ABILENE – In possession of a comfortable six-run advantage heading into the bottom of the seventh inning, the Early Longhorns eventually witnessed the Ballinger Bearcats bring the potential winning run to the plate before emerging with a 9-7 victory Friday afternoon in Game 2 of a Region I-3A baseball area playoff series at Abilene Christian University.
“I knew Ballinger with their back to the wall would come out fighting and I knew it wouldn’t be easy,” said Early head coach Todd Hatton. “Even when we built that 9-3 lead I didn’t feel comfortable. I knew they would fight and scratch and they did, and our kids matched them and we didn’t fold when it got a little tight there. I’m just extremely proud of them. It was great to get it done in two and not have to play tomorrow.”
ABILENE – After spotting the Ballinger Bearcats the first three runs of Thursday’s Region I-3A baseball area playoff series opener, the Early Longhorns unleashed their offense – highlighted by a six-run second inning and a five-run third – en route to a 14-3, five-inning Game 1 victory at Abilene Christian University.
“We can’t celebrate tonight,” said Early head coach Todd Hatton, whose team faced a 1-0 deficit in the bi-district playoff series to Breckenridge. “Tomorrow we have to come over here focused and take care of business. Enjoy this, but we can’t celebrate tonight. If we win tomorrow we’ll celebrate all they want, but we have to take care of business tomorrow.”