The baseball team came back from an early 7-5 deficit against the Amarillo High Sandies to defeat them 8-7 and knock off the District 3-4A regular-season champions in the 4A Region 1 quarterfinals in two games.

The starting matchup pitted sophomore Isaac Garland (6-2) against Amarillo senior Nathan Dockery (8-3). The game jumped out to a quick start with Amarillo taking an early 7-5 lead after two innings. The Sandies struck first with a solo homerun from Blaine Prescott, but Canyon loaded up and scored on a 2-RBI triple from catcher Jake Rogers, a fielding error that scored Rogers and a trick base-running play where junior Braden Baker caused a rundown between first and second, distracting Amarillo long enough for center fielder Dak Olson to run home from third.

The Sandies battered the Eagles for six runs in the second inning, which included an RBI single from Sandies catcher Dally Burney, a 2-RBI single from designated hitter Carl Timmons and a 3-run home run from Prescott, his second of the game. Thomas Garland relieved  Isaac with two outs in the top of the 2nd inning and pitched the remainder of the game. Blake Weaver hit a solo home run in the bottom of the second to pull the Eagles within two runs. The Eagles scored one run in the bottom of the 4th inning when Rogers hit an RBI single that scored sophomore outfielder Cade McCallie. Canyon loaded the bases in the bottom of the 6th with their first three at-bats as junior Nelson Borchardt, McCallie and Baker singled. Rogers scored senior Travis McMorrough, who pinch-ran for Borchardt, on a fielder’s choice to tie the game. The Eagles then took the lead with another trick rundown play just like they did in the first inning with McCallie running home when the Sandies focused on the first-to-second baseline.

The Sandies put the tying runner on second and pinched him for another with one out, but Thomas Garland and the defense prevented any further hits. Garland struck out the final batter to win the game just as he did in Game 1.

The Eagles (32-5) will take on Wichita Falls Rider in the 4A Region 1 semifinals at Moffett Field in Snyder. Friday’s game begins at 7:30 p.m. and the first game Saturday begins at 1:00 p.m.

Amarillo  1  6  0  0  0  0  0  —  7

Canyon    4  1  0  1   0  2  X  —  8

WP: Thomas Garland

LP: Nathan Dockery