The Aubrey Chaparrals baseball team’s season came to an end Saturday, losing a best-of-three series against the Kennedale Wildcats two games to one.
The area championship series saw momentum swing back-and-forth between the two teams, with the Wildcats taking Game 1, 11-0, the Chaps winning Game 2, 5-3, and Kennedale winning Game 3, 7-5.
“They competed their tails off,” Aubrey head baseball coach Nathan Henry said. “We came out in Game 1 and got runruled, and we could have shown up the next day and just laid down, but they fought. They walked it off last night, and then for 80% of this game, we're in the lead and then have the blowup inning. That happens in high school baseball, but they never quit, and that's the story of this team and this program. No matter the challenge, if there are outs left to play, we're not going to quit or lay down, and I'm super proud of them for that.”
Kennedale controlled Game 1 from start to finish, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first, a sacrifi ce ground out by pitcher Jacob Villagomez, and a two-run line drive to left field from catcher Nathan Arber to take a 3-0 lead.
The Wildcats salted the game away with an eightrun burst in the bottom of the fourth inning, taking the victory, 11-0, after five innings.
The series shifted in Game 2, with Aubrey jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning.
Kennedale answered with a three-run burst in the top of the sixth inning, only to watch as Aubrey tied the game at 3 all in the same inning behind a line drive single from Chaps’ catcher Diego Tagliaferro.
Chaps’ third baseman Toby Davis sealed the win for Aubrey with a walk-off home run that drove in two runs, allowing the Chaps to take Game 2, 5-3.
Aubrey used the momentum from the Game 2 win to take a 5-1 lead in Game 3.
Kennedale turned the tables on Aubrey in the sixth inning with a triple by second baseman D.J. Darjean that drove in three runs, cutting the Chaps’ lead to 1.
The Wildcats took the lead after back-to-back errors from the Chaps defense allowed two more runs to score, putting Kennedale in front 6-5.
Kennedale would add another run in the seventh inning, taking Game 3, 7-5, and the series.
Henry tipped his cap to the toughness the Wildcats displayed when their backs were against the wall.
“[Kennedale] didn't quit either,” Henry said. “That show says a lot about their team. They didn't lay down when we scored those two [runs] to make it 5-1. They got some barrels on some baseballs and hit it where we weren’t.”
Henry said his postgame message focused on keeping their heads up despite the loss.
“I told them the score, and the result of this game doesn't define this team,” he said. “These kids have been fighting together for months, and it's a special team because they're so close. We had to turn over the roster this year with a lot of seniors graduating last year, and a lot of guys stepped up. We were able to find some sophomores and a couple of freshmen that played well above their age, and I just told them I was super proud of them.”
Henry thanked Aubrey ISD’s administration, booster club, parents and his assistant for all the hard work and support they contributed to the team this season.
