Staff Writer
Abilene – The bus ride home to Argyle from Abilene Christian University must have been a long one for the Eagles Thursday night as the Stephenville Yellow Jackets upended the back-to-back state champs plans for a three-pate in sounding fashion. The Jackets managed to sweep Argyle for the Region I finals and are now headed to the State Finals in Austin.
After a complete shutout Wednesday night in Denton, the Eagles were looking to take command of Game 2 in Abilene, but were unable to get scoring plays going because the Yellow Jackets, behind the arm of Reece Elston, put on a fantastic defensive show and allowed only a single run. The Jackets outscored them 8-1 in the two-game series.
Argyle had the reputation of a high scoring team coming into the series with Stephenville, having beaten this year’s playoff opponents by a total combined score of 79-3, but Jackets coach Jason Swenson and his boys were ready and kept the Eagles at bay with hard work on the field, allowing only 1 run in 14 innings and stranding 15 runners in the two games. More than once on Thursday night, the Eagles had the bases loaded but strong defense from Stephenville kept the score limited.
But it wasn’t just a defensive night for the Jackets as the group took full advantage of the Eagles, and in the fifth inning, Stephenville batted all the way around, scoring 5 runs to bring the score to 6-0.
Argyle attempted one last gasp and was able to get a run and avoid a complete shutout in the seventh inning, but couldn’t manage a comeback as the strong defense from the Jackets held them back.
This is the first time in school history for Stephenville’s baseball program to be in the state tournament and Coach Swenson and his team aren’t the only ones looking forward to the trip to Austin. It seems the entire town of Stephenville is feeling the excitement.
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