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No more magic: Wakeland's season ends after 9-2 loss to Heath
BY CHRIS O'DELL, codell@starlocalnews.com
MCKINNEY -- It was a situation Wakeland had found itself in for the fourth time during the postseason.
Saturday's contest against Rockwall-Heath was yet another must-win Game 3 for the Wolverines in order to avoid ending their season.
Despite prevailing in the first three decisive third games, Wakeland wasn't able to repeat that magic during Saturday's regional finals matchup against the Hawks.
"Hats off to coach [Greg] Harvey and his team," said Barry Rose, Wakeland head coach. "They deserve to go to state."
Heath was led by the stellar performance of senior pitcher Jake Thompson, who went the distance on the hill for the win.
"[Thompson] is as good as there is around here," Rose said. "I thought we competed against him though."
The Wakeland offense began the game looking unintimidated by Thompson and scored two runs in the opening inning for an early lead.
Senior Hayden Nixon began the game with a leadoff single to center field after fouling off multiple full-count pitches. Following a strikeout of sophomore shortstop Grant Devore, Thompson then gave up an RBI double to senior Willie Schwanke for the game's first run.
Schwanke would score later in the inning on a passed ball after stealing third base during a previous at bat.
Despite the early 2-0 deficit for Heath, the Hawks came back in the home half of the first and scored their first run on an RBI triple from junior Bret Boswell that drove home Thompson from first.
Heath then knotted the game at two runs apiece in the second inning after senior Austin Stewart made Wakeland junior starting pitcher Cameron Brockhoff pay for a leadoff walk to senior Timbo Duncan.
After earning the win on the mound for Wakeland's first three Game 3's of the playoffs, Brockhoff couldn't continue his playoff magic Saturday night.
The junior lasted only 2.2 innings on the mound, surrendering six runs on six hits and three walks while striking out just two hitters.
Brockhoff's undoing came in the third inning after surrendering four runs in the frame.
The inning began with a leadoff double from Heath senior catcher Jovan Hernandez. Brockhoff then registered one of his two strikeouts in the game by fanning Thompson for the first out of the inning.
However, Boswell followed Thompson's strikeout with an RBI single to score the go-ahead run.
Heath eventually loaded the bases with two outs after walks to seniors Jake Bledsoe and Grayson Lewis. Brockhoff couldn't pitch out of the jam and hit the next batter to score one run before surrendering a 2-RBI double to Stewart.
"[Heath's] entire lineup battles every at bat," Rose said. "They don't let you off the hook and that's what good teams do."
Sophomore Austin Gehle entered the game in relief of Brockhoff and wasn't any more effective.
After getting the final out of the third inning, Gehle gave up a leadoff double to Hernandez to begin the fourth inning before Thompson blasted a two-run homer in the following at bat.
Thompson's dinger put Heath ahead 8-2 after four innings and gave himself plenty of run support with just three innings remaining in the game.
Despite putting a runner on base in each of the final three innings, the senior righty pitched six scoreless frames after the two-run first and ended the night with 12 strikeouts.
Thompson's outing ended with a complete game victory after surrendering two runs on six hits and two walks.
Heath would add its final run of the night during the bottom of the sixth inning when Boswell, who finished the game 2-for-3 at the plate, drew a leadoff walk from Wakeland junior pitcher Clay Foster.
Bledsoe proceeded to rope an RBI double to score Boswell and put the Hawks ahead, 9-2.
Needing seven runs in the seventh inning, the Wolverines were only able to get one man on base after a one-out single from designated hitter Ryan Perry.
Senior pinch hitter Nick Charlton and Nixon were both retired in the following two at bats though, ending the game and Wakeland's season.
"It just wasn't there tonight," Rose said.
The Wolverines end the year with a 30-13 mark and one win shy of a trip to state.
Meanwhile, Heath will now travel to Round Rock for Thursday's state semifinals matchup. Specifics of that game were not known as of press time.
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