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(ALEX HAVARDANKSY | THE GRAHAM LEADER) The Graham Steers hold their area champs banner and trophy Friday, May 9. The Steers defeated the FW Castleberry Lions 7-3 in the second round. -
(ALEX HAVARDANKSY | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Mike Garcia attempts a bunt Friday, May 9 against the FW Castleberry Lions. Garcia scored on a wild pitch to give Graham a 3-0 lead. -
(ALEX HAVARDANKSY | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Tripp Mahaney stands ready at the plate Friday, May 9 against the FW Castleberry Lions. Mahaney kicked off the scoring for Graham on a bases loaded walk. -
(ALEX HAVARDANKSY | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Ryder Taylor up on the mound again in the Steers second round matchup Friday, May 9 against the FW Castleberry Lions. Taylor was once again solid not surrendering any runs. -
(ALEX HAVARDANKSY | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Tanner Hurford up at the plate Friday, May 9 against the FW Castleberry Lions. Hurford has been a consistent presence at second base for the Steers this season.
Graham is advancing once again in the postseason. The Steers defeated the FW Castleberry Lions 7-3 in their one game win-or-go-home showdown.
Right from the jump the Steers were locked in. Senior Pitcher Ryder Taylor once again brought his A-game.
Taylor managed to get out of some high pressure situations early such as stranding runners on the corners with a strikeout to end the top of the second and keep things knotted at zero.
Bruin Wright also flashed the leather in center field, throwing out a potential scoring runner from the Lions at home in the top of the third.
The Steers really started to pour on runs and cushion their lead in the bottom of the third. However, they did this in a very unconventional way.
The team totaled five runs in the inning, but accomplished this without a single base hit. A bevy of quality walks kept the bases loaded and scored multiple runs to really open things up.
Tripp Mahaney kicked off the scoring by drawing the first walk, scoring pinch runner Levi Jilek. Tanner Hurford was then hit by a pitch, scoring Harison Brockway.
Mike Garcia then stole home on a wild pitch to make it a 3-0 game. Wright drew another walk to make it 4-0 and Mason Milton drew the final run of the inning on the only contact play with a sacrifice fly into right field.
“The guys were disciplined at the plate,” Head coach Allen McGee said. “If they're going to throw us balls then we've got to be unselfish and take them.”
The Steers did run into some trouble in the top of the seventh. Graham was leading 7-0 and things seemed all but wrapped up for the Steers, but FW Castleberry gave it their best effort at a comeback.
The team put together disciplined at bats of their own to load the bases and put three runs on the board. However, the Steers refocused and the combo of Wright and Garcia came in relief to close things out and send Graham to the next round of the postseason.
The team will once again wait and see who they'll be facing next.
