In baseball, all it takes is one play to bring home a win. In the case for Wimberley, one play is sending the Texans to their first ever state championship game.
After Bryson Anderson forced a two-out walk and later stole second in the bottom of the eighth inning, Wimberley capitalized on a Bridge City fielding error as Anderson scored from second to win 7-6 as the Texans captured the 4A Division II state semifinal trophy and punch their ticket to their first ever state title game.
Wimberley swept the Cardinals in a two-game series after winning Game 1 4-1.
In Game 2, Wimberley found themselves trailing 3-0 after the top of the fourth inning after Bridge City extend their 1-0 lead on a two-run RBI double.
But in the bottom of the fourth inning, the Texans made their comeback. Jayden Hall forced a leadoff walk followed up by a walk from Ty Thames, putting runners on first and second with no outs.
Wimberley capitalized on the two walks when Wyatt Yeatter hit an RBI to score the first run of the game for the Texans. In the next at-bat, Sage Hall connected with a two-RBI single as Wimberley tied the game at 3-3.
Bridge City answered back in the top of the sixth inning.
Despite facing two outs, the Cardinals took back the lead on an RBI double before adding two more runs on a two-run RBI double, going up 6-3 before the Texans could get the final out.
Heading into the bottom of the sixth inning, Wimberley looked to add much needed insurance runs.
Gentry McGinnis was able to score the needed runs for the Texans after reaching base on a fielder’s choice. After advancing to second and then stealing third base, McGinnis took advantage of a wild pitch from Bridge City and scored to cut the lead down to 6-4.
With runners on first and second following a walk, Bryson Anderson tied the game with one swing of the bat, hitting a two-run RBI triple into right field, tying the game at 6-6.
Wimberley was unable to bring Anderson home from third base as the game went into the seventh inning.
Both the Texans and the Cardinals went scoreless into the seventh, sending the game into extra innings.
Following a one-out single from the Cardinals, Bridge City looked to take the lead once more only for Wimberley to snatch the momentum back.
The Texans turned the 6-4-3 to both keep Bridge City off the scoreboard and Wimberley back to the plate.
Wimberley was down to their final out following a fly-out and a strikeout before Anderson kept the at-bat alive with a two-out walk.
Anderson later stole second after a pickoff attempt to put the Texans in scoring position.
Bridge City looked to get the final out of the inning following an infield grounder from Jayden Hall. However the Cardinals committed a fielding error allowing Jayden Hall to reach first base safely while Anderson raced home to score the game winning run and send the Texans to the title game.
Wimberley will play in the 4A Division II State Championship game 9 a.m Friday at Dell Diamond in Round Rock, Texas.
