Wall thumps Thrall to win Texas Class 3A DII state baseball championship; live scoring, highlights, recap

Relentless bats, dominant pitching paves the way as Wall cruises to program's second state championship in history

Levi Payton | Jun 5, 2025

Wall's Gunnar Dillard was a big piece to the offensive puzzle in Thursday's Class 3A Division II state championship victory for Wall. Dillard went 3-for-4 at the plate with a triple, 3 RBI and scored 3 runs in the 14-2 victory over Thrall in five innings at Dell Diamond in Round Rock. He's seen here playing in a previous game. / Paul Witwer / USA TODAY NETWORK

Thrall and Wall meet Thursday at Dell Diamond with the Class 3A Division II state championship on the line. First pitch is set for 4 p.m. in a matchup of programs that have been among the most consistent in the state throughout the postseason.

Be sure to bookmark this page and check back in often once the game begins at 4 p.m. for live stats, highlights and game updates that will go in the expandable space below throughout the game. We encourage you to share this page with friends and on social media platforms. You can also watch the game live (fees apply) on NFHS Network.

Thrall (31-6-1) is back at state for just the second time in school history and looking to stay perfect after winning the title in its only other appearance in 1998. The Tigers have posted 14 shutouts this year behind a pitching staff that has been tough to crack. Sophomores Jack Gustafson (7-0) and Bryce Brinkmeyer (7-3), along with senior Maverick McAllister (13-2), have each delivered in big spots all season.

Wall (30-6) has been just as steady. The Hawks have won 22 of their last 24 and are 9-1 in the playoffs after knocking off Boyd in a three-game semifinal series. Their top two arms, Reid Ballard (10-0) and Gage Reichenau (12-0), headline a deep staff that has allowed only 10 runs in the postseason. Wall is playing in the state tournament for the fourth time and is chasing its second title.

Both teams have leaned on pitching to get here, but there is enough offense on both sides to shift momentum quickly. Wall has scored 10 or more runs in 20 games and has outscored opponents 364-115 this year. Thrall has done most of its damage with timely hits and reliable defense, but the Tigers have reached double digits 11 times, including three this postseason.

With both teams riding deep rotations and postseason-tested lineups, this one could come down to execution in the middle innings. Expect a close game early that may be decided by whichever staff can hold firm once the lineup turns over a second time.

Stay with High School On SI – Texas for full coverage of every state championship this week in Round Rock, including game previews, live stats blogs and updates throughout each final.

Wall vs. Thrall: UIL Texas Class 3A Division II state baseball championship; live scoring, updates

Starting lneups

Wall

Kellan Oliver, RF; Hagyn Barbee, CF; Gunnar Dillard, C; Caleb Braden, SS; Luke Kemp, DH; Lawson Dankworth, 1B; Reid Ballard, 3B; Jacob Braden, 2B; Trevor Wyatt, LF.

Thrall

Hayden Heselmeyer, 1B; Nick Treuter, C; Maverick McAllister, P; Gus Navejas, DH; Weston Smiley, 3B; Jack Gustafson, LF; Bryce Brinkmeyer, SS; Ethan Boecker, 2B; Ty Matthews, RF; Landon Gregory, CF.

Top 1: Wall 0, Thrall 0

Kellan Oliver drew a five-pitch walk to lead off the game and Wall is fired up.

Hagyn Barbee feigned a bunt, then swung and lined a first-pitch fast ball into right field. Oliver went to third on the play and Barbee stole second.

RUN(s) - Kellan Oliver should have been out by a mile, but instead he makes a tremendous swimming slide around the catcher's tag on a fielder's choice to shortstop and he's ruled safe. Wall leads 1-0.

RUN(s) - Caleb Braden drove in Barbee with a single to left to make it 2-0.

RUN(s) - Luke Kemp drove in a run on a single. A runner is thrown out on the play, but a run scores to extend Wall's lead to 3-0. The play ended with Wall runners at first and second base with one out.

