Dragons close out season

Purcell closed out the 2023 baseball season with a pair of losses in the Regional Tournament at Washington.

Sandwiched in between losses to Washington and Jones was an 8-2 victory over Chisholm’s Longhorns.

Parker Page pocketed the victory on the mound for the Dragons scattering seven hits in a complete pitching performance.

Boston Knowles led the offence going 3-5 with a pair of RBIs. He ripped a double in the contest.

Bryce Blair, who homered in the game, was 2-4 with four RBIs. Zach Idlett, Page, Cole Smedley and Jett Tyler all had hits in the victory.

“Parker competed on the mound and attacked the hitters all game long,” head coach Cole Sharp said. “I thought we played really well in the field.  We made two double plays and a put out from shallow left from Boston Knowles throwing a kid out at home plate. It was a good relay from Drew Kimbrell from center field to get it in to Boston to throw the guy out at home.

“This was one of our best defensive performances of the season and I was proud of the way we responded in the game,” Sharp said.

Purcell opened the rain interrupted tournament with a 12-0 loss at the hands of Washington.

“We had a crucial error in the second to extend the inning and they made us pay, scoring six runs from that,” the coach said.

The Dragons closed out their season at 17-14 with a 12-2 loss to Jones to end the Regional and the season.

“Jones is a good hitting team and they hit the ball really well against us that day,” Sharp said.

The Longhorns out-hit Purcell 10-5.

“We kinda’ got down early in the game but kept battling and fighting until the end,” Sharp said..

“I was proud of our team all season in the way we responded in having adversity and fighting injuries.

“We had some pieces out in pitching but we never quit. We fought all season and competed until the end.

We had a daunting schedule with 80 percent of our scheduled teams either making it to the Regional Tournament or State Tournament,” the coach said.

Graduation will take Zach Idlett, Logan Roberts and Kevin Garcia off next year’s roster.

“We will miss them,” Sharp confirmed.

“Going into next season we will have a lot of guys coming back and bringing some young guys in to battle for some key spots. We’re looking forward to it,” the coach concluded.