GAMES
RANKINGS
STATE SEMIFINALS PREVIEW: Dragons baseball searching for third title in four full seasons
Southlake Carroll baseball is no stranger to the UIL baseball State Tournament. This season marks the team's 10th appearance as they look to get their third state title since 2018 (sixth overall). VYPE DFW takes a look at the Dragons' season so far and lays out what fans can expect from this team.
To continue reading this State Semifinals preview, become a VYPE Insider today!
A Look Back
The Dragons finished second in their district with a 10-2 district record (32-8) overall. The team has been able to make timely plays and big hits in order to continue their streak of dominance in the Dallas-area. With strong athletes who show up ready to compete each practice and gameday, the Dragons have forged a path for themselves that led right back to the state tournament. So far in playoffs, the Dragons have defeated Keller Fossil Ridge, Hurst L.D. Bell, El Paso Americas, Frenship, Coppell, and most recently last year's state runner up Keller.
Who To Watch:
Defense wins championships. The Dragons defense has been full of playmakers this season. Athletes who are skilled at reading the other team's offense on a regular basis have helped lead Southlake Carroll to the biggest stage in the state. Owen Proksch and Griffin Herring combined to strike out 40 batters and pitch 27 scoreless innings over the last two rounds of playoffs. At the plate, Ben Tryon has been a force to be reckoned with. Tryon is batting .478 with five doubles, one home run, and eight RBIs in the last eight games. In the playoffs, Cole Bedwell has posted a .421 average while Ethan Mendoza is batting .364 with six runs and five RBIs. A skilled pitcher, Proksch is also a great batter- he has recorded seven RBIs.
What To Expect:
Currently on a 14 game win-streak, Southlake Carroll is on a mission this season- to bring the title back home. Fort Bend Ridge Point (35-5) is another team that has an incredible lineup. They aren't going to be a cake walk for the Dragons. In fact, this might be the toughest, most important game that the Dragons play all season. Fans can expect strong defense on both ends with big hitting. This game is going to come down to the wire and keep everyone on the edge of their seats.
The game is expected to start at 4 p.m. on Friday, June 10 at Dell Diamond in Round Rock, Texas.
STATE SEMIFINALS PREVIEW: Brock makes their 7th State Tournament Appearance
There is something special about small town sports. There's something even more special about small town sports teams that have a history of winning. For the Brock Eagles baseball team, this has proven to be the case. After hard work and determination, the Eagles are making their seventh appearance in the UIL baseball State Tournament- third in four full seasons. VYPE DFW takes a look at Brock's season so far and lays out what fans can expect during the UIL Class 2A State Semifinals.
To continue reading this preview, become a VYPE Insider today!
A Look Back
Brock posted another incredible season as they went undefeated in district play (14-0) to finish in the lead in their district. Dominating their way through the regular season, Brock has posted a 35-3 overall record. So far in playoffs, the Eagles have taken down Breckenridge, Coahoma, Holliday, Idalou, and Bowie. Outscoring their opponents by a combined 285 runs this season, the Eagles step up to the plate with the mentality to get the job done. On the field, the team plays smart defense- making quick plays to shut down their opponents.
Who To Watch
With twelve batters hitting .300 or better, the Brock Eagles' lineup is absolutely stacked. Not only do they have strong starters, but they have proven that even the guys in reserve have what it takes to be dominant against other pitchers. Led by Jackson Cooke, the team is going to have a lot of big hits. Cooke has averaged .625 this season with an OBP of .769. Sawyer Strosnider has been hot at the plate with a .533 average, .628 OBP, and 10 stolen bases. Strosnider also leads the team in hits with 32 hits- closely followed by Peyton Shaffer who has recorded 30 this season. Schaffer leads the team in home runs (6).
What To Expect:
Expect big offense from Brock as they take on Diboll (38-4). It's going to take a minute to get into the groove against a defensively strong team that is known to raise the bar and set the tone in every game they play, but the determination backed by the skill that Brock has showcased is sure to get the job done. Fans can expect Brock to pick up the pace and be ready to take on the state title game.
The game is expected to begin at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, June 10 at Dell Diamond in Round Rock, Texas.