New Home, Ropes baseball walk off to 2A state semifinals
District rivals New Home and Ropes are each headed to the state semifinals, and each got there in dramatic fashion.
For the first time, the Lubbock area will feature two Class 2A baseball teams in the state semifinals. The division-split playoff format implemented last season made it possible. District rivals New Home and Ropes advanced to play another week, each with high-drama contests in the regional finals.
New Home baseball walks off in 11th inning The Leopards (27-7) outlasted New Deal in an 11-inning dogfight Friday at Lubbock-Cooper Liberty. New Home walked off the one-game playoff on a wild pitch to win the marathon 3-2. Tucker Cotton earned the win after three innings of no-hit relief.
He struck out four and walked one after inheriting a 2-2 tie in the ninth. Leopards starter Avin Madrid scored the winning run after drawing a leadoff walk. Madrid threw eight innings, allowing one earned run on five hits with six strikeouts and no walks.
The Lions (27-6) jumped in front with a two-run third but couldn't string together enough offense the rest of the way. An error and squeeze play staked New Deal a 2-0 edge. New Home was down to its final out before tying the game.