The Aubrey Chaparrals baseball team rolled through the area round of the playoffs, completing their sweep of the Godley Wildcats with a 10-5 win May 8.
The two teams met at Haltom City High School Field, where the Chaps took Game 1 in a closely contested matchup, 5-4, on May 7, before closing out the series with an offensive showcase in Game 2.
“Coming into it we knew it would be a good matchup, and I’m really proud of the way our kids came out, especially after the highs of last week,” Aubrey head baseball coach Nathan Henry said. “After the highs of last week, we talked about not getting too high or too low. To play this game well, you have to be consistent … but I'm super proud of the way our guys prepared all week and got the job done in two [games].”
Aubrey struck first in Game 1 when a line drive single to right field hit by Colton Billings allowed Jimmy Hay to cross home plate, putting the Chaps up 1-0 in the top of the second inning.
The two teams traded outs until Godley moved in front with a 4-run burst in the bottom of the fifth inning, taking a 4-1 lead.
The Chaps were able to cut the Wildcats’ lead to 2 runs when Billings picked up his second RBI, driving in Sebastian Marin in the top of the sixth inning.
Godley maintained its lead as the game entered the final inning of play until Aubrey catcher Diego Tagliaferro tied the score at 4 with a two-run home run in the top of the seventh inning.
“Going into that at bat, I was 0-3, so I was just looking to barrel up the ball,” he said. “… The pitcher threw me the pitch that every high school kid wishes for when you’re losing by two with a runner on in the playoffs—the middle fastball. I was blessed to have that opportunity, and I didn’t miss it this time.”
The Chaps completed their comeback when Keriel Torres hit a single that drove in baserunner Dane Buck, putting Aubrey back on top 5-4, which the Chaps held to take Game 1.
The Chaps used the momentum from their Game 1 win to take control of Game 2 when shortstop Luke Hellman hit a 2-run homer in the bottom of the first inning, giving Aubrey an early 2-0 lead.
Hellman homered again in the bottom of the third inning, sparking a 5-run barrage that extended Aubrey’s lead to 8-0.
“I knew [the pitcher] was going to throw off-speed, and he just left it hanging in my second at-bat,' Hellman said. “My first at bat he just threw me an inside fastball, and I just turned on it, but getting us started and keeping the energy high helps everyone play better and helps us get hits throughout the lineup.”
Godley responded with a 3-run burst of their own in the top of the fifth inning, making it a 5-run game.
Both teams added 2 runs over the final two innings, but Aubrey held on to win Game 2, 10-5, and take the series.
Hay earned the Game 2 win for the Chaps with 4 strikeouts, allowing 9 hits and 4 earned runs over seven innings.
“[The team’s trust] means a lot to me,” he said. “It makes me feel like I help the team a lot, and I can’t let them down.”
Aubrey was scheduled to begin its regional semi-final series against the Sunnyvale Raiders on Thursday.
The results of which were not available by press time.
Game 2 is scheduled for Friday at 7 p.m. and Game 3, if necessary, at noon Saturday, all at Al Alford Field in McKinney.
