Nondistrict: Wylie finished its nondistrict play with an impressive 8-3 record.
“We had some ups and downs, but they worked hard and improved,” Coach Clay Martin said.
District: The Bulldogs cruised through district undefeated and entered the playoffs with a 16-3 record.
Bi-district against Wichita Falls Hirschi:
Game 1: Mack Mueller pitched a no-hitter. Wylie had 16 hits and won 14-0 in a game that ended on the run rule. Mueller and Payton Stokes each hit two doubles and Bryce Gist, Matt Lovelace, John Paul Tople, Cooper Hedge, Blake Johnston and Jaxson Money each hit one double. Zach Smith hit a triple.
Game 2: As if the first game was not dominating enough, Wylie had 20 hits in the second game and won 25-0 in another game ended on the run rule. Cooper Hedge hit a solo home run. Zach Smith, Jaxson Money, Mack Mueller, Riley Hedge and Conner Carlton each hit doubles.
Area Round against Kennedale
Game 1: 4-1 win. Mueller and Hutton Frazier combined for a no-hitter, while Payton Stokes and Lane Bourland hit doubles.
2nd game: 6-1 win over Kennedale in which Bryce Gist and Hutton Frazier combined for nine strikeouts, and Wylie had 10 hits including a home run by Mack Mueller.
Regional Quarterfinals against Iowa Park:
Game 1: Wylie took on the Number 1 team in the state and won 4-1 in a pitching duel between both teams’ aces. Riley Hedge and John Paul Tople hit doubles. Zach Smith had a triple.
Hedge said hitting that two run double will always be a highlight of the year for him.
“It was even more special because we had come from behind, and this occurred in extra innings.”
Game 2: Wylie won 5-0, and Freshman Connor Carlton started on the mound and pitched into the 7th inning. Hutton Frazier came in and got the final two outs. Jaxson Money hit a double.
Regional Semifinals against Bushland:
Game 1: Wylie was tied 1-1 in the 6th inning and had the bases loaded with two outs. Jaxson Money hit a three RBI triple to lead Wylie to the 4-1 win.
Game 2: The Bulldogs fell behind in the game when Bushland brought in a run in the first inning, but the Bulldogs answered right back with four runs in the first and never looked back. Matt Lovelace hit a double, and Bryce Gist hit a triple en route to a 10-2 win.
Regional Finals against Venus:
Game 1: Wylie had 13 hits in the game including a triple by Payton Stokes and doubles by Mueller, Bryce Gist, Matt Lovelace and Riley Hedge. The Bulldogs won 8-2.
Game 2: Venus scored all five of its runs in the 2nd inning when Wylie made a few rare mistakes. Wylie walked 11 batters in the game. Stokes hit a double and Smith hit a triple as Wylie lost 2-5.
Game 3: 8-2. Hutton Frazier struck out 7 and allowed four hits in five innings. Wylie finished with 12 hits as a team. Mac Mueller had three hits while Lane Bourland added two.
“The highlight of the season for me was the final out against Venus, when we realized we had qualified for state, and we leaped into the ‘DAWG-pile,” said Bryan Gist. “I’ll never forget that.”