Pleasant Grove baseball prepares for its second chance at Calallen

TEXARKANA, TX (KTAL/KMSS) – Pleasant Grove is making its return to the state championship after dominating West Plains in the state semis.

Now there’s just one game left in the season for the Hawks, and one game left in a ‘Grove’ jersey for the nine seniors.

“If you play like it’s your last game you can’t lose,” said senior catcher Buck Anderson.

It’s the second year in a row Pleasant Grove baseball is going to state. It’s also the second year they are facing Calallen.

“We went down there, they beat us. We came home with tears. We don’t want that. This year is gonna be different come around,” said senior Christian May.

This year Pleasant Grove knows what to expect from Calallen.

“We took a lot from last year’s game. I think they scored a majority of their runs with two outs so we know our pitchers have to go out there and finish innings. I have to do a lot better job with pitches I call. We know they’re very very good. Obviously they can swing it, they can pitch, they’re very well coached. Like I said earlier it should be a very fun atmosphere,” said head coach Riley Fincher.

One difference between this year’s team and last’s is a year of maturity. But the Wildcats have that as well. However, Pleasant Grove has spent that year feeling the emotions from that day.

“We always feed off our losses and we always feed off going on the road. Last year is one of the worst feelings I’ve had in my baseball career, just going down there and coming so close but just falling short a little bit off of a few plays Calallen forced to happen they’re a great team,” said Anderson. “I’m excited to play them though it’s great teams we like to play and we wouldn’t want to play anyone else in the state championship. It’s a competitive factor. We love to play against good competition and we love to play against people who beat us.”

Pleasant Grove isn’t relying on just one star to push the Hawks to greatness.

“I’m most proud of all the younger guys stepping up. Everyone thinks the seniors are the leaders, they’re going to be the ones to contribute but there’s been plenty of games where the seniors haven’t been able to do anything and the younger guys have stepped up and gotten us some big wins and I think that’s awesome,” May said.

Regardless of the outcome, this week will forever be cherished as the last time this group played together.

“Sentimental a little bit, but at the same time I don’t have time to worry about that we have to get to work and just enjoy the last week with these guys there’s no one else I’d rather do it with,” Anderson said.

Pleasant Grove will face Calallen in a single game series on Friday, June 5 at 9 am at Dell Diamond in Round Rock, TX.

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