Photos: Keller rallies for extra-innings victory against Southlake Carroll
SOUTHLAKE, Texas — For the second time in three days, Keller rallied to beat Southlake Carroll on the baseball diamond.
The Indians erased a 3-1 deficit to force extras and earned a 4-3 comeback win in eight innings against Carroll on Friday night at Dragon Field to take sole possession of first place in District 4-6A.
Keller also trailed by a run against the Dragons before rallying for a 3-2 win Wednesday night at home.
The Indians cut Southlake Carroll's lead to 3-2 during the top of the fifth inning after senior Mike Dattalo's two-out RBI double to centerfield that drove in junior Zach Makarewich.
Then senior Niko Pecskovsky scored from second base on a single to right by senior Jacob Sullens in the next frame to help Keller tie it up at 3-3 and force extra innings.
After a five-pitch walk, an error and a hit-by-pitch to begin the top of the eighth, Pecskovsky gave the Indians the lead for good when he slapped a sac fly to center, driving in Grant Simpson for the go-ahead run.
Keller junior pitcher Ty Zakradnik earned the win on the mound after throwing three innings in relief duty in which he struck out three, walked one and allowed no runs on one hit.
Southlake Carroll's Nate Rusher took the loss after entering the game during the top of the fifth. The Dragons' senior pitcher tallied five strikeouts, two runs, two hits and a walk in 3 1/3 innings pitched.
Keller improved to 12-4 overall and 4-0 in district play with Friday's win in extra innings, while the Dragons dropped to 14-5 overall and 2-2 against district competition this season.
The Indians are set to return to the diamond for back-to-back district games against rival Keller Timber Creek, beginning at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Keller High School and wrapping up at the same time Friday at Timber Creek High School.
Southlake Carroll, meanwhile, will try to snap its two-game losing skid when it battles Prosper at 11 a.m. Saturday at Dragon Field.
Here are photos from the game:
(All photos by Tommy Hays)