McKinney North’s Connor Leos called the situation he was in on Thursday scary. Fortunately for Leos and his team he overcame his fear and led the Bulldogs to something they have been outstanding at lately: winning close postseason games.
Leos drove in what would eventually be the winning run and got out of a bases-loaded jam to pick up a save as North edged Midlothian 6-5 in eight innings to take Game 1 of the best-of-three Class 5A Division I Region II final series at Dallas Baptist University’s Horner Ballpark. Leos’ RBI-single to right capped a three-run top of the eighth for North, following a run-scoring fielder’s choice by Aidan Vensal and Gage Bradley scoring on a wild pitch.
Leos moved from first base to the pitching mound after pinch runner Ben Webber scored on a fielding error and Midlothian loaded the bases in the bottom of the eighth. After Michael Gray drew a run-scoring walk, Leos regrouped to get Talan Taffee to ground out to first to end the game.
“The RBI will probably stick with me more. I’ve been in a little bit of a slump. I’ve just haven’t been hitting lately, and I wanted to help my team out,” Leos said. “After I threw the walk I just settled down and let him hit it. I trust my defense. They’ve been great all year long.”
North (18-12-1), which was 9-12-1 after a 2-1 loss to Melissa on April 17, improved to 7-0 in the playoffs this season with six victories by three runs or less. North is one win away from its first state semifinal appearance since 2006. Midlothian (22-12-1) dropped to 6-2 in the postseason.
“We’re all best friends and we just don’t want to go home,” Leos said. “We want to play on this team as long as possible.”
Midlothian tied up the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the sixth when Alec Reyes sliced a two-out, two-run triple down the right-field line with North right fielder Aidan Vensal just missing making a diving catch.
North took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second on a two-run single to center by Cohen Broussard.
Midlothian cut that lead in half in the third as Jayden Blackmon doubled to left and came home on a Michael Gray sacrifice fly to center. North got its lead back to two runs in the fifth on a two-out, RBI single to left by Brady Shelton.
Brooks Nelson pitched seven innings for the win, allowing three earned runs, five hits and five walks while striking out four. Shelton, a Navarro College commit, finished 2 for 4 at the plate.
Dylan Dick, a Vernon College commit, took the loss, allowing four earned runs and seven hits. Dick and Blackmon had two hits apiece.
Game 2 is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday at Horner Ballpark.
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