Finals Bound

Finals Bound Tigers one away from state tourney Staff Report Tue, 05/28/2024 - 2:32 pm Jacksboro posted a 4-2 win over Shallowater in game three of the regional semifinal series Saturday, May 25 in Abilene. The team will move on to face Brock in the regional finals. Photo/Brian Smith Tiger senior Jackson McComis comes through with a base hit during Game one of the regional semifinal series with Shallowater. Jacksboro went three games with the Mustangs. Photo/Brian Smith Brayden Rockey (34) beats the pickoff throw back to first Thursday, May 23 during game two of the best-of-three series with Shallowater in Abilene. Photo/Brian Smith The Jacksboro Tigers came back in more ways than one this weekend as they earned a trip to the regional finals with their 4-2 win over Shallowater. Jacksboro went down 2-0 in the first inning of game three but roared back with four runs in the bottom of the fifth to take the lead at 4-2, where it stayed the rest of the game. After dropping the first game of the best-of-three series with the Mustangs, the Tigers came back to win the next two to take the series 2-1. With the huge comeback win in both game three and the series, the Tigers advanced to the regional finals where they will take on the Brock Eagles for a spot in the state tournament. “I’m so proud of these kids,” head coach Blake Belcher said. “Couldn’t think of a better group to go this far with. We’ve broken through to the regional finals.” With the season on the line, Jacksboro turned to Wyatt Gavit on the mound. He answered the call with a complete game performance in which he allowed two runs, neither of which were earned and struck out nine batters. Shallowater took an early lead after a batter reached first base on a dropped third strike and came around to score on a double. A couple batters later, Gavit balked to allow the Mustangs’ second run to score. Despite the early deficit, the team didn’t quit and Gavit locked in on the mound, as well. For the rest of the game, which included a 70-minute lightning delay, Shallowater never advanced a runner past second base. Meanwhile, Jacksboro’s offense had somewhat of a difficult time getting anything going. Through the first four innings, the Tigers only managed a handful of walks and the team didn’t record their first hit until the fifth inning. Kaleem Howard broke through when he roped a double to left field to allow courtesy runner Kase Dennis to come around to score and cut into the deficit at 2-1. Lando Belcher recorded the next RBI as he lined out to center field but Howard made it home on the throw to tie the game at 2-2. But the Tigers weren’t stopping there. Three consecutive singles from Jackson McComis, Gavit and Kasey Swan turned into two more runs as Jacksboro completely turned the game around and took a 4-2 lead. Before the Mustangs had a chance to answer, lightning entered the area and forced a long delay in the game. When play resumed, Gavit allowed two runners to get on base but prevented any damage to hold his team’s lead. “I had some issues early, but after that I got in a groove,” Gavit said. “After the lightning delay, (Shallowater) got two on, but I settled back down.” The Tigers loaded the bases in their half of the sixth inning with only one out, but backto- back popouts ended any chance of the team extending its lead. It didn’t matter though as Gavit made quick work of Shallowater in the final inning, and as first baseman Cannon Valenzuela caught the throw from catcher Kyler Swan following a dropped third strike, the Tigers were moving on and the Mustangs were heading home. Read about game one and game two online at jacksboronewspapers. com