Baseball regional finals: Aledo, Southlake Carroll, Keller force game three, more
The UIL Texas high school baseball regional finals continued on Friday, May 23.
See how Fort Worth-area teams fared.
Aledo responds against Colleyville Heritage, forces game three
After losing game one, Aledo needed a strong performance from starting pitcher Devin Miller. Colleyville Heritage (23-13-1) was set to throw Jobe Reed, a talented arm, in a matchup that pitted two aces against each other.
In the most important game of the Class 5A Division I regional final series, and possibly his career, Miller seized the upper hand. He delivered a gem, extending the Bearcats’ season. Aledo (30-8) defeated Colleyville Heritage 4-1 at Boswell High School.
Game three of the Aledo and Colleyville Heritage series will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 24, at Boswell HS. The game was originally scheduled for 2 p.m. but was rescheduled to prevent heat exhaustion.
In seven innings, Miller allowed four hits, four walks and zero earned runs while tallying six strikeouts. He showed a strong command of offspeed pitches. The Panthers’ sole run was driven in following an error.
Aledo head coach Chad Berry said that when Miller is on the mound, the team has high confidence that a win is coming.
“He has been one of those kids — when the chips are down and your back is against the wall, he wants the ball,” Berry said. “Our kids rally behind that and play really confidently behind him.”
After the game, Miller was red in the face and said he was “a little exhausted.”
“It’s a bit hot out there,” Miller said with a smile. “But the emotions that are running through my body are amazing. The team played really well today. And now we’re trying to get back after it tomorrow.”
Offensively, the Bearcats were led by sophomore outfielder Luke Gladchuck, who set the tone with a leadoff triple in the first inning. After, Luke Trager notched a two-run single that gave Aledo an early advantage.
Gladchuck also laid down a perfect bunt for a single.
“He has very high expectations for himself, for only being a sophomore,” Berry said. “The tools that he has, and the talent that he has, it’s tremendous.”
On defense, Gladchuck saved a run in left field. On a single to left field, he fired a strong throw home — it tipped off the third baseman’s glove but found its way to home plate for an out.
“The ball kind of bounced their way yesterday,” Berry said. “But it bounced our way today. And that’s baseball. It happens.”
Brooks Burdine was also a key contributor for Aledo with two hits.
Keller forces Game 3, dumps Prosper
Keller scored 10 runs in the fifth and sixth innings combined as the Indians forced a Game 3 with Prosper by thumping the Eagles 10-2 in Game 2 of their Class 6A Division I regional semifinal series on Friday, Mary 23, at Dallas Jesuit High School.
The third and final game of the series is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 24, back at Jesuit.
Cole Koeninger started for Keller (32-9) and was a little shaky at the beginning as Prosper (31-9-1) sent seven batters to the plate in the bottom of the first, scoring twice. The Eagles collected four hits in the inning with the big blow being a double by Carter Norton that drove in both runs.
Koeninger didn’t allow another hit until Brody Mattox led off the sixth inning with a single. In addition to the five hits and two runs, Koeninger struck out five and walked three in six innings.
“He’s started since his freshman year and he’s grown a lot,” said Keller coach Rob Stramp. “He’s become a better hitter and he just took on pitching this year seriously.
“He’s really come on as a pitcher and is an incredible athlete. We’re blessed to have him.”
Things looked bleak for Keller as Prosper starter Hank Rizzo cruised through the first four innings allowing just three base runners, but the wheels came off in the top of the fifth.
The bottom of Keller’s batting order did much of the damage as Jon Frey, Trevor Sumrall and Luke Hamm combined to go 6-for-9 with five runs scored, three walks and two runs batted in.
Bach Hartwig was the beneficiary of the table setters at the bottom of the order. Hartwig (3-for-4 with four RBI) had the big hit in both the fifth and sixth innings with singles in each frame that drove in two runs each time.
“A little adversity, but I knew the offense was going to come through,” said Keoninger, who also leads off for the Indians and went 1-for-3 with two walks, a run scored and an RBI. “We’ve done it in big spots all year so it was good for us to step up. The bottom of our order did a really good job of getting on base tonight.”
Southlake Carroll routs Marcus, forces game three
Southlake Carroll (31-8-1) needed a big performance with the season on the line, and the Dragon offense delivered in a big way.
Southlake Carroll defeated Flower Mound Marcus (29-11) 9-2 at Dallas Baptist University. A winner-takes-all game three is set for 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 24, at Dallas Baptist University.
Carroll attacked from the start, scoring five runs in the first inning and two in the second inning. Cooper Newby tallied a team-high two hits and three RBIs, leading the Dragon offense.
Colby Sommer and Max Wu were also key performers, even without registering hits in the ballgame. Sommer and Wu had four and three walks, respectively.
Starting pitcher Ethan Baiotto took advantage of the run support, delivering a high-quality start. Baiotto, in six innings, allowed one hit and two earned runs. He conceded six walks and also struck out seven batters.
Grapevine blanks Lubbock-Cooper for series lead
Grapevine pitcher Luke Esquivel tossed a gem in Game 1 as the Mustangs shut out Lubbock-Cooper 4-0 in a Class 5A Division II regional final on Friday, May 23, at Brownwood High School.
The series will resume at Brownwood HS at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 24, with Game 2. If a Game 3 is necessary it will follow after Game 2.
Luke Esquivel went the distance on the mound for Grapevine (32-3), the top-ranked team in Class 5A according to the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association, scattering two hits over seven innings with two walks and 12 strikeouts. Grapevine pitching has recorded shutouts in four of its last five games.
The Mustangs jumped out early on Lubbock-Cooper (29-12) with a pair of runs in the second inning and a single run in the third. In the second inning, Thomas Powers and Connor Ray both singled to right with two outs.
Brady Boozer followed with a lined double to center scoring Powers. Ray scored later in the inning on a wild pitch.
In the third inning, Jarett Boswell led off with a double, moved to third on a ground out and scored on a sacrifice fly to left by Gianni Corral. The Mustangs added an insurance run in the seventh when Zack Goldstein got hit by a pitch, moved to second on a balk and scored on an error by the shortstop on a hard grounder by Lale Esquivel.
Boyd rolls into state semifinals, blanks New Diana again
Boyd continued to run roughshod through the Class 3A Division II playoffs by blanking New Diana for the second consecutive day with an 8-0 win in Game 2 on Friday, May 23, at Dallas Baptist University.
With the sweep of the series, Boyd (33-5), ranked No. 4 in the state in Class 3A by the THSBCA, awaits the winner of the series between No. 2 Wall (27-5) and No. 10 Jacksboro (24-5). Wall defeated Jacksboro 6-1 on Friday, May 23, to take Game 1.
Will McIntire started for the Yellowjackets and limited New Diana (26-9-1) to one hit in five innings with one walk and six strikeouts. Evan Salinas tossed the final two frames allowing just one hit as well.
Boyd had two big innings, scoring four times each in the first and fifth frames. Jax Heid and Elijah Webber each had RBI singles in the first.
Keelan Clary, who went 1-for-3, ripped a bases loaded triple to center for the big hit in the fifth. McIntire went 3-for-4 with a double and Landon Snider was 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored.
This story was originally published May 23, 2025 at 5:13 PM.
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