Boyd sweeps Iowa Park to punch ticket to State

Iowa Park landed the first punch Friday night, but Boyd delivered the final blow.

After falling behind by three runs in the opening inning, the Yellowjackets settled in behind a dominant outing from Lane Beacham and used a fifth-inning spark from Texas A&M commit Will McIntire before ultimately pulling out a 4-3 victory in nine innings to sweep the regional final series and advance to the UIL Class 3A Division I State Championship Game.

The Hawks appeared poised to force a decisive Game 3 after jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Colton Stewart was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to score the game's first run before AJ Ramirez and CJ McNeill each drove in runs on fielder's choice grounders.

Boyd, however, never allowed the game to get away.

Beacham returned to the mound in the second and completely changed the momentum on the mound. After allowing the three-run deficit, the Yellowjacket right-hander shut down one of the area's most explosive offenses, allowing just four hits over six innings while striking out eight. More importantly for Boyd, Iowa Park never crossed the plate again after the opening frame.

With Beacham keeping the Hawks in check, Boyd's offense finally broke through in the fifth inning.

Trailing 3-1, McIntire delivered the biggest hit of the night when he ripped an RBI triple into the outfield to cut the deficit to one run. Moments later, Elijah Webber lifted a sacrifice fly that allowed McIntire to score, tying the game at 3-3 and erasing Iowa Park's early advantage.

The game remained deadlocked through regulation as both teams squandered scoring opportunities and the tension continued to build.

Boyd turned to Colton Patton, and the junior delivered in a massive way. Patton tossed three scoreless innings in extra innings, keeping the Hawks at bay and giving the Yellowjackets a chance to find the breakthrough run.

That opportunity came in the top of the ninth.

After Boyd loaded the bases, Webber stepped to the plate and worked a walk, forcing home the go-ahead run and giving the Yellowjackets their first lead of the contest at 4-3.

Patton returned to the mound in the bottom half and closed the door, securing the victory and sending Boyd to Round Rock.

Webber finished with two RBIs, including the game-winning RBI walk in the ninth. McIntire collected two hits and sparked the comeback with his pivotal triple, while Mason Vanranchack and Keelan Clary also recorded two-hit performances.

For Iowa Park, Ramirez, Brayden Holster, Brayden "Mo" Moreno and Coyt Schmader accounted for the Hawks' four hits. Stewart, Ramirez and McNeill each drove in a run during the three-run first inning.

The loss ends another strong season for Iowa Park, which battled its way to the regional final and finished just one series shy of reaching the state championship for the second consecutive season. Boyd, meanwhile, heads to the state championship game for the first time since 2023 where the Yellowjackets defeated Wall to win the 3A State Title.

The Yellowjackets will play Thursday at 4:00 PM at Dell Diamond in Round Rock against Corpus Christi London.