Brock run-rules Liberty baseball twice to sweep region semifinal series

WOODROW — For the second week in a row, the Lubbock-Cooper Liberty baseball team needed to rebound after being run-ruled in the first game of a doubleheader.

The Patriots were able to accomplish that five days ago, coming back to take down district rival Idalou for the region quarterfinal crown. They faced a similar situation Thursday at First United Park, though the task was much, much taller in the Region I-3A semifinals.

Perennial power Brock, featuring three Division I recruits on the roster, made quick work of the Patriots in the first game of their region semifinal series, coasting to a 12-2 win. Unlike last week, Liberty didn't have it in them to turn things around 30 minutes later.

The Eagles pounded the ball in the first two innings, prompting both teams to send in the reserves to close out the 19-1 rout to complete the series sweep.

In all, Brock outscored Liberty 31-3 and outhit the Patriots 27-4 in the two-game series.

"They're so far superior to the teams that we've been playing," Liberty coach Lamar Kello said. "Would I have liked to see us play better? Sure. Were they a lot better than us? Yes, they were. They were gonna win the series regardless. I would have liked to see us play better, but it's a big ask."

Liberty had an opportunity to keep the first game interesting. Brock starting pitcher Cole Stanley had trouble finding the strike zone, issuing six walks in his four innings of work. That included walking a batter with the bases loaded in the first inning, but the Patriots were unable to make him pay for it until the fourth, when the game was already out of reach.

Strong winds and stronger hitting from Brock presented a number of issues for Liberty defensively. Cam Harris (a Louisiana Tech pledge) and Jesse Rusinek (a 2025 Texas Tech commit) each had two-run, inside-the-park home runs that resulted in the ball getting by the centerfield.

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Sawyer Strosnider's two-run blast left the park and was part of the TCU commit hitting for the cycle in the first game. Going to bat in the top of the fifth, Strosnider knew he was a single shy of the cycle and made sure he got it. He hit a ball deep into the outfield but took his time getting to first to ensure he got the accolade.

And why not? The Eagles were keeping things interesting for themselves in a blowout.

The second game, though, became a bit of a drag for everyone. Brock continued to pound the ball, rattling off an eight-run first inning that led to an 11-run second. All that was left was getting some other bodies into the game and playing out the strings.

Brock advanced to the region finals where it'll play either Shallowater or Jacksboro for a spot in the state tournament. That series will conclude on Saturday with a decisive third game.

Kello and the Patriots will look to the future, which includes heading up to the 4A classification next year. It'll also feature each of this year's players returning.

"It makes it so much easier to wrap up a season without having to be sad about saying goodbye to whoever," Kello said, "and now we just know that these guys plus JV guys plus some eighth graders that are coming up, just take what we have and we're going to work to get better and strive to be at the level that Brock is at."

Region I-3A semifinal baseball

Game 1: Brock 12, Liberty 2 (5)

Brock 402 42 — 12 14 1

Liberty 000 20 — 2 1 1

Cole Stanley and Ethan Riley (5). Cassler Wicks Jackson Funk. W — Stanley. L — Wicks. 2B — Brock, Sawyer Strosnider, Jesse Rusinek, Asa Parenteau (2), Canon Lightfoot; Liberty — Will Hutson. 3B — Brock, Strosnider. HR — Cam Harris, Strosnider, Rusinek

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Game 2: Brock 19, Liberty 1 (5)

Liberty 010 00 — 1 3 3

Brock 8(11)0 0X — 19 13 0

Harrison Vitz, Nash Gonzales (2), Hudson Hefner (2), Jackson Payne (2), Barrett Sugarek (4). Evan O'Connor and Ethan Riley (5). W — O'Connor. L — Vitz. 2B — Brock, Canon Lightfoot, Braeden Ray, Jesse Rusinek, Cam Harris, Jack Windle, Sawyer Strosnider.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Brock run-rules Liberty baseball twice to sweep series