Pleasant Grove victorious over Lindale in regional finals; advancing to semi-state

TEXARKANA, TX (KTAL/KMSS) – On Thursday, Pleasant Grove faced off against Lindale in game two of the regional finals, hoping to punch its ticket to the state semis. Although Lindale was on the board first, the Hawks fought back to win 3-1.

The Eagles took the lead off an RBI single in the top of the fourth. But the Hawks were ready with an answer.

Jace Elrod came up with a big double after hitting one down the left line. Hunter Rose up next, drilled a bomb over the right field wall, rounding the bags bringing Elrod with him for a 2-1 lead.

In the fifth, with Elrod at the plate, a wild pitch allowed Jarret Halter to come in from third and touch home.

The Hawks held the Eagles off for the rest of the game to secure their victory and ticket to semi state next week.

“They stay even keel, the whole team does. I don’t know how many times we played Lindale on the road, I don’t know if we’ve ever scored first, and it’s so it says so much about our team that they come back. They don’t get down. They stay the course,” head coach Riley Fincher said. “They expect great things to happen and sure am proud of them. That’s an outstanding team over there in Lindale. I mean, every time we play them it’s a battle, a lot of respect for their coach and their coaching staff, and just very excited for our team.”

The Hawks will play the winner of Mineral Springs and Seminole next week.