ABILENE – Just as all dreams must come to an end, so did the Greenwood Rangers dream season on Saturday with a loss to Stephenville in the Region I-4A semifinal round at Crutcher Scott Field in Abilene.
In Game 1 of the Best of Three series, Greenwood took an early 2-1 lead in the second inning. Dylan Dominguez had found his way to third base when B Finch came to the plate. Finch struck go down swinging on three stirkes but he was not out. The Yellowjackets catcher dropped the pitch giving Finch the opportunity to run to first. Finch beat out the throw and Dominguez raced home for the Rangers first score.
Two batters later, Hudson Grace lined a single to right field scoring Finch and putting Greenwood up 2-1.
Stephenville tied the game in the bottom of the fourth and posted four runs to the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth for a 6-2 lead.
The Rangers would get one more run in the sixth inning when S Morrow came home on an errant throw to first making the final tally 6-3.
Jaxon Ramos took the loss for Greenwood Rangers. The righthander went four innings, allowing six runs (three earned) on three hits and striking out three.
Greenwood tallied seven hits in the game. Grace and Ramos collected multiple hits for Greenwood while Grace led Greenwood with three hits in four at bats.
In Game 2, the Rangers fell behind early and couldn't come back in a 9-2 loss.
The Rangers first score was a Ramos single to left field that scored Grace in the third inning.
Then in the fifth inning, Ramos doubled on a line drive to left field bringing Rance Purser around to score Greenwood’s second run.
Toby Delk led things off on the hill for Greenwood. He went two and a third innings, allowing eight runs (seven earned) on eight hits, striking out two and walking one. Ty Presley and Purser entered the game as relief, throwing three and two-thirds innings and one inning respectively.
The Rangers collected six hits on the day. Purser and Ramos each two hits to lead the team.
Stephenville moves on to play Canyon Randell in the Class 4A Region I Finals.
Game 1 is Thursday at 7 p.m. at Christensen Stadium in Midland.
Game 2 will be Friday at 11 a.m. in Greenwood and Game 3, if necessary, will follow 30 minutes after Game 2.