS
(ROCKDALE)–THE ROCKDALE TIGER BASEBALL TEAM
HAS ADVANCED IN THE PLAYOFFS FOR THE FIRST TIME
SINCE 2012. THE TIGERS SWEPT THEIR SERIES AGAINST
GROESBECK, WINNING 10 TO 3 AND 13 TO 4 TO ADVANCE.
THE TIGERS BEGAN GAME ONE OF THE BEST OF 3
SERIES WEDNESDAY, BUT AFTER GROESBECK SCORED
2 RUNS IN THE TOP OF THE FIRST INNING, THE GAME WAS
POSTPONED DUE TO LIGHTNING AND STORMY WEATHER
CONDITIONS TO THURSDAY.
THE GAME RESUMED THURSDAY WITH THE TIGERS
HAVING A RUNNER ON WITH 2 OUTS.
MASON WILLARD GOT THE START IN THE GAME
AND GAVE UP A COUPLE OF RUNS IN THE TOP OF THE
FIRST, THEN LIGHTNING SENSORS WARNED GAME
OFFICIALS THAT IT WAS TIME TO DELAY THE GAME.
THE GAME WAS DELAYED UNTIL THURSDAY.
THEN IN THE BOTTOM OF THE FIRST OF THE
CONTINUED GAME ON THURSDAY, WILLARD STEPPED
TO THE PLATE AND HIT AN R-B-I SINGLE TO SCORE
DANNY CASTILLO TO CUT THE LEAD TO 2 TO 1.
THE TIGERS TIED IT IN THE BOTTO OF THE 2ND.
THE TIGERS TOOK THE LEAD IN THE BOTTOM
OF THE 5TH ON A SACRIFICE FLY AND A WILD PITCH
TO ADD 2 MORE RUNS, THEN ADDED 6 MORE IN
THE 6TH TO BLOW IT OPEN, INCLUDING A SACRIFICE
FLY, A BASES LOADED WALK, AND AN R-B-I SINGLE.
AFTER GIVING UP THE 2 EARLY RUNS ON WEDNESDAY,
STARTING PITCHER MASON WILLARD SETTLED DOWN.
TIGER HEAD COACH AUSTIN CAFFEY SAYS
THE ENTIRE TEAM WAS READY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
OPPORTUNITIES…
“IT’S HARD SHOWING UP TO A BALLPARK DOWN 2-0,
BUT IT’S ALSO HARD SHOWING UP TO THE BALLPARK
UP 2-0, TRYING TO KEEP THAT MOMENTUM. SO, OUR
GAMEPLAN GOING INTO THAT FIRST GAME TONIGHT
WAS, TRY TO GET SOME MOMENTUM IN OUR FAVOR,
BE AGGRESSIVE ON THE BASEPATHS, AND TRY TO SWING
THAT MOMENTUM AS QUICKLY AS WE POSSIBLY COULD,
AND TRY TO RIDE THAT, WHICH WE DID.”
GAME TWO FOLLOWED 30 MINUTES AFTERWARD.
THE TIGERS WERE THE VISITORS AND JUMPED ON
GROESBECK EARLY FOR 4 RUNS. BUT GROESBECK
RESPONDED IN THE BOTTOM OF THE INNING WITH
4 RUNS OF THEIR OWN TO TIE THE GAME, SCORING
OFF TIGER ACE MARIO CASARES.
THEN TIGER PITCHER MASON LILLARD CAME IN
TO PITCH AND SHUT DOWN THE GROESBECK OFFENSE
FROM THERE, NOT ALLOWING ANOTHER RUN TO BE
SCORED THE ENTIRE GAME. THE TIGERS KEPT SCORING,
THOUGH, ADDING A RUN IN THE 2ND, THEN 2 RUNS
IN THE 4TH ON AN R-B-I SINGLE BY MASON WILLARD
AND A SACRIFICE PLY BY BRODY WILLARD.
THE TIGERS ADDED ANOTHER RUN IN THE
5TH, AND THEN 3 MORE IN THE 6TH. GREYON WILLIAMS
AND ALEX MARTINEZ GOT IN ON THE SCORING.
MASON LILLARD WOULD FINISH OFF THE THE
WIN FOR THE TIGERS.
THE TIGERS RECORDED A LANDMARK WIN BY
ADVANCING IN THE PLAYOFFS FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE
2012. TIGER HEAD COACH CAFFEY SAYS THE TIGERS
HAVE PUT IN THE WORK TO REACH THIS POINT…
“THAT WAS THE MESSAGE TO THESE GUYS–ALL
YEAR, WE’VE TOLD THEM THAT THEY’RE A GOOD BASEBALL
TEAM, THEY CAN PLAY WITH ANYBODY. AND THEY’VE
EARNED THIS FIRST ROUND VICTORY IN THE PLAYOFFS
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 12 YEARS, BECAUSE THEY’VE SHOWN
UP EVERY DAY.”