The Frisco High Raccoons went the distance in last week’s area matchup to take on Prosper in this week’s regional quarterfinals. Likewise, Frisco Liberty took Terrell to a game three showdown, before sending the Bulldogs home thanks to a 5-4 nail biter.
And the Wakeland Wolverines stunned the baseball world by taking down 5A kings, Rockwall-Heath via a two-game sweep. Life is good when three Frisco ISD schools are still in the playoff mix; just a few scant weeks separating them from the 2015 UIL Baseball State Tournament.
Class 5A Region II Quarterfinals
Frisco Wakeland (19-10) VS Frisco Liberty (17-9)
The Liberty RedHawks are quite familiar with their regional quarterfinal opponent, the Wakeland Wolverines. After all, they finished third and second, respectively, in Frisco-heavy District 9-5A.
The RedHawks were able to stave off Terrell in the area round by taking the rubber match 5-4, so they were riding high headed into the regional quarterfinals against a familiar foe.
Unfortunately for Liberty, there may be no hotter team in the tournament than Wakeland, fresh off a two-game sweep of the Rockwall-Heath Hawks, the state’s top ranked team.
In fact, the classic Wolverine takedown of the state’s premier 5A team provided a bit of foreshadowing for game one of Wakeland’s best-of-three regional quarterfinal against Liberty. Just as in area, Wakeland rode the strong arm Jared Martin, who was far from untouchable, but good enough to hand the Wolverines a 1-0 series lead.
For Liberty to avoid a sweep, they’ll need more than just another big game from JT Van Gelder, they’ll also need the pitching to step up, so as to cool the red-hot Wolverines offense.
Game 2: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Plano John Paul II
Game 3*: 3 p.m. Saturday, Plano John Paul II
Prosper (28-3) VS Frisco (23-5)
Frisco High, fresh off a crisp two-game sweep of Forney last week, headed into the regional quarterfinals with the unenviable task of taking on the Prosper Eagles, whose power-packed lineup can put on the hurt in a hurry. Now that Rockwall-Heath has exited the foray, Prosper is the easy favorite for a trip to Austin, with the prospect of a possible state championship.
The Raccoons find themselves down 1-0, as Prosper was able to get the bats going against ‘Coons ace Blake Welch. However, if there is a silver lining to losing the opening game of a three game set 7-3, then it’s this: Frisco High was able to get a little something going against the erstwhile near-unhittable Anthony Bernardez—is no easy task.
And, of course, this means that they won’t have to see Bernardez in tonight’s rubber match, which is also a good thing. Should Frisco High push this contest to a third game, it will be all hands on deck for both teams, which means Welch will get a chance at redemption on the mound, possibly in a relief role that could send Prosper out to pasture.
Game 2: 7:30 p.m. Friday, McKinney Boyd
Game 3*: 1 p.m. Saturday, McKinney Boyd
