McIntire Deals as Boyd Defeats Iowa Park 4-0
If I told you the Hawks would outhit the Yellowjackets with Texas A&M commit Will McIntire on the mound, you probably wouldn’t have thought Iowa Park would get shut out 4-0. That is exactly what happened Wednesday night in Graham.
An elite pitching matchup was in store as Boyd’s Will McIntire and Iowa Park’s AJ Rameriz were set to start on the mound for each team in Game 1.
Iowa Park jumped out with early momentum as they used two singles and a throwing error to get a baserunner on in each of the first three innings before Boyd got its first batter on base in the bottom of the third. The Yellowjackets then used a pair of walks to load the bases, but the runners were left stranded to keep the game scoreless.
In Boyd’s half of the fourth inning, Elijah Webber hit a leadoff single down the first base line into right field. A few pitches later, a throw-back attempt to first base sailed over Iowa Park’s first baseman’s head and into right field, allowing Webber to advance to second. Two batters later, the other Webber brother, Stephen, singled to right field as well, but Elijah Webber was held up at third base. That put runners on the corners with one out.
With a 2-2 count to Mason Vanraschack, a breaking ball in the dirt got past the catcher and allowed Elijah Webber to trot home from third and score the first run of the game. It would be the only run Boyd scored in the inning.
Iowa Park led off the fifth inning by getting two baserunners on with two outs, but a clutch strikeout from McIntire kept the Hawks scoreless.
In the bottom of the fifth, Boyd once again used walks to apply pressure to the Iowa Park defense. With two outs and the bases loaded, a pivotal moment in the game arrived. Major Jennings was due up, and on the second pitch he popped a fly ball into shallow right field, just beyond the infield dirt. What looked like a routine fly ball turned into a nightmare for the Hawks as it fell between Iowa Park defenders, allowing all three baserunners to score.
In the sixth inning, Iowa Park’s Kane Decker led off with a double to left-center field but was left stranded at third as the next three batters were retired.
The Hawks were retired in order in the seventh inning as Boyd claimed a 4-0 win in Game 1 of the state semifinals.
Boyd ace Will McIntire struck out 12 and allowed just five hits through six innings. One of the biggest advantages for the Yellowjackets is that McIntire threw only 92 pitches, leaving him with 18 more pitches available later in the series if needed.
Iowa Park’s AJ Rameriz also tossed a quality outing, striking out three while allowing only three hits. According to the home team’s scorebook, none of the four runs were charged to Rameriz. He was pulled in the fifth inning after throwing 84 pitches, leaving him with 26 pitches still available later in the series. That could prove critical for the Hawks, who now must win two straight games to advance to the state championship.
We could see another great pitching matchup between two sophomores in Game 2. Boyd left-hander Lane Beacham could get the start after delivering several big postseason performances, including Game 2 wins against Winnsboro and Tatum before tossing Game 3 last week to help eliminate Gunter. Beacham also pitched against Iowa Park back on April 11 in a non-district meeting, shutting out the Hawks over six innings while striking out five.
For Iowa Park, right-hander CJ McNeill should be the next arm called upon after serving as the Hawks’ Game 1 starter throughout most of the postseason before Rameriz got the nod last week. McNeill has struck out 31 batters while allowing just two runs across 24 postseason innings. He will likely be counted on as Iowa Park looks to survive its first elimination game of the playoffs.
Game 2 is scheduled for Friday night 7pm back at Graham.
