Early Monday evening, the Lake Dallas Falcons Baseball team hosted fellow 4A club, Frisco Wakeland, in a preseason scrimmage.
With the 2012 season a little more than two weeks away, the Falcons took full advantage of their first non-intrasquad scrimmage. They'll have two more scrimmages, and then the regular season kicks off on Thursday, February 23rd, in Prosper, TX.
Although the rules were far more relaxed than an actual game, the Falcons flashed their fair share of depth both on offense and defense. Plenty of pitchers toed the rubber too, with senior Dylan Andrews getting the nod to start things off for the Falcons.
Andrews walked the first batter he faced, and then struck out the next three before handing the ball to junior Keenan Wingfield for the second inning.
Frisco Wakeland, a Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association 4A preseason top 20 team, presented an excellent challenge as the Falcons worked towards getting their timing and execution back after an eight month lapse since their final game of 2011.
Last year's Lake Dallas Falcons—led by seniors Brandon Cogbill (Howard Payne University), Marshall Little (Texas Wesleyan University), and Tyler Waller (McPherson)—had to rely on a one game play-in victory over the surging Wichita Falls Coyotes, just to clinch the fourth and final 4-4A playoff spot.
The Falcons were then seeded with District 3-4A champs, Canyon. It took the full three games, but Lake Dallas was more than up for the challenge as they stunned Canyon and advanced on to Midland, for the Area Finals against El Paso Horizon.
Behind senior Brandon Cogbill's game one no-hitter, the Falcons cruised past Horizon, sweeping their way back to Midland, this time to face yet another 3-4A powerhouse, Canyon Randall, in the Regional Quarterfinals.
The Canyon Randall Raiders proved to be an excellent matchup for the red-hot Falcons. However, Lake Dallas' game one victory—fueled by senior Tyler Waller's throw from left field that simultaneously prevented the Raiders' tying run from scoring and ended the game—was the blow that crushed Canyon Randall.
Once again the Falcon's swept on to the next round, the Regional Semifinals where the powerful Burleson Elks awaited.
After Lake Dallas' stupefying game one victory over the Elks—in Burleson—it was impossible to imagine that this game would be the final victory for the 2011 Falcons baseball team.
Unfortunately, the Falcons' first home game in nearly a month went to Burleson, as the Elk's bats sprung to life. Game three—played on a neutral field, at Grapevine High School—would prove to be an epic battle.
Despite an early lead, and plating a whopping 13 runs, the Falcons fell to the Elks, by a final score of 18-13.
Wichita Falls Rider—the eventual Region I 4A State Champion—lost game one to Burleson, but won the next two games on their blistering path towards Round Rock.
Last year's State Regional Semi-Finalist Falcons team had one of the finest seasons in the school's history. Led by three seniors that have now moved on to baseball on the college level, the 2011 Lake Dallas squad etched memories that will last a lifetime for all fans, family, and friends of the Falcons.
For Lake Dallas baseball, thought, the future is a bright one. Head Coach John Tompkins will have the 2012 version of your Lake Dallas Falcons ready as they prepare for what may prove to be yet another deep playoff push.
And it all starts in less than two weeks.
The Falcons begin their march towards a third-consecutive playoff berth on Monday, March 5th, as 2012 District 4-4A play begins on the road, against the Denton Ryan Raiders.
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