Thursday, April 25, 2024
The Tolar High School baseball team rallied past Rio Vista to sweep their Class 2A area playoff series late last week. Next, the Rattlers will take on second-ranked Bosqueville in the third round.
The Tolar Rattlers just kept chipping away, and Rio Vista crumbled.
The Rattlers swept their best-of-three Class 2A area baseball playoff series against Rio Vista, Friday and Saturday in Glen Rose.
Tolar was trailing the Eagles 4-1 Thursday after two innings in the first game, but rallied for a 6-4 victory. In Game 2 Friday, the Rattlers were down 1-0 early but went on to record an 8-1 triumph.
That propelled the District 13-2A champion Rattlers, now 21-3 on the season, into the third round (regional quarterfinals) against second-ranked Bosqueville (29-2).
That series is scheduled to be played at Cleburne High School’s field, with Game 1 set for Wednesday, May 19, Game 2 for Thursday, May 20 and Game 3 (if needed) on Friday, May 21. The starting time is slated for 8 p.m. for each game, although the rain in the forecast could potentially force changes to alternative locations and/or starting times.
Tolar head coach Lance Alford’s squad has no seniors and only two juniors.
“We just stuck to the plan, and chipped away at their lead,” Alford said of rallying past Rio Vista. “We are trying to hit quality pitches and make defensive plays.”
Despite having to face the state’s No. 2-ranked team next, Alford said optimistically of his players, “They’re fired up. You’ve got to beat everyone anyway. Who’s next?”
Alford mentioned that junior Matt Moore “had a monster game” in Friday’s win, hitting a pair of doubles and driving in two runs in addition to making an outstanding diving catch in center field. In the first game, Moore had an RBI single.
Tolar Teammate Reis Brown notched two hits and drove in two runs in the first game. Freshman catcher Jesse Owen contributed two hits for Tolar in the second game.
Freshman Talan Brown was the winning pitcher for the Rattlers in Game 1, and sophomore Jackson LeCluyse earned the win in Game 2.
Tolar’s winning rally in the first game began with one run in the fourth, and finished with two runs in both the bottom of the fifth and sixth.
After trailing 1-0 in the first inning of Game 2, the Rattlers scored three in the third inning and five in the fifth.
The winner of the Tolar-Bosqueville series will advance to face either Windthorst or Muenster next week.
