Trey Ripke proves to be undoing of Eagles

Navarro’s Trey Ripke proved to be the undoing of the Salado Eagles as he contributed heavily to the two wins the Panthers took from Salado in their best-of-three series May 7-9. Ripke closed the third game and pitched for the win in the second game, as well as getting crucial hits in the two wins.

Salado ends its season with a District Championship and 20-7 record.

Navarro will face Sealy in the Area round, playing games in Shiner this week.

Only one other 25-4A team remains in the playoffs. Taylor beat Cuero in two games, 4-0 and 14-2 and will face Sweeney in the Area Round. Wimberly beat Burnet 0-3, 8-6 and 6-1 and La Vernia beat Liberty Hill in three games 2-3, 7-3 and 18-3. Wimberley faces El Campo and La Vernia faces Brazosport in the Area round.

Navarro 5

Salado 2

Through six innings, Salado could only get two runners into scoring position and trailed Navarro 5-0 going into the final frame of their season-ending loss to the Panthers May 9 in Leander.

Meanwhile, Navarro scored two unearned runs in the fourth inning and another in the seventh inning, handing the 5-2 loss to Cody Wolf, who pitched three innings, striking out two and allowing two hits.

With back-to-back singles in the sixth inning, Navarro scored two runs thanks to three hits in the inning.

With their backs to the wall in the bottom of the seventh, Salado finally got on the board, but it would not be enough.

Jacob Wilk led off with a single and went to second on a single by Cody Gilpin. He went to third on a fielder’s choice that sent Mims to first and put Gilpin out at second for the first out in the bottom of the seventh.

An error by the shortstop allowed Wilk to score and Kyle King to go to first. He advanced on a wild pitch and scored on a single to deep right by Preston Payne. Ripke was called in to close the game for Navarro forcing a fly out and a strikeout to end the inning, game and season for the Eagles.

Navarro 6

Salado 1

Navarro scored three runs in the first three innings while Salado could manage just one run in the first as the Panthers won the second of the best-of-three series 6-1 in Leander May 8 in Troy.

Cody Wolf walked and stole second base, scoring on a single to deep left by Chase Basham with two outs in the top of the first. Basham went to third on a looping double to left by Garrett Lightfoot, but both runners were left stranded.

Wolf added a double to deep right in the third inning, but was the only batter to reach base until the sixth when Jacob Little singled and Wolf walked. Bother runners were left stranded again as Navarro pitcher Trevor Ripke was able to get Eagle batter to fly-out, foul-out and strike out to get out of the inning.

The Panthers scored a run in the second and two runs in the third. Sean Walter walked and the courtesy runner went to third on a double by Ripke, scoring on a passed ball. Ripke scored on a sacrifice bunt.

Ripke singled in the fifth  on a shot deep to right for a single. His courtesy runner Ashton McCurry stole second, went to third on the attempted throw and  scored on an error by the shortstop for a 4-1 lead.

In the seventh, Sean Walter was hit by the pitcher and Jake Wright tripled to deep left, scoring Walter. Wright scored on a single to left by Ripke for the final score of 6-1 when McCurry retired Salado’s side in order.

Ripke got the win for Navarro, pitching 5-2/3 innings and striking out four batters. He gave up three hits.

Salado 1

Navarro 0

Preston Payne’s homer over the left field fence in the top of the fourth inning was all that Salado needed to get past the Navarro Pirates in the first game of a best-of-three series of the Bi-District round of the 4A baseball playoffs. Salado won 1-0 on May 7.

Chase Basham got the win for Salado, pitching the entire game and throwing seven strikeouts. He allowed just two hits and no walks. The hits were singles in the first and fifth innings. No runner got past second base.

Basham also had the second hit for the Eagles. He hit a one-out double to deep right in the seventh, stretching it to third on the attempted throw. He was left stranded when Navarro got the next two outs.

Basham and the Eagle defense ended the game by not allowing a base runner in the seventh inning. Basham struck out the lead-off batter in four pitches. Shortstop Chris Deal grabbed a grounder to throw the runner out at first for the second out and Rightfielder Kyle King caught a fly to end the game.