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Tournaments  | Story  | 7/10/2021

Dallas Tigers Win By Any Means Necessary

Matthew Welsh     
Photo: Perfect Game
MARIETTA, Ga. -- The Dallas Tigers extended their unbeaten run in the 17u WWBA Championship after edging the Ontario Blue Jays, 5-3, in come-from-behind fashion early Friday morning. 
 
Although the win, which at the time was against a fellow undefeated opponent, was impressive in its own right, how the Tigers rallied to score three runs in the game’s final frame, was arguably more eye-opening. 
 
“I knew they were 3-0, and we wanted to jump on them early,” said shortstop and Texas Tech commit Travis Sanders. “The past couple of games, we’ve been jumping on teams early, and it’s worked out for us. So I knew if we just keep the pressure on and kept the pedal to the metal, then we’d be able to come out with a win.”
 
The Tigers did just that, opening the scoring with two runs in the top of the second inning. Baylor commits Caleb Bergman and Walker Polk delivered back-to-back one-out singles in the inning to give the visitors two eventual baserunners on second and third base after a wild pitch. Then righty Jacob Lang stepped to the box and knocked a line drive single to left field that plated the game’s first two runs.
 
Like many of this weekend’s top offensive performers, Lang abides by a simplified batting strategy, based on hitting the fastball when in scoring situations. 
 
“I didn't want to be late on the fastball, and made sure that I didn’t miss it,” Lang said. “I just shortened up with two strikes and was able to put it in play. We executed in key situations, and I think that was a big part of our win today. You always have to just come through and execute.”
 
Still, the Blue Jays proved a team up to the task, and in the bottom of the second they answered with a run of their own, and continued to hold the Tigers to one run through the next three innings. 
 
It was in the bottom of the fifth that the Blue Jays took advantage of a leadoff walk and two doubles from Jackson Somerville and Alex Ellert, to take a 3-2 lead entering the sixth. That momentum even carried through a scoreless top of the sixth, giving the Tigers only three outs to fight for their tournament lives. 
 
“We know we can always scratch a run within one swing of the bat,” Sanders said. “Everyone on this team is capable of hitting home runs, so we just knew that it was only one run, and that we could change it real fast.”
 
Dallas, in turn, cashed in a leadoff hit-by-pitch in the seventh. And after a sac bunt, Taylon Laxson singled home the tying run with two outs still on the board. The Tigers’ pressure in the final inning was unrelenting, and two more runners scored after a fielding error from the pitcher and passed ball, giving Dallas all the insurance needed to win the game. 
 
Although not the prettiest game, the nationally-ranked squad from Texas will take a win at a tournament of this statute, especially against a pool rival, any way they can get it. And with only two more games before playoffs, the Tigers, to this point, have given themselves the best possible chance to advance. 
 
“I feel like it just gives us the confidence, and that the ball is on our side. And I think that if they do punch us back, we know that we can always respond to it,” said Sanders.
 
The Tigers' next two games are Saturday at 11:30 AM against the East Coast Royals and Sunday at 9 AM against Team Ohio Pro Select. Another two wins would guarantee them a berth on this year’s bracket play stage. 
 
“We have two more games, and we can’t take them lightly,” Sanders said. “They’re still good baseball teams, and anything can happen, so we just want to go out there and compete, play a good seven innings of baseball, hopefully get some ‘W’s,’ and then move on to bracket play. We want to see how far we can make it in this tournament.”
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