Pirates sailing to State baseball playoffs

by Michelle Dillon michelle@thecherokeean.com

After splitting wins in the first two games with LaPoynor, 12-2 and 3-13, the Wells Pirates slid past the Flyers by a single run, 6-5, to win the third game and the series, sending the Pirates to State.

In a win or go home situation, the Pirates (16-8) will face the New Home Leopards (19-2), from the Lubbock area, in the state semifinal.

The game will take place beginning at 9 a.m. at Dell Diamond in Round Rock Wednesday, June 5.

The Pirates are designated as the visiting team.

The second game in the semifinal round will be played between D’Hanis (23-4) and Dodd City (19-5) and is set to begin at 12 p.m., also at Dell Diamond.

The winner of this game, should Wells claim victory over New Home, will be the Pirates’ opponent in the State Championship game slated for 9 a.m. Thursday, June 6.

Wells defeated LaPoynor in game three in a surprising but simple finish.

The game was tied at five runs each with two outs, basses loaded and Jakari Hadnot in the batter’s box.

Standing at the plate, Hadnot was hit by a pitch. The walk-off gave Wells the game and series win, as well as the Class A Region 3 championship.

Hadnot, Logan Tucker and Kaleb Parnell teamed up on the mound to defeat LaPoynor. Hadnot posted five strikeouts in three innings of work.

Tucker fanned two in three-and-a-half innings. Parnell also struck out two in an inning-and-a-half.

The team managed only two hits in game two, off the bats of Logan Tucker and Jackson Scroggins, but slugged eight balls in game three.

The seven errors of game two were not repeated, as Wells played a clean game defensively in the final round of the series.

Of the Pirates’ 15-man roster, six are seniors, including Garrett Allen, Tanner Glover, Jakari Hadnot, Dillon Manning, Jackson Scroggins and Logan Tucker.

They, along with the rest of the team, will represent Wells in the first ever trip to state playoffs for the school.

Wells’ head coach Joe Tarrant said, “All year long I have said to the kids, ‘Why not us?’

“I am super excited for these kids. They are making history for Wells ISD. Win or lose, these kids will have a special place in our hearts.”