Hallsville’s Connor Reich Continues Dominance With One-Hit Shutout in Game 1 Vs. Frisco Liberty

MESQUITE – Connor Reich went right back to work Thursday night as Hallsville opened a Class 4A Region II semifinal series with a 3-0 win over Frisco Liberty.

Reich held Liberty to one hit – the first batter of the contest – and struck out six to give the Bobcats a 1-0 series lead.

Game 2 of the three-game set is set for 7:30 p.m. Friday night at Tillery Field in Mesquite.

Austin Blakeley had a pair of doubles as Hallsville belted four extra base hits, outhitting the Redhawks, 8-1. Macailyn Wilder led off the bottom of the first with his first of two singles. Colton Oberthier added an RBI triple and Lance Lassen doubled for the Bobcats.

Wilder laced the first pitch Hallsville saw, Blakeley extended the inning with a two-out double before Logan Bailey scored on a Liberty error to put Hallsville up, 1-0, early.

After a leadoff single that put a Redhawk at third base, Reich retired the next nine he faced. Liberty again put a runner at third after Hallsville’s lone error of the night in the fourth inning but left him stranded with three ground-ball outs.

Lassen doubled in the second and scored on Wilder’s second single in as many innings to push Hallsville’s lead to 2-0.

Blakeley added his second extra base hit in the third and scored on Oberthier’s triple to give Hallsville a 3-0, which Reich and the Bobcat defense held on to for the win.

Liberty starter Randy Evans worked three scoreless innings around one hit and a walk in the loss for Liberty.

Coby Weaver is set to start Game 2 for Hallsville.