GAME ONE
A seven-run first inning was all Casey Kelly and Christian Gonzales needed for a playoff-opening 8-4 win Thursday evening against Dallas Skyline at Richards Park in Waxahachie.

Aaron Tesei got the scoring party started with a seven-pitch walk and promptly stole second base. He then scored on a Campbell Sullivan double to left-center field.

But the biggest shot of the inning came three pitches after Peyton Graham popped out to the catcher.

Sitting in an 0-2 count, Sage Hampton connected for his first home run of the season. The one-out shot to left-center field plated Sullivan and put the Indians on top 3-0.

Back-to-back singles off of the bats of Anthony Mata and BG Winn were followed by a Xavian Thompson walk, DJ Hollywood single and two-run Connor Watson double to for a 7-0 Waxahachie lead.

“I thought early we played really well. I thought we came out with a great approach and swung the bat, banged a few balls off the wall and then got a little complacent there toward the end,” Waxahachie head baseball coach Tracy Wood said after the game. The Indians scored just once more in the ball game, which came in the bottom of the third inning that began with a Thompson single. He later moved to third on a double by Hollywood and scored on a fielder’s choice put into play by Watson.

“We were taking called third [strikes] and not swinging at fastballs, so we have to fix that,” Wood continued. “But, early in the game, I thought we swung it really well and I was really happy with the way we got after it right there.”

Casey Kelly earned the win for the Tribe after allowing four runs (three earned) on nine hits. He also struck out nine.

Christian Gonzales worked a clean seventh inning and struck out two.

“I think Casey was [pitching] up a little bit early, but I thought he settled in and got the ball down in the zone,” Wood said. “Christian came in there and closed it out for us and did a good job. That’s one. We are playing a series so we will have to go up there tomorrow and win another one. We have to take it one at a time.”
