The Carroll Dragons bounced back from a series-opening loss to Marcus with back-to-back elimination game wins to advance to the Class 5A area round of the playoffs. Carroll (20-10) won the deciding game 3-1 against the Marauders Saturday at Grapevine. The Dragons won the second game 4-1 at Dragon Field. Carroll faces Grapevine in an area best-of-three series beginning Friday.
In the third game against Marcus, the Dragons did all the damage they needed in the first inning. Carroll scored three runs on the strength of Greg Maisto’s two-run double. Carroll freshman starting pitcher Ben Leeper went three innings and Sean Thompson threw four shutout innings and allowed only one hit. In the second game of the series, Dragon second baseman Darien McLemore blasted two home runs and Maisto tossed a complete game giving Carroll momentum heading into Saturday.
In the final 14 innings of the series, Carroll’s pitching dominated and allowed just two runs. However, the Dragons staff will be without starter Tyler Alexander (wrist injury) for the rest of the playoffs. Alexander suffered the injury in Game 1 of the series.
Carroll (20-10) vs. Grapevine (19-10) – Class 5A Area Playoffs
Game 1: 4:30 p.m., Friday at Carroll Senior High School
Game 2: Noon, Saturday at Grapevine
Game 3: if necessary, 30 minutes following Game 2