Wall Pulls Away Late, Takes Game 1 Against Jacksboro

ABILENE, TX — For five innings, Wall’s high-powered offense was locked down Wednesday by Jacksboro’s Wyatt Gavit in Game 1 of their regional final baseball series.

But the Hawks woke up in a big way in the sixth inning.

After managing only one hit in a 1-1 game, Wall blew up for four runs in the sixth and two in the seventh to pull away for a 7-2 win.

Wall improved to 30-8 with its 21st straight win against Class 3A competition. The defending state champion Hawks are now one win away from reaching the Class 3A Division II state semifinals. Jacksboro fell to 25-6.

Game 2 is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday back at Abilene Christian University’s Crutcher Scott Field.

Wednesday’s game started about 90 minutes late due to thunderstorms in the area.

While his offense took a while to get going, Wall’s Reid Ballard kept his team in the ball game, matching Gavit in a pitcher’s duel by allowing only two hits through five innings.

It was a battle between two college-bound pitchers. Gavit is headed to Cisco College, while Ballard has signed with Odessa College.

Ballard eventually allowed six hits before he was pulled from the game with two outs in the seventh after back-to-back singles. Kyler Oneal finished off the Tigers two batters later.

Ballard improved to 8-0 this year, and he’s a combined 18-0 on the pitcher’s mound the last two seasons.

His defense was error-free behind him, while Jacksboro had two mistakes in the field.

Wall manufactured a run in the second inning when Wyatt Jost drew a walk, stole second base and was singled home by Tyler Klinesmith.

Jacksboro answered in the fourth after Hoytt Wesson had a leadoff double and was eventually scored by Gavit on a groundout. 

Wall finally broke the game open in the sixth when Hagyn Barbee led off with a single, then swiped second base for his 42nd steal of the season.

Jacob Braden tripled him home before Ballard scored Braden with a single.

A fielder’s choice by Lawson Dankworth and a sacrifice fly by Jost scored the other two runs, and Ballard had all the offense he would need to finish off the win.

Kellan Oliver’s two-run single in the sixth provided a couple of insurance runs.