The Ropes Eagles faced off against the Gruver Greyhounds in a best-of-three series for the Regional Finals round of the 2A Division 2 baseball playoffs this past Thursday at Bushland High School, resulting in the Eagles sweeping them to win the Regional Championship.
In game one, the Eagles won a 10-inning pitcher’s duel, 2-0, scoring two runs in the top of the 10th inning.
In the team statistics, Ropes bested Gruver 7-3 in hits while Gruver bested them 2-1 in walks and 1-4 in errors committed.
Elijah Flores and Cutter Stumbo combined for the full-game shutout on the mound, as Flores pitched 5.1 innings, surrendering one hit and one walk while striking out a batter, and Stumbo pitched 4.2 innings, surrendering two hits and one walk while striking out seven batters. Flores threw 58% of his pitches for strikes, and Stumbo threw 60% of his pitches for strikes.
Ropes’ standouts at the plate included Flores going 2/4 with a double, Cason Kucel going 2/4, Brayden Hogg going ¼ with a run scored, Ryland Kieth going ¼ with a stolen base, Jaivyth Cruz going ¼ with a double and Garland Higginbotham with a run scored.
In game two, the Eagles earned a seven-inning walkoff win, 4-3. Ropes led 3-0 after the first two innings before Gruver responded with two runs in the third and one run in the sixth to tie it. Ropes would score their final run in the bottom of the seventh inning to walk off the game and series.
The Eagles pitching came up clutch once again, but this time it was Kade Franklin, who tossed all seven innings, surrendering three earned runs on six hits and three walks while striking out eight batters. Franklin tossed 67% of his pitches for strikes and was credited with the win.
Standouts at the plate included Kieth going 3/3 with two runs-batted-in, two doubles, a triple and one walk, Cruz going 1/3 with an RBI and a run scored, Higginbotham going 1/3 with a walk, Flores going ½ with a run scored and a walk, Franklin with one run scored and a walk, and Branson Simental with a run scored.
Following the series, Eagles Head Baseball Coach Nathan Flores reflected on his team’s effort to secure the Regional Finals Championship.
“I’m so proud of our guys. We battled through a tough game and everyone on this team had a hand in our success,” Coach Flores said. “From the starters to the closers and especially our dugout. The energy they produced for our team is what kept us pumped and motivated to keep competing. This was a great team effort against a well-coached and well-prepared Gruver team. We found a way.”
Along with securing the regional title, the series win also improves the Eagles to 28-5 overall and advances them to the State Semifinals.
They will face the Collinsville Panthers in a best-ofthree series at Crutcher Scott Field at Abilene Christian University on Wednesday at 6 p.m., Thursday at 12 p.m. and if necessary, Thursday at 3 p.m.
(Photo provided by Ropes ISD)