Fort Worth Arlington Heights routed in Game 1 against Lake Dallas
Fort Worth Arlington Heights was forced to start several reserves Friday night as the Yellow Jackets lost Game 1 of a Class 5A Region I quarterfinal series to Lake Dallas 14-1 in a run-ruled finish at Dallas Baptist.
Heights coach Shad Whiteley confirmed that he was forced to suspend several players for an unspecified violation of team rules.
“Some things are more important than a playoff baseball series,” Whiteley said. “I was proud of the kids we had to run out there, and they kept it together for quite a bit of that game. I’m disappointed in them absolutely. Some lessons need to be learned the hard way. But we’ll come back [Saturday] and bounce back and see what happens.”
Whiteley said he was uncertain if any of the Heights’ regulars would play in Game 2.
Lake Dallas (23-10) took advantage of the opportunity, scoring five runs in the first four innings off Heights’ starter Martin Alvarado.
Heights’ best scoring chance came in the fifth inning when the Jackets left the bases loaded and finally started to get some traction on Lake Dallas starter Ty Behringer, who went 3 1/3 for the Falcons, giving up one hit and striking out five.
Game 2 is at noon Saturday back at Dallas Baptist.
In other regional quarterfinal series:
Keller 4, Hebron 1: The Indians (26-8-2) scored three runs in the third on a soft grounder and two errors on their way to a berth in the 6A Region I semifinals next week. Keller will face the winner between Amarillo and Fort Worth Paschal.
Matt Cavanaugh started the third-inning rally, scoring on an error before Mason Whitmarsh drove in two runs with a slow roller to short. That hit scored pinch runner Hunter Garrison and Bradley Gneiting, who scored from second in a close play at the plate.
Keller answered Hebron’s run in the fifth with an insurance run after Hunter Seay singled home Kyle Rich.
Whitmarsh worked five innings to pick up the win for Keller, allowing an unearned run and two hits with three strikeouts. Seay came on to work a 1-2-3 sixth inning, and Shea Langeliers picked up the save in the seventh.
Zach DeLoach went seven innings for Hebron, giving up two earned runs on seven hits and striking out eight.
Paschal 2, Amarillo 0: The Panthers (26-6) scored a run in the second inning and another in fourth as Austin Smith pitched a five-hit shutout in Norman, Okla. Ben Ayala scored Paschal’s first run after Grey Woodard reached on a fielder’s choice in the second. In the fourth, Ayala’s RBI single to left scored Canon Frye. Smith (9-3) struck out five. Trevor Andrus gave up two runs on two hits for Amarillo (26-13).
Weatherford 5, Midland Lee 2: The Kangaroos (23-9) built a five-run lead and held on to win Game 1 of a 6A series in Abilene. Weatherford took a 2-0 lead into the top of the fifth before getting three runs on two singles and a walk. Parker Bateman gave up two earned runs and scattered six hits with eight strikeouts to get the win. Evan Mata had 10 strikeouts for Midland Lee (24-8), but gave up four earned runs on 11 hits.
Wichita Falls Rider 1, Grapevine 0: The Raiders scratched out a run in the seventh to force a Game 3 at noon Saturday in Bowie. Jo Kelleher opened the seventh with a single to center and scored on David Moffat’s RBI single to left. The run spoiled a strong effort from Grapevine starter Conner Neuman (5-1), who scattered four hits and struck out six in the loss. Rider’s Koby Hott pitched a one-hitter and struck out six.
This story was originally published May 20, 2016 at 10:55 PM with the headline "Fort Worth Arlington Heights routed in Game 1 against Lake Dallas."