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The Broncos’ stellar baseball season came to an end at the hands of the Albany Lions in two games in the three-game series at Hays Field on the campus of Lubbock Christian University last week.

The Lions were able to win the first game 11-4 and took the second game 16-3. The Broncos advanced to the Regional Semi-Final game for the first time since 2016. They finished with a 21-7 overall record.

In game one last Thursday, the Broncos had a good showing in the early parts of the game according to head coach Yancy Molloy.

“I thought the boys played really well up until the fifth inning,” Molloy said. “We had a couple of things not go our way, and Albany was able to capitalize.”

After four innings, the Broncos only trailed by one run behind the pitching of senior Brock Hatley who threw for five innings, before leaving the mound to Wilson Ward for the remainder of the game.

Offensively, the Broncos were shut out until the fourth when Easton Frausto got ahold of a pitch for a single. Ward was able to knock down and RBI single and two RBI doubles by Jared Musick and Frausto to take the lead 4-1.

Albany was able to match the Broncos’ fifth inning runs to go back on top and this time for good to take the first win.

Frausto had a single, double, and two RBIs and Wilson had a single, an RBI, one run, and one stolen base. Jared Musick added a double, RBI, and one run. Overall, the Bronco team posted four runs and four RBIs with two stolen bases by Wilson and Lyric Smith.

Game two on Saturday was “win or go home” for the Broncos and despite playing hard, Clarendon was defeated 3-16. The Broncos struggled to get anything going in the second game, and the Lions came on strong. Harrison Howard was on the mound for four innings allowing 11 hits for 11 runs but threw three strikeouts. Senior Aiden Caudle came in for one and a half innings and had two strikeouts and allowed four hits and five runs.

Offensively, the Broncos’ bats were cold, and they were only able to score two runs by the fourth innings compared to 11 for Albany. The Broncos scored another in run in the fifth, but it was not enough to put any pressure on the Lions.

“This was a once in a lifetime team with once in a lifetime boys,” Molloy said. “There is something special about a group that gives you their all no matter the day or the situation. A team that doesn’t quit regardless of the odds, a team that leads by example, and (one) that boys everywhere should strive to emulate. These boys achieved incredible things day in and day out and we could not be more proud of you. To you seniors; go be awesome, we know you will.”

The Clarendon Bronco baseball team began the Regional Quarter-Final with a slow start in the opening game last week but rallied back in strong fashion to finish the best two out of three series as Champions.

They will take on Albany at Lubbock Christian University on Thursday, May 26 for the first game at 7 p.m., Saturday, May 28 for the second game and third if needed. The Broncos lost the first game of the series 1-9. Lockney was able to rally in the third inning to score four runs after neither team put runs on the scoreboard in the opening two innings. Brock Hatley was on the mound and uncharacteristically allowed the Longhorns to score another run in the fourth and four more in the fifth. Hatley walked three hitters while striking out two. Wilson Ward came in as relief in the middle of the fourth allowing one hit.

Offensively, the Broncos collected two hits and three stolen bases in the game. Ward singled and Aiden Caudle doubled, and Jared Musick earned two of the three stolen bases.

Head Coach Yancy Molloy knew his team could come back after the first game.

“We were down in the dumps, and I said ‘Let it hurt for a couple hours until we get home,” he said. “I said, ‘When you get home, forget about it, and let’s go play.’ At the end of the day, it’s not a life-or-death situation. Just come out and play and have fun. That’s exactly what they did…We still didn’t play as good as we can, but we had fun and played well enough.”

The Broncos were able to let the loss go and turned the tables on Lockney in the second game winning 9-1. Harrison Howard pitched all six innings allowing only two hits, two walks, while striking out six batters. The Bronco defense played well behind him and got through the game with six hits and only one error. Tyler Harper racked up three assists in the game. The Broncos were able to get strategic hits when they needed them. Easton Frausto hit a single, triple, four RBIs, and scored a run and Musick had a single, an RBI, and one run. Hatley singled, and Lyric Smith hit a good double, had two runs, and one stolen base.

The third game was the icing on the cake for the Broncos as they won 6-0 with four hits to only one for the Longhorns. Molloy went with Howard on the mound after his success in the second game. Howard threw for two and a third innings and allowed no hits and had one strike-out before Caudle came in as relief and had four strike-outs and allowed one hit.

“Harrison went out and threw well enough for me in the first game that I was able to use him in the second game,” Molloy said. “He’s a sophomore for me that throws unbelievable..”

Hatley had a single, double, and one RBI while Howard had a single, two RBIs, and one run. Calder Havens added a single, three runs, and one stolen base in the win.

“These boys are resilient,” he said. “We weren’t even picked to make the playoffs. We were picked to finish sixth in our district and went in (the playoffs) as a three seed. Our boys put that chip on our shoulder and made everybody pay for it that we met and beat in the playoffs. These boys are very resilient, and I’m very proud to coach these boys. I’m very proud of them.”

The Bronco baseball team took care of Ralls in the first and third games of the three-game series last week in Plainview to win the Area Championship.

The Broncos took the first game 9-2 before stumbling defensively in the second game. Ralls took the second game 12-7, but the Broncos left no doubt in the final game defeating the Jackrabbits 14-4 in six innings.

Harrison Howard was on the mound for the entire first game and had 50 strikes and 26 balls only allowing three hits and striking out three hitters.

Offensively, Lyric Smith had one double and one triple, two RBIs and one stolen base. Brock Hatley had two singles, two RBIs, and one run, while Calder Havens played solid with two singles and three stolen bases. Overall, the Broncos racked up eight stolen bases and six RBIs.

The second game was neck and neck until the Broncos struggled from the mound. Hatley pitched for seven innings and did a good job of holding Ralls at bay until Ralls’ last at bat.
He threw 107 pitches and allowed 11 hits and eight runs before fellow senior Aiden Caudle took over. Caudle allowed one hit and four runs before Tyler Harper came in as relief.

The third game on Saturday belonged to the Broncos, and they were able to dominate the Jackrabbits on both sides of the field. Overall, the team collected 11 hits, 14 runs, and grabbed 10 stolen bases. Caudle was on the mound for three innings and had some success with five strikeouts, two hits, and no runs. Howard came in for two innings in the fourth and had two strikeouts while allowing two hits and four runs, and Harper came in to close the game.

The Broncos had their bats going with Jared Musick hitting two singles for three RBIs, two runs, and three stolen bases. Wilson Ward helped with a double, three RBIs, three runs, and three stolen bases; and Easton Frausto connected with one single, two RBIs, one run, and one stolen base. Hatley added a triple and one run; and Howard doubled up, added a single, one RBI, and one run.

The Broncos will play Lockney in the Regional Quarter Finals at Amarillo High Friday at 12:00 and Saturday at 1:00 and 3:00.