Never-Quit Tigers Take District Title

The up-and-down season for the Wills Point Tiger baseball team ended on an up Tuesday when the team won a district championship.

The Tigers refused to give up after a heartbreaking loss to district-leading Royse City last Tuesday night, and two Tiger wins, coupled with a pair of Royse City losses to end the season, brought the title home to Wills Point.

While Wills Point was winning over Commerce (17-7) and Community (17-4), Royse City dropped the final two to Quinlan and Rains.

Wills Point was assured of a playoff spot after the win over Community on Tuesday night, but later learned of the extra-innings loss by Royse City that gave Wills Point the title.

"It’s exciting for our kids," said head coach Jeff Timmons. "Our kids competed well and got better every week. They were excited to make the playoffs, but even more excited to be district champs."

The young Tiger team, which played 11 underclassmen, including three freshmen starters, finished district with an 8-2 record, one game ahead of Royse City. Wills Point now awaits the winner of Castleberry and West.

"Having the (first-round) bye is huge," Timmons said. "It gives us a chance to work on some things, and to scout other teams. But it also takes the pressure off during the TAKS testing week."

The first-round games will be played the weekend of May 3, after the week of testing, with the second-round games following a week later.

Two nights after the 10-9 loss to Royse City, Wills Point hosted Commerce and took a 4-1 first inning lead. Commerce scored four in the second to take a one-run lead, but the Tigers tied in the bottom half of the inning.

Singles by Brett Bradshaw and Kiefer Davis starter the third off for Wills Point, and after Austin Bardin walked and Garrett Kinney was hit by a pitch, Colton Newton hit a three-run triple. Jayce Oldacre singled Newton home and Wills Point led 10-5.

Commerce closed to within 10-7, but would get no closer, as Wills Point scored two in the bottom of the sixth. Davis, Bardin, Kinney and Oldacre all had two-hit nights, with Kinney and Bardin each hitting a double.

Jace Ellis had a three-hit, five-RBI night against Community, including a double.

Marshall Head and Newton each had two-hit nights, and the two combined with Connor McPherson for the win,