GAME 35 – Fr. Wilson Field, TAPPS Area Playoff 

Eagles 15

Plano John Paul II 2

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Outfielder Nick Phan ’17 and first baseman Max Winter ’17 each drove in three runs while catcher Philip Matulia ’18 and second baseman Daniel Perkins ’17 combined for four RBI as Eagle Baseball again coasted to a five-inning victory to sweep the TAPPS Division I  best-of-three playoff series.

The top-10 state-ranked Eagles have now eight straight games to raise their record to 30-5 for the season and advance to the regional round against San Antonio Antonian College Preparatory (30-4) who defeated Dallas Bishop Lynch in two straight games by a combined score of 24-0.  

Game 1 of the best-of-three series is Wednesday, May 10 at Strickland Field / Veterans Park in Weimar, with Game 2 Thursday at 2:00 p.m., with a deciding Game 3, if necessary, 30 minutes following.

St. Thomas is aiming for a seventh state tournament berth in eight years and would face the winner of Addison Trinity Christian and Dallas Parish Episcopal in the state semifinals.

TURNING POINT

The Eagles consistently feasted on erratic JPII pitching … taking command with a seven-run second inning that included four walks, two with the bases loaded … an infield hit … an error … and two sacrifice flies.  Winter provided the big blow with a two-out two-strike two-run double down the left field line.

ROUNDING THE BASES

The Eagles added five runs in the third inning highlighted by Phan’s two-run triple to right center and single RBI from Winter and shortstop Brandon Campos ‘17.

Alex Schlosser ’18 pitched the first three innings allowing one run and only one hit.  Josh Wolf ’19 and Nick Steiner ’19 split the final two innings in relief with Steiner setting JPII down in order with two strikeouts.

WEB GEM

With runners at first and second and no outs in the second inning Perkins leaped near the second base bag to stab a line drive and then quickly tossing to Campos to nearly complete the double play.

FAST AND FURIOUS

The Eagle opened the playoffs with Matula ’18 (Louisiana Tech) continuing his torrid late-season hitting … hammering two home runs while collecting five RBI in a 17-2 runaway win.

Matulia blasted a two-run homer for the only hit in the Eagles three-run first inning … then crushed a three-run shot during an 11-run second inning.  Matulia has now knocked in 20 runs in the last eight games.

John Griffin ’18 soon followed with a line shot over the left field wall for his second and third RBI of the frame.

Campos knocked in four runs and Logan Bear ’17 added another plus two stellar stops at third base.

Right hander Simen Borland ’17 allowed only two runs and four hits, leaving the bases loaded in the second while racking a called third strike to end the frame.

Eagle Fight Never Dies!