CRANE — Fort Hancock may have ended Forsan's baseball season Saturday, but if you made the trek to Crane to watch the best-of-three, regional quarterfinal series you'd doubtlessly agree it was worth the price of admission.
The Buffaloes roared back after an 8-0 Game One loss on Friday to pummel the Mustangs 11-0 in the second outing Saturday. But in a hard-fought Game Three, Fort Hancock edged Forsan, 9-8 to move on to the Region 1-2A semifinals.
Disappointed with the loss — as any coach would be — Forsan Manager Jason Phillips still enjoyed being a part of such an exciting duel.
GRAND PRAIRIE — Howard College's first order of business at the NJCAA Region V Tournament at QuikTrip Field was to find a way to win against No. 10 ranked Grayson College. The Hawks did just that, as they defeated the Vikings handily, 10-5.
After a 2-1 win over New Mexico Junior College and a 7-6 loss to Midland College, Howard was forced to face the Vikings, yet again.
This time, the Hawks found themselves on the receiving end of a 4-1 ballgame Tuesday — as well as eliminated from the postseason despite a solid effort by starting pitcher Diego Rodriguez and relief pitcher Blake Smith.
GRAND PRAIRIE — Again, Midland College is a thorn in Howard College's side.
The Hawks (37-22) were cruising at the NJCAA Region V Tournament, having defeated tough opponents in No. 10 Grayson College, then New Mexico Junior College in the first two rounds of play.
But an unearned run scored by the Chaparrals in the bottom of the ninth inning Monday led to a narrow 7-6 victory, sending the Hawks to the loser's bracket.
Forsan
CLYDE — Forsan have been playing lights-out baseball for the previous few weeks. Most recently, the Buffaloes eliminated rival Borden County from postseason play after a 6-5, extra-inning affair that lasted nearly four hours.
Forsan jumped on Borden early, racking up runs in the first two innings to take a 5-0 lead.
Undaunted, the Coyotes returned the favor in the sixth, scoring four to pull within a run. BC tied it up in the top of the seventh to send the game into overtime.
