Saturday, May. 03, 2008

Indians, Panthers sweep playoff series

Keller closed out its opening round playoff series with Lewisville with a 10-3 victory Saturday afternoon.

After getting down 2-0 early, the Indians' bats came alive in the top of the third inning of Game Two of the best-of-three bi-district series. Keller sent 12 batters to the plate in the frame and posted seven runs to take the lead at Farmers Field.

Slade Brown led off the inning with a solo home run to right field. The next four batters all reached base and all eventually came around to score. A couple hit batsman and a Fighting Famers' error also aided the big inning for the Indians.

Brown would come up again in the inning and single to left to bring in two runs for a three-RBI frame.

Keller added two more runs in the fourth as Max Muncy doubled to score Jordan Stafford and Chris Larson had a sacrifice fly to right that brought Muncy home.

Stafford also scored Keller's only other run in the sixth thanks to an RBI single from Kaleb Merck.

Stephen Krolick got the start and the win for Keller as he went four innings, giving up five hits and the two first-inning Farmers runs.

The wide margin of victory allowed Keller coach Rob Stramp to give some playing time to a greater portion of his deep roster. Over the final three innings, Keller sent five pinch hitters to the plate, and Matt Rose, Chris Pearson and Kevin Stephens all got an inning of work in on the mound.

Keller moves on to the Class 5A Region I area round where it will face Dallas Jesuit next weekend.

Fossil Ridge 5, Wichita Falls Rider 2

The Panthers closed out the two-game sweep of its 4A Region I bi-district matchup with a 5-2 victory in Wichita Falls on Saturday afternoon.

Ridge posted a 5-0 lead thanks to a four-run fifth inning and held on for the victory as the Raiders scored a run in each of the last two innings.

Kyle Estill got the win for the Panthers.

Fossil Ridge will take on District 7-4A champion Arlington Heights next weekend in the 4A Region I area round.