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STATE SEMIFINALS: Gunter enters 10th appearance at UIL State
With another successful season almost nearly wrapped up, the Gunter Tigers baseball team is set for the program's 10th appearance at UIL State-- third in four seasons. As they gear up to take on Franklin in the state semifinals, VYPE DFW takes a look at the team and what fans can expect moving forward:
So Far
Ready to put hard work to the test right out of the gate this season, Gunter went on a 15-game win streak through non-district play against other programs who have their own reputations in the area. Downing the likes of Prosper, Panther Creek, Kimball, Aubrey, Denison, North Garland, and others through their non-district schedule, athletes like Walker Overman, Brock Boddie, Cade Dodson, Colson Wood, Brooks Griggs-Bell, Jarrett Waggoner, Carter Layton, Jordan Villagrana, Jake Ivey, and others made sure that they were prepared for a district schedule that had the potential to challenge them.
With no doubt and zero hesitation, the Gunter Tigers shut out teams in eight of their 12 district matchups while posting an undefeated 12-0 district record; finishing at the top of their district standings. Defeating Bells, Leonard, Pottsboro, Howe, Blue Ridge, and more in dominating fashion helped the Tigers finish their regular season without a single loss against their opponents and head into the postseason on a high note.
With their only loss coming in the postseason, the Tigers have been able to play with resiliency and strength as they took down Grand Saline (16-3, 11-0), Ponder (1-0), Edgewood (3-0, 1-2, 4-0), Tatum (9-2), and Boyd (3-1, 3-2) before punching their ticket to the state tournament for the 10th time.
What To Expect
Gearing up to play against Franklin should prove to be a feat that the Tigers are up to. Franklin boasts a 33-5 overall record this season with tough athletes like Blake Autrey, Dylan Stallones, Josh Atomanczyk, and others, but Gunter has faced several talented teams that didn't even begin to phase them this season. Fans can expect hard hitters to come to the plate as Gunter enters their state semifinal matchup. Excellent hitting paired with phenomenal pitching and a smooth defense is sure to power Gunter to the state finals where they would play the winner of Corpus Christi London and fellow-DFW area team Brock should they advance!
STATE SEMIFINALS: Brock Baseball makes eighth appearance at the state tournament
In their eighth appearance a the UIL State Tournament-- third in four years-- the Brock Eagles baseball team is more than ready to take on Corpus Christi London in the state semifinal matchup. The team hopes to secure their spot in the finals and eventually their first ring since the 2006 season. VYPE DFW takes a look at the program so far this season:
So Far
Starting their season on the right foot, the Brock Eagles have been showcasing their ability to play hard against tough opponents since the start of the season. The team was able to secure several strong, dominant victories in non-district play as they defeated the likes of Kennedale, Alvarado, Brownwood, Wall, Andrews, and more. Behind talented athletes like Jesse Rusinek, Cam Harris, Cole Stanley, Wyatt Shumake, Canon Lightfoot, Hunter Martin, Asa Parenteau, Cooper Massey, Hudson Davis, and more, Brock was able to prepare themselves for another successful district schedule.
Through district play, the Eagles showed no hesitation as they took down the likes of Peaster, Early, Eastland, Millsap, Dublin, and more in order to post an undefeated 14-0 district record and finish at the top of their district standings. After proving their ability to shut down opponents in the regular season, the team took to the offseason to continue their run toward the state tournament. So far in the playoffs, the team has sent Bowie, Clyde, Holliday, Liberty, and Jacksboro packing in order to punch their ticket to the UIL Baseball State Tournament.
What to Expect
The team has lost only two games all season while outscoring their opponents by a combined 245 runs so far this season. With a 94% winning percentage and the heart of champions, Brock already knows what it takes to continue on their run this season. Under the careful guidance of head coach Koby Page and assistant coaches Dane Bennett, Ryne Onsurez, and Randell Coleman, this team isn't worried about taking on Corpus Christi London-- who boasts a 39-3 record this season. Fans can expect Brock to fight hard through the semifinals match with early and timely hits.