Last week in the Region I-4A quarterfinals the Iowa Park Hawks had to take it one at a time, hoping for a Game 3 shot at Abilene Wylie.
But after a big-time rally Wednesday night in Game 1 the Hawks one one win away from the final eight, and the Region I-4A final. And they'd be just fine skipping past a Game 3 hurdle this week despite a 4-0 mark in elimination games in 2018.
Iowa Park (29-4) rallied from a 4-0 deficit to beat Bushland 6-5 in Game 1 and will try to earn a spot in the regional finals against either Godley or Denver City with a win Friday at Lubbock Christian University. Game 2 is set for 2 p.m.
Pitching has been a key to success but so has sustained offensive rallies that can start anywhere in the order. Trent Green and Justin Thornhill have been the top hitters in the playoffs at .421. Green was 3-for-3 in Game 1 with three RBIs. All five RBIs in the game came from the bottom three places in the order.
Thornhill, the catcher, has a team-best eight RBIs in eight playoff games. Green and Derek Hostas each have seven and Noah Diaz has six. Six players have scored five or more runs led by Diaz with seven.
The Hawks have scored 54 runs (6.75) without the benefit of a home run. And they've had just one triple.
And the team has remained aggressive on the bases. Seven players have stolen a base in the playoffs. Diaz has six and Logan Kimbro has three. The Hawks are 14 of 18 on steal attempts in the playoff run.
On the mound Friday the Hawks have good fresh options in Derek Hostas (8-2, 0.91 ERA) and Braxton Briones (8-1, 2.65). Briones has wins in the past two rounds.
I-4A quarterfinals: Iowa Park wins two Saturday, takes series from Wylie