ROUND ROCK, Texas — London was on the losing end of the UIL 3A State Semifinal to Wall 5-1, ending their season one game shy of the championship round.
“It definitely hurts, but we definitely had a great season. All four years I’ve been here this is a great program," Mason Arispe, London senior right fielder, said. "Something I will never forget for the rest of my life. Ball just didn’t fall our way, but that happens in baseball.”
A partially quiet first two innings of the contest were upended in the opening stanza of the third. Wall loaded the bases in the top of the third and with two out, Hagyn Barbee ripped a 2-run RBI past second base to put the Hawks up 2-0.
In the bottom of the fourth, London's Mason Jacob had a lead-off walk that set him up at first. A balk allowed Jacob to go to second, and a grounder hit by Christian Olivares sent Jacob to third. While Bradley Terry was at the plate, umpires called a balk on Wall pitcher Kellan Oliver, which sent Jacob across the plate.
That was the only time London scored in the contest.
“Kind of that we never give up. You know we got off to a real slow start. I think we had 2 hits in 6 innings," Blake Watters, London junior pitcher and infielder, said. "You know the balls just really didn’t fall our way this game, and you know that’s what happens. That’s the game of baseball. It can take it away from you with the snap of a finger. I learned we battled through all 7, that last inning.”
The Hawks managed to score one run in the fifth, and two security runs in the top of the seventh to go up 5-1.
In the bottom of the seventh after back-to-back strike outs, Jacob Gonzalez, RJ Olivares and Mason Jacob all drew walks to load the bases. However, a pop-up to center field ended the inning, and London's season.
“I just want to thank all the friends for coming out. I know we didn’t get it done, but this is the kind of fire that we need going into the offseason," Kevin Carr, London co-baseball head coach, said. "We got a good number coming back next year, and we’re going to remember the way this feels and hopefully we’ll be back next season.”
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