Aledo jumps on McKinney North early in Game 1 to lead 5A DI state semifinal series

Aledo erupted for seven runs in the second inning and then cruised to a 12-2, five-inning win over McKinney North in Game 1 of their Class 5A Division I state semifinal on Thursday at Horner Ballpark on the campus of Dallas Baptist University.

Aledo (38-3) can book a trip to Round Rock for a shot at a third state title and go back to back with a victory in Game 2 at 5 p.m. on Friday back at DBU. Game 3, if necessary, is scheduled for noon on Saturday.

“It definitely feels good to get game one,” said Aledo second baseman Landon Barnes, who went 3 for 4 at the plate, scored two runs and drove in four. “Everybody did their job. I think we played as a team tonight and it showed, so hopefully we can come out and do the same thing tomorrow.”

Barnes had big hits in both the seven-run second inning as well as the five-run third. Barnes laced a single to left to drive in Jackson Loos and Lucas Nawrocki in the second.

Loos, Luke Gladchuk and Kyle Poindexter also had RBIs in the second. In the third inning, Barnes came up with the bases loaded and ripped a ball down the right field line that bounced up and hit the foul pole for a ground-rule double driving in Loos and Connor Whitmire to make it 9-0.

After a walk to Dylan Duran, Poindexter came up with the bases loaded and two out and lined a bags-clearing double to the wall in left-center field to push the lead to 12-0.

“I felt like we did a great job of capitalizing on their miscues, them missing the zone and putting base runners on,” said Aledo coach Chad Barry. “We picked up some clutch hits to score them and thought we did a great job being disciplined at the plate and not swinging at the stuff out of the zone.”

Nawrocki, an LSU signee who was 2 for 4 at the plate, tossed four innings scattering three hits, allowing two earned runs with four strikeouts and four walks on just 57 pitches. Nawrocki was relieved in the fifth inning by Caleb Turner who was making his first appearance in a game since the Bearcats’ early-season scrimmages.

“We had a sizable lead and he’s been working really hard to get back,” said Barry of Turner who allowed a hit and a walk in his one inning of work. “He’s going to play for Dallas Baptist next year so we felt like it was a great opportunity to get him an inning on the mound. Kind of a no-stress inning and it worked out.”

Niether Barnes or Barry are worried about the Bearcats losing focus on the prize of making it to and winning the state title.

“Our coaches keep us focused, they keep us grounded and they keep us humble,” said Barnes. “They’re great guys and they’ve held us to a standard. I think we need to reach that standard every game and so I think that’s what keeps us focused.”

“I think it’s the simple fact that most of them have been here before and I think they know exactly how baseball is,” said Barry. “You come out one day and everything seems to work in your favor, and you come out the next day and everything blows up in your face. I think they understand that and I think they try to keep that in perspective.

“They know that they’ve got to come out each day and give their absolute best effort. They can’t overlook anything and they can’t take anything for granted or the game will turn on them real quick.”

This story was originally published May 29, 2026 at 12:02 AM.