The Alba-Golden Panthers are bi-district champions, sweeping the Linden-Kildare Tigers on Friday in Hooks. They owe that largely to the pitching arms of starters Mason Smith and Tucker Samples.
Smith tossed a complete game one. His line was 7 innings, 3 hits, 7 strikeouts and 2 free passes. Samples - 7 innings, 4 hits, 9 strikeouts and 0 passes – dominated game two.
It was a dream performance for two starters in a three-game series. The two shared critical aspects of pitching last Friday, executing control, timely placement and intense focus. Catcher Brett Sutton, who put in a full day in his catching gear, was steadfast behind the plate, anchoring both starters.
The Panthers were quick to put up the first run of the series. Boogie Trimble led off with a single through the left side. He promptly stole second base and took third on a fly ball off the bat of Landon Dunham.
Trimble scrambled home on a Tiger fielding error, giving Alba-Golden all they would need in game one.
The Panthers added a second run when Dunham tripled to right-center to lead off the sixth. Mason then cracked a liner past third base to drive him home.
The Tigers never advanced beyond second base, and Alba-Golden took game one, 2-0.
After time for the teams to take in a taco plate from the concessions at Hooks Field, game two commenced with Alba-Golden now the home side.
The Panthers again scored one run in the opening inning. Trimble walked, stole second and third base, and came home when Samples’ ball dropped into a hole between fielders in right-center.
In the top of the third, Alba-Golden made back-to-back throwing errors in the field. The two gifted base runners were chased home by a double to center field, as Linden-Kildare took a 2-1 lead.
At the inning break, Coach Webster had an instructive moment with the team. He reminded them that Linden-Kildare had won 20 games that year. His message was clear, “Execute!”
The Panthers responded immediately. The team rattled off five consecutive singles in the bottom half.
Smith ripped a ball to left while lefty Samples sliced a pitch to left.
Easton Samples slapped a ball through the space vacated by the shortstop while covering second base, Cooper Christian pushed a ball through the right side, and Carson Pierce lined to center. To close the rally, Cason Boyd laid down a beauty of a suicide bunt to score the fourth run of the inning.
With one out in the top of the fifth, Linden-Kildare had a runner on second base. The Tigers’ number eight hitter hit a line drive bound for shallow right-center field. Alba-Golden second baseman, Cason Boyd made a move for the ball, but no one in the stands thought he had a chance to even get close to making the play.
With great acceleration, running blindly into right-center, Boyd was able to get close enough to the sinking liner to make a desperate full-extension leap, up and out. He backhanded the liner at the top of his mitt and hung on as he crashed to the ground.
He recovered quickly and pegged a throw to second for the double-play.
The sequence personified Coach Webster’s expectation on effort, and earned Boyd a rare bear hug from his head coach at the turn of the inning.
After a memorable bi-district sweep, Alba-Golden is headed for the area round. They will face Harleton in the regional semi-final series.
All games are at Tyler Legacy, Thursday and Friday at 7 p.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday if needed.