Liberty-Eylau triumphs over Pleasant Grove in series finale

TEXARKANA, TX  (KTAL/KMSS) — On Thursday, Libery-Eylau and Pleasant Grove faced off for the third and final time of the season, going into the day with the series tied 1-1.

Both teams find themselves highly ranked, the Hawks no. 2 in 4A, the Leopards no. 1 in 3A. In Texas High School Baseball’s top 25 in all of Texas, Pleasant Grove currently sits at no. 21, Liberty-Eylau at no. 22.

Thursday’s game lived up to the promise of a competitive baseball game, with the game ultimately coming down to one inning.

Top of the third, Pleasant Grove’s Ty Boozer had his sights set on stealing third. Leopard Gabe Jarvis behind the plate tried to get the out, overthrowing Britain Pipes at third, allowing Boozer to make it all the way home for the first run of the day.

That same play bumped Walker Wright over to third, so when a pitch went past Jarvis, Wright had the opportunity to steal home and give the Hawks a 2-0 advantage.

The Leopards were ready to answer. With two runners on base, no bunts Eli Jarvis showed bunt. The Hawks overthrew one, getting Arian Taylor home. Pipes thought about heading home but with another Pleasant Grove overthrow to the plate, Pipes got in safely. A simple bunt turned into two RBI, put Jarvis at third, and tied the game, 2-2.

Shortly after, Ziven Banks, in to run for Jarvis, stole home putting the Leopards up 3-2.

Both teams cleaned up their play for the rest of the game, leaving it with the final score of 3-2. Liberty-Eylau gave Pleasant Grove only its second loss of the season, the first coming back in March, also to the Leopards.

“That’s high school baseball at its finest,” head coach Zach Fowler said. “When two good teams play somebody’s gonna fold a little bit, today they made one more mistake and we were able to take advantage of it.”

Dylan Nabors was on the mound for the entire game for Liberty-Eylau.

“He’s a competitor on the mound, and that’s all he cared about was winning the game,” Fowler said. “He stayed focused on that and I’m proud of that kid for sure.”

As a senior, Nabors has seen the Pleasant Grove and Liberty-Eylau rivalry develop more and more over the last few years so this win meant even more.

“They’ve been our rival for years now and just coming out here and this being the last time that me and the rest of our seniors get to face them, it feels good,” Nabors said. “It feels really good.”

After facing Hooks Monday and Pleasant Grove  Thursday, the Leopards busy week continues as they gear up to play at Atlanta on Friday, April 11. First pitch is set for 7 pm.

As for the Hawks they get back in action on Saturday, April 12 as they host the Carthage Bulldogs. First pitch is set for 4 pm.