When Michael Killian stepped up to the plate, his mother couldn’t watch.
Samantha Killian rose from her seat and retreated behind the brick wall, her stomach churning. It wasn’t illness or bad food — it was the unbearable pull between her son and husband.
The feeling had gnawed at her all week. On one side of the field stood her son, Michael, a starting outfielder for Flower Mound Marcus. On the other, her husband, Mike Killian, head coach of Trophy Club Byron Nelson. Their teams faced off Saturday in a winner-take-all Game 3 of their Class 6A Division II regional semifinal series.
In the end, Marcus defeated Byron Nelson, 7-6, in front of a crowd that included multiple family members.
High School Sports
“I hope my son enjoyed it as much as I did,” Mike said. “Sitting there watching him play is one thing, but now you’re in the opposing dugout and you got to do your best to get him out.”
Related:House divided: Byron Nelson father and Flower Mound Marcus son meet in baseball playoffs
While Samantha agonized over the series, her daughter, Lexi, had no such conflict.
Lexi, Michael’s older sister, rooted for her father — and didn’t feel guilty about it. She wanted Byron Nelson to win Games 1 and 3, she admitted, though she hoped her brother’s team would take Game 2 to prolong the action.
Mike said this is all a part of their sibling rivalry.
“I can see that, but I mean she said she rooted for me when I was at the plate and then my dad whenever I wasn’t, so it’s okay with me,” said a smiling Michael.
Samantha Killian and her daughter, Lexi, attended the Flower Mound Marcus vs. Trophy Club Byron Nelson game at Dallas Baptist University in support of their family. Samantha was there to cheer on her son, Michael Killian, who plays for Marcus, and her husband, Mike Killian, the head coach at Byron Nelson.(Ronald Harrod)
After the game, Samantha walked up to Mike and embraced him for about 20 seconds before wiping her tears away.
Michael said she’s had a tough week.
“I try to comfort her and be with her as much as I can,” Michael said. “At least she gets to watch us play in Round 4, so hopefully that will just lighten the mood a little bit.”
But Samantha had her in-laws there to help console her. Jennifer Killian, Michael’s grandmother and Mike’s mother, wore a “House Divided” shirt with Killian on the back in red and both Marcus and Byron Nelson in their respective team colors.
She didn’t root for anyone to win, but she wanted her grandson to have a good day at the plate.
Michael and Jennifer Killian attended the Flower Mound Marcus vs. Trophy Club Byron Nelson game at Dallas Baptist University to support their son and grandson.(Ronald Harrod)
Even though Michael didn’t register a hit in four at-bats, his team picked him up. In the bottom of the fifth inning, Ryan San Miguel, who finished 2 for 3, hit a two-run triple that helped Marcus extend its lead to 7-3.
Marcus’ Jameson Mayfield and Rock Duer each collected two hits. Mayfield added three walks and two RBIs.
Marcus will face Southlake Carroll in the 6A Division II regional final after winning the series.
“It will be really competitive, good games,” Michael said. “We have to get after them.”
Saturday games
Lovejoy 1, Midlothian Heritage 0: Midlothian Heritage couldn’t recover from an early deficit and fell 1-0 to Lovejoy.
Reed Blakely hit a sacrifice fly in the first inning to score Logan Corley, a TCU pledge, with the game’s only run. Corley also recorded a hit and a walk.
Reese Ogden had the only other hit for Lovejoy, which was outhit by Heritage 4-3.
Lovejoy pitcher Asher Lacy struck out two and allowed four hits and two walks without surrendering a run.
The Game 3 victory sends Lovejoy to the Class 5A Region II final, where it will face Frisco Wakeland.
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