The Thrall Tigers varsity baseball team will take on the Central Heights Blue Devils in a bestof- three regional series in the Class 3A Division II playoffs at Montgomery Lake Creek High School.
Game 1 is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, May 15. Game 2 will follow at 2 p.m.
Saturday, May 17, with a decisive Game 3 to be played 30 minutes after, if necessary.
Tale of the tape Central Heights enters the series with a 28–5 overall record after finishing 14–1 in District 21-3A to claim the league title. The Blue Devils swept New Waverly in the area round, winning 8–0 in Game 1 and 4–3 in Game 2.
Thrall is also undefeated in the postseason after sweeping West High School. The Tigers earned a 5–3 victory in Game 1 and a 6–3 win in Game 2.
Both teams are 4–0 in playoff action and have yet to allow more than three runs in a single game.
Pitching matchups
Senior Maverick McAllister is expected to start Game 1 on the mound for the Tigers.
McAllister tossed a complete game in the opener against West, allowing three runs while striking out five.
Central Heights will likely turn to Garner Rodriquez in Game 1.
Rodriquez threw 6.2 innings against New Waverly, allowing three runs and striking out 11.
In Game 2, look for Thrall to hand the ball to Bryce Brinkmeyer, who delivered a strong outing in the area round by pitching 5.1 innings with two earned runs and five strikeouts. Central Heights is expected to counter with Trapper Murdock, who threw a complete-game shutout with six strikeouts in his last outing.
If the series goes to a third game, Thrall sophomore Weston Smiley and Central Heights’ Hunter Henry could both see action on the mound.
Lineups
Thrall’s offense has been red-hot, scoring 42 runs in its four postseason games. Sophomore Gus Navejas, along with McAllister and Smiley, has led the charge at the plate.
Central Heights has scored 29 runs in its playoff run, with Beau Bryant, Luke Williamson and Rodriquez pacing the offense.
Both lineups are capable of turning this series into a highscoring affair, but the strength of both pitching staffs may ultimately dictate the pace.
