The Big Sandy Wildcats opened the playoffs last weekend, sweeping a bi-district matchup against the Milano Eagles at the Willis High School.
Game 1 was played Friday night in cold, rainy conditions, but the weather did little to slow Big Sandy’s offense. The Wildcats scored nine runs in the first inning on four singles, a double and six walks.
Big Sandy loaded the bases in the second inning for Ezekiel Angel, who drove in two runs with a line drive to center field, giving the Wildcats an 11-0 lead after two innings.
The game tightened briefly in the fourth inning, as the Eagles recorded two singles and drew three walks, scoring four runs. That would be as close as they would get. In the bottom of the inning, Big Sandy put the game away, using two singles, two doubles, four hit batters and seven walks to score 13 runs and secure a 24-4 victory.
Corbin Cude started for the Wildcats and delivered another strong outing, pitching three innings while allowing no runs on one hit and two walks, with eight strikeouts. He lowered his ERA to 1.57 for the season and now has 60 strikeouts. Angel struggled in relief, allowing four runs on two hits and three walks. Gus Hardy pitched one inning, walking one and striking out one.
Despite the weather, the Wildcats’ bats were red hot. Angel went 2-for-2 with two walks, three runs and four RBIs. Jasper Hardy went 2-for-3 with a double, a walk, three runs and four RBIs. Trig Byrd went 2-for-4 with a double, a walk, two runs and five RBIs.
Weather conditions improved for Game 2 Saturday, and the Wildcats continued their offensive surge. Byrd got it started in the first inning with a line-drive single to left field, scoring Angel and Conner Ratcliff for an early 2-0 lead. Milano answered with a run in the bottom of the inning, making it 2-1 after one.
In the third inning, Big Sandy added three runs — two on Eagle errors and another on a Lev Cox sacrifice fly. Milano scored two runs in the bottom half on a walk, a hit batter and two singles, cutting the lead to 5-3 after three innings.
In the fourth, Ratcliff led off with a hit by pitch, followed by an RBI-triple from Jasper Hardy. A sacrifice fly from Byrd scored Hardy, extending the lead to 7-3.
Ratcliff led off the sixth inning with a solo home run over the left-field wall — his first high school home run. Later in the inning, Gus Hardy singled, and an error by the Milano left fielder allowed two more runs to score, pushing the lead to 10-3.
Big Sandy continued to add on in the seventh. Angel led off with a double to left, followed by Ratcliff being hit by a pitch. Jasper Hardy delivered an RBI-double, and Byrd followed with an RBI-single. After a walk to Daniel Barker loaded the bases with no outs, Cude hit an 0-1 pitch over the left-field wall for a grand slam. The Eagles did not score in the bottom half, giving Big Sandy a 16-3 win.
Wyatt Lenox made his first career playoff start and pitched effectively, going three innings and allowing three runs on two hits with three walks and three strikeouts. Angel returned in relief and was dominant, throwing four innings while allowing no runs on three hits, with no walks and eight strikeouts.
At the plate, Angel went 2-for-5 with a double, was hit by a pitch and scored two runs. Ratcliff went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, was hit by a pitch twice, scored four runs and drove in one. Jasper Hardy went 3-for-5 with a triple and a double, scoring three runs and driving in two. Byrd went 3-for-4 with three runs and three RBIs. Cude went 2-for-4 with a grand slam, a walk, two runs and four RBIs.
With the sweep, the Wildcats claimed the bi-district title and advance to face the Goldthwaite Eagles in the area round. All games will be played at Mumford High School. Game 1 is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday, Game 2 will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, with Game 3, if necessary, to follow 30 minutes later.
