Tigers Seize Day in 7th Inning Against Taylor

By Terry Carter

Somebody in the Katy dugout lit a figurative fire for the Tigers in the top of seven inning on Wednesday night.

That Katy spark ignited a 3-run rally with two outs that gave the Tigers a 1-0 lead in their 3-game Region III-6A quarterfinal baseball playoff series against the Taylor Mustangs. Both pitchers delivered strong, shutout performances for six innings, and the playoff opener could have consumed extra innings if not for an invisible spark for the Tigers.

Katy put an end to that with a 1-out single by Brady Englett. A sacrifice bunt moved Englett to second base, and he scored the game’s first run on a ripped a powerful, RBI double by Tiger second baseman Graham Laxton. Waiting on a fastball, Laxton discovered a path for the Tigers. The next two batters would also connect with authority, creating a bonfire from that initial spark.

Katy baseball coaching legend Tom McPherson observes what most misses, which helps his Tigers each season. He also a sense of humor that requires his players and those around him to keep up with him.

Laxton is an example. A junior with speed and excellent coordination, Laxton chuckles when I tell him McPherson introduced as quiet and a good base runner. After giving the Katy Tigers a 1-0 lead with a bullet double, the junior Tiger demonstrated why he can be the loudest player on any baseball diamond.

With Laxton leading off second base, Taylor pitcher Matthew Irwin, who was exceptionally effective for six frames, threw a pitched that bounced away from the Mustang catcher and ricocheted off the backstop. Every run will move up a base on this free pass, but Laxton hit top gear in three strides, swung wide and raced toward home plate.

He glanced up just enough to get coach McPherson’s green light on a 2-base attempt. And Laxton rolled through third base at full speed, reaching home plate just ahead of a throw to Irwin, who was covering home.

“I knew there were two outs, and one run might not be enough. So I saw the pitch and the kick, and Coach Mac pointing me home. I knew I could get there… but it was good to have assurance from coach,” Laxton said after the game.

The Katy dugout — and fans — exploded with celebration as the Tigers now led 2-0 in the seventh inning. The subdued tones of a shutout vanished as senior Ryan George doubled and scored on Parker Kidwell’s single.

Katy junior pitcher Lucas Moore (10-1) threw 6.3 innings with a curve ball that kept Taylor hitters off-balance much of the night. Taylor sophomore Peter Dworaczyk hit a single that bounced past the incoming centerfielder’s glove and rolled near the wall, which resulted in Dworaczyk reaching third base.

But a slow, 2-out grounder to Katy third baseman Nayden Ramirez ended the Taylor threat.

“Once we get a little bit of a spark, we just tend to keep going,” Moore said. “Getting that spark sometimes takes quite a few innings.”

Due to graduation ceremonies on Thursday and Friday for the two schools, this regional baseball playoff series will continue on Saturday at Langham Creek at 4 p.m. If a game three is need, it will begin 45 minutes after the conclusion of game two on Saturday.

• Top-ranked Tompkins (29-2) takes on Ridge Point (26-3) in another key Region III-6A playoff series that is slated for Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

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Katy junior Graham Laxton (1) is mobbed after scoring from second base against Taylor on a pitch that bounced off the backstop Wednesday night in a regional quarterfinal baseball playoff game. Laxton helped the Tigers post a 3-0 win in game one. (Photo by Terry Carter/UDPhotos)

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Tiger junior pitcher Lucas Moore (12) threw 6.3 innings of shutout baseball on Wednesday against a scrappy Taylor opponent in a playoff game at Langham Creek.  (Photo by Terry Carter/UDPhotos)

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Taylor sophomore Peter Dworacyzk (15) heads for third base on a hit to center field against the Katy Tigers.  (Photo by Terry Carter/UDPhotos)