HUNTSVILLE – Opportunity knocked throughout a series-deciding third game of the Class 2A Division II state semifinal for Burton to take a lead and see state dreams come true.
No clutch hit came for the Panthers. Meanwhile, Overton needed just one big chance late to break the game open and pave its path to the state championship game.
After winning Game 2 of the series 6-0, Burton (23-12) dropped Game 3 to Overton (31-7) 4-1 to see its season come to an end at Sam Houston’s Don Sanders Stadium.
Thursday’s efforts brought Burton’s deepest playoff run since its last state title in 1987 to a close in a hard-fought doubleheader.
“The kids have come such a long way from the beginning of the year to now,” said Burton coach Matt Thaler. “They are young and they made some strides, so I could not be more proud of them.”
Overton opened the scoring in Game 3 off of a passed ball in the second inning.
Burton proceeded to work itself into multiple prime scoring chances after allowing the one run. The Panthers put runners on the corners, but a double play for the Mustangs thanks to great defensive work from shortstop Mason Rowe ended the opportunity.
One of two Overton errors in the fourth followed by a walk from sophomore Eli Jaeger again put two runners on the bases for Burton. But, a strikeout and a ground ball right to Mustang third baseman Brody Brown again left the Panthers seeking an elusive run.
Burton picked up an even better chance in the fifth. Singles from freshman Matt Roemer and sophomore Tyler Witt along with Ryder Biggs being hit by a pitch in a two-out spot loaded the bases for center fielder Rueben Rodriguez. He flew out to left field to end another prime chance.
Two more runners reached base in the sixth inning as Jaeger picked up his third walk of the game and senior Brady Griffin was hit by a pitch. Two straight groundouts to Rowe, though, left Burton without a run.
“That is something I harp on and you got to score runs,” Thaler said. “When runners are in scoring position, we got to get them in.”
All of the missed opportunities left pitcher Ryder Biggs throwing to keep his team close against the Mustangs. He allowed two singles in the bottom of the sixth, but worked into a two-out situation and induced a fly ball to Rodriguez in center field.
Throughout both games Thursday, Rodriguez was a reliable fielder in the outfield. On this occasion, though, he misplayed the ball and saw it sail over his head on a leaping attempt to make a play.
Thaler said with the day changing to night, Rodriguez may have lost the ball in changing lighting conditions.
“I think he just misplayed it because I think a lot of it had to do with that little light,” the coach said. “He played a great games in the outfield, so we are still proud of him.”
Overton catcher Bryce Still benefitted, coming around for a three-run, inside the park home run to give the Mustangs a critical 4-0 lead.
Rodriguez’s mistake put a damper on an otherwise efficient defensive game in center field. He recorded eight putouts throughout both of Thursday’s games, including three putouts in the series-decider.
It also put a damper on an efficient game for Biggs, who worked hard through a complete game to give the Panthers chances to come back. He allowed 10 hits, but just one walk while recording four strikeouts.
“He did phenomenal just keeping it close and always being there,” Thaler said. “He does not get as many starts as those other two guys (Witt and Jaeger), but (he did a) great job.”
Burton did get a run in the seventh after opening the inning with singles from Witt and freshman Coy Gurka. After Jaeger earned another walk, catcher Braydon Martin flew out to left field to end the game and Burton’s playoff run.
“It was a tough loss at the end because they are all young,” Thaler said. “(They will) learn from it, come back and work hard next year.”
Game 2 – Burton 6, Overton 0
Witt was given a 2-0 cushion to work with to start Thursday’s opening game. Though it would be all he needed in a complete-game, shutout performance, Burton’s bats tallied 11 hits to earn a 6-0 victory.
Rodriguez and Jaeger each earned two-out RBI singles in the opening frame to give Burton its early lead.
Witt had to defend the lead in a tough spot after an error, single and walk loaded the bases with no outs. He induced two line outs and earned the first of three strikeouts on the day to keep the Panthers’ lead intact.
Witt allowed just one hit the rest of the game, showing quality between a fastball in the high 70s to low 80s on the radar gun and an offspeed curveball reading in the upper 60s.
“Tyler and Biggs (in Game 3), they did a great job pounding the zone,” Thaler said. “Tyler’s offspeed starting working late in the game.”
He continued to gain run support throughout the game thanks to two more big innings.
Burton struck again in the fifth inning through a repeating sequence. Witt opened the inning with a triple into left field, good for his second hit of the afternoon. Gurkha brought him in on an RBI groundout.
Ryder Biggs then put another triple into left field after fouling off two pitches. Rodriguez may not have hit a ground ball, but a sacrifice fly brought Biggs home to extend the Panthers’ lead to 4-0.
Key insurance runs came home in the seventh inning. Rodriguez and Jaeger put back-to-back singles into the outfield to push Burton’s lead to six runs.
Jaeger’s hit was his third of the afternoon, good for just his second three-hit game of the season. Rodriguez, meanwhile, joined Biggs, Witt and freshman Issac Matthies in the two-hit club.
Thaler said his team saw the ball better in Thursday’s opening game, citing a left-handed pitcher for Overton in the series-decider that made seeing the ball a harder task.
Thaler said he will remember this year’s history-making team as a young, relaxed team which did not give up throughout the year and was fun to be around.
While most of Burton’s core will be back to try and defend its regional title in 2026, Griffin marks one of the lone departures from this year’s Panther team.
“It feels good for me and Brady and I know his family, so I could not be prouder about him, either,” Thaler said.
Originally published on brenhambanner.com, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange.