Boyd rallies for walk-off, heartbreaking win against Maypearl in 3A state semifinal

By Travis M. Smith | Ellis County Sports

ROUND ROCK — Three outs were recorded between the following two photos. Four runs were scored, too. Unfortunately, the two freeze-framed captures of emotion perfectly tell the tale of how Friday morning unfolded during the 3A state semifinal baseball championship between (30-10) Maypearl and (39-5) Boyd at Dell Diamond in Round Rock. 

Absolute heartbreak. So how’d it happen?

Maypearl built a 5-0 lead through the first 4.5 innings behind a strong start on the bump by ace Tanner Terry (12-0, 1.35 ERA). The Panthers scored one run in the second and third innings and then hung a three-spot in the top of the fifth. Terry highlighted the crooked frame with a single through the right side of the infield to plate Cole and Cord Rager, respectively. A well-timed suicide squeeze by Morgan Brooks later plated courtesy runner Ryder Merritt from third base for a 5-0 Panther lead.

It felt at that time like the deficit was insurmountable. Maypearl was rolling on offense and had its ace mowing down any Yellowjacket who dared step into the batter’s box. Baseball, unfortunately, has a cruel way of humbling those on top. 

Having thrown 11 consecutive no-hit innings dating back to his no-hitter in the 3A Region III championship, Terry hit quite the rough patch in the bottom of the fifth. 

The senior hurler walked three of the first four Boyd batters, sandwiching two on the back half of a Houston McIntire strikeout. Boyd’s Colton Patton put the Yellowjackets on the board with a 2-run single to left field. The Boyd right fielder advanced to second on a throwing error to put runners on second and third with one out.

Aaron McGilvery grounded out to Brooks at second base for an RBI fielder’s choice. Patton scored a few pitches later on a wild pitch to pull the Yellowjackets within one run, 5-4. 

Terry exited having allowed 4 runs (3 earned) on three hits, four walks, a hit-by-pitch and a wild pitch with four strikeouts over 4.1IP. 

Maypearl closer Baley Ray came on in relief and — following a walk and wild pitch — recorded the final two outs of the fifth inning.

The Panthers were retired quietly in the top of the sixth inning, while the Yellowjackets struck again in their half.

Boyd third baseball Aidan LeMasters led off the inning with a double to left-center field. He advanced to third on a groundout to second base and scored a few pitches later to tie the game at 5-all when first baseman Case Ferguson singled into left field.

Ol’ Lady Mo(mentum) had clearly shifted from the first-base dugout to the Yellowjackets’ third-base party as the game entered the seventh inning.

Cord Rager led off the Maypearl half of the seventh with a triple laced down the third-base line. Terry then walked and stole second to put Panthers on second and third with no outs in a tie ballgame.

Tyson Brooks laid down a safety-squeeze bunt that failed to leave the dirt around the home plate circle but beat the throw to first base to load the bases. 

A wild pitch plated Rager from third for a 6-5 Maypearl lead — which is when the first photo above was taken. Momentum was back in the dugout of the Panthers. Isaiah Munguia then singled to right field to score Terry for a 7-5 Panther lead. 

Three outs stood between the Panthers and the program’s first-ever trip to the state championship game. Maypearl previously reached the 2A state semifinals in 2005. 

Walk. Single. Bunt back to Rager on the mound with no one home at first. Sac fly to centerfield. LeMasters earned his Player of the Game award with a 2-run single through the left side with the infield in for an 8-7 walk-off win for the Boyd Yellowjackets in their first-ever trip to the state tournament.

Maypearl finished the season with a program-best 30 wins (30-10) after advancing to the state semifinals for the second time in program history (2005, 2023). Sophomore catcher Tyson Brooks tied the Class 3A single-game state tournament record with four hits. His 4-for-4 performance matches Milton Conwright (Ore City, 1979), Jared Barton (Weimar, 1997), Griffin Paxton (West, 2016), Eddie Calzoncit (Blanco, 2019), Bryson Adair (Malakoff, 2021) and Jayden Martinez (Corpus Christi London, 2022). 

Brooks joins 2005 Maypearl graduate Charlie Cornwell in the state tournament record books. Cornwell is the lone player in Class 3A (then 2A) with two doubles in a single tournament game.

Hats off, Panthers. You all made Ellis County proud.

Full box score and exclusive photo gallery below. 

Score by Innings                  R  H  E
-----------------------------------------
Maypearl............ 011 030 2 -  7 13  2
Boyd................ 000 041 3 -  8  8  1
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PHOTO GALLERY

All photos by Cade Flory/Ellis County Sports

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Travis M. Smith | @Travis5mith

tsmith@elliscosports.com