RUN(s) - Jacob Braden went with an 0-2 pitch with 2 outs in the inning and lined it into right field. The RBI single extended the Hawks' lead to 4-0 with runners on the corners.

The inning ended on an infield pop fly. Wall scored four runs and Thrall must feel fortunate it wasn't more.

Bottom 1: Wall 4, Thrall 0

RUN(s) - After Maverick McAllister drew a walk following a long at-bat, Gus Navejas smashes a double that rolled to the wall in left center. McAllister scored to make it 4-1.

Weston Smiley drew a two-out walk an an error on a fielder's choice loaded the bases, but Wall pitcher Gage Reichenau got a huge strikeout to end the threat.

Top 2: Wall 4, Thrall 1

Kellan Oliver goes first pitch swinging and smashes a standup triple to the wall in right field to lead off the inning.

RUN(s) - Hagyn Barbee doubled on a liner to center. Oliver scored to make it 5-1 with nobody out.

DOUBLE PLAY! McAllister gets out of a huge jam, getting a comebacker and starting a 1-2-3 double play to get out of the inning after the bases were loaded with one out.

Bottom 2: Wall 5, Thrall 1

Hayden Heselmeyer walked with two outs, but he's stranded at first.

Top 3: Wall 5, Thrall 1

McAllister can really field his position. He got rocked with a liner back up the middle, but recovered in time to start a 1-6-3 double play to end the inning and waste a leadoff single by Wall. This coming after he began the 1-2-3 double play to end a bases-loaded threat in the second inning.

Bottom 3: Wall 5, Thrall 1

Reichenau looked strong in the third, pitching a harmless 1-2-3 inning in the Texas heat.

Top 4: Wall 5, Thrall 1

Kellen Oliver led off the top of the fourth with his fourth hit of the game and Barbee followed with a single and stole second with nobody out.

RUN(s) - Dillard grounded a 2-run single up the middle and Wall extended its lead to 7-1 with no outs.

Thrall made a pitching change with nobody out and a runner at first, as sophomore southpaw Ty Matthews was summoned to the mound.

After a single, pop up and a walk, Wall loaded the bases with one out. It was the third time they had loaded the bases in the game's first four innings.

RUN(s) - Matthews walked Reid Ballard to force in a run. Ballard got an RBI. Matthews was removed for a reliever. Wall extended its lead to 8-1 with one out and the bases loaded.

RUN(s) -Jack Gustafson came in to pitch for Thrall and Wall's jacob Braden greeted him with a 2-run single to center on the first pitch he threw to make it 10-1.

RUN(s) - Trevor Wyatt smacked a 2-run single to to right field to make it 12-1.

The inning finally ended after Wall scored seven runs.

Bottom 4: Wall 12, Thrall 1

Thrall got a runner on thanks to an error, but Wall immediately erased it when Wall third baseman Reid Ballard got a screaming liner and threw across the diamond to double off the runner at first.

Top 5: Wall 12, Thrall 1

It wasn't the first pitch of the inning this time, but Gunnar Dillard began the fifth inning with a leadoff triple for Wall.

RUN(s) - Luke Kemp lined a single into left to score Braden, making it 13-1.

RUN(s) - Jacob Braden singled to center with two outs to drive home Caleb Braden to make it 14-1.

Bottom 5: Wall 14, Thrall 1

RUN(s) - McAllister smacked a long triple to right field with two outs to drive home the game's final run, 14-2.

Final: Wall 14, Thrall 2

Gunnar Dillard, Hagyn Barbee and Jacob Braden each had three hits for the Hawks. Braden had four RBI and scored a run, while Dillard tripled, scored three runs and had an RBI and Barbee doubled and scored twice. Kellan Oliver, Caleb Braden and Luke Kemp had two hits apiece.

Reichenau, a junior, improved to 13-0 after allowing 2 runs on 3 hits with 5 strikeouts and 3 walks in 5 innings.