BEAUMONT, Texas — The UIL High School Baseball Playoffs are inching closer to the State Tournament with four local teams remaining in the hunt.
Check back throughout the weekend for updates on Orangefield, Woodville, Buna and Chester.
4A REGIONAL QUARTERFINALS, GAME 1
(10) Orangefield 12 (19) Livingston 6
Down in Port Neches, Orangefield hammered Livingston 12-6 in their 4A Regional Quarterfinal series opener.
The Bobcats (27-2-1) were clinging to a 6-4 lead before blowing things open in the sixth innings with six runs. Brennon Lecog led Orangefield at the plate, going 2 for 3 with two doubles and four runs batted in. Kameryn Henderson also had a two-run home run in the win.
4A REGIONAL QUARTERFINALS, GAME 2
(10) Orangefield 12 (19) Livingston 1 (5 innings)
Orangefield is rolling into the 4A Regional Semifinals after blasting Livingston 12-1 Friday night in Cleveland.
An eight-run fourth inning would be the difference in this one, with the Bobcats expanding an 4-1 lead into a 12-1 blowout.
Morgan Sampson drove in three runs on a triple in the big inning to close out the scoring.
Orangefield (28-2-1) advances to face the winner of China Spring and Rusk.
4A REGIONAL QUARTERFINALS
(10) Orangefield (28-2-1) vs (19) Livingston (19-5-1)
G1: Orangefield 12 Livingston 6
G2: Orangefield 12 Livingston 1 (5 inn)
(Orangefield wins series 2-0)
REGIONAL SEMIFINALS
(10) Orangefield (28-2-1) vs (6) China Spring (27-8) or (15) Rusk (17-12)
3A REGIONAL QUARTERFINALS, GAME 1
(15) Central Heights 5 Buna 4 (8 innings)
Buna gave Central Heights all they could in Jasper Thursday night before falling to the Blue Devils 5-4 in eight innings.
With the game tied in the top of the 8th, Mitchell Ashley grounded out to shortstop to score what would be the winning run. Central Heights (28-5) pulled out the win despite only record five hits off three Cougar pitchers.
3A REGIONAL QUARTERFINALS, GAME 2 & 3
Buna 1 (15) Central Heights 0
(15) Central Heights 10 Buna 3
Buna was able to push fifteenth-ranked Central Heights to the limit before having their season ended by the Blue Devils.
The Cougars took game two Saturday afternoon at Lufkin Hudson High School, 1-0.
Daniel Midkiff tossed a complete game shutout, striking out seven while giving up just four hits.
The lone run of the game was plated in the sixth inning when Denton Peveto lined a single to center field to score Kale Knox.
Buna carried that momentum into the deciding game, holding a 2-1 lead into the 5th inning. Central Heights tied things up in the top half of the inning only to see the Cougars go back on top 3-2.
The Blue Devils then took control of things with a five run sixth inning before adding another three in the seventh.
Buna's season ends at (21-11).
3A REGIONAL QUARTERFINALS
Buna (21-11) vs (15) Central Heights (29-6)
G1: Central Heights 5 Buna 4 (8 innings)
G2: Buna 1 Central Heights 0
G3: Central Heights 10 Buna 3
3A REGIONAL QUARTERFINALS, GAME 1
(13) Woodville 3 (7) Diboll 0
Woodville opened their 3A Regional Quarterfinal series with a gritty 3-0 win over Diboll.
The Eagles scored all three of their runs in the first at bat of the night. Ferguson doubled on a line drive to center so score Connor Risinger and Tate Hickman.
Later Karson Fowler would cap off the scoring with an RBI single to right field to plate Ferguson.
Meanwhile Connor Risinger was nails on the hill for the Eagles, going the distance while striking out five and scattering five Lumberjack hits.
3A REGIONAL QUARTERFINLAS, GAME 2 & 3
(7) Diboll 7 (13) Woodville 1
(7) Diboll 12 (13) Woodville 6
Woodville season came to a close Saturday night in Jasper with a pair of losses to seventh-ranked Diboll.
The Lumberjacks bounced back from their game one loss Friday night with 7-1 victory over the Eagles.
Diboll jumped ahead 4-0 during their first at bat of game three and never looked back. The Lumberjacks piled up eleven hits to eliminate Woodville, 12-6.
The Eagles wrap up their year with a (24-11) record.
3A REGIONAL QUARTERFINALS
(13) Woodville (24-11) vs (7) Diboll (34-3)
G1: Woodville 3 Diboll 0
G2: Diboll 7 Woodville 1
G3: Diboll 12 Woodville 6
1A REGIONAL SEMIFINALS, GAME 1
Chester 8 Kennard
Chester is one win away from the Class 1A Region III Championship after downing Kennard 8-6 Thursday night.
The Yellowjackets (17-7) were paced by Cole Clarke and Carsyn Whitworth who both had a pair of hits with two runs driven in.
Chester outhit the Tigers 9-6 while also taking advantage of six Kennard errors.
1A REGIONAL SEMFINALS, GAME 2 and 3
Kennard 9 Chester 6
Kennard 14 Chester 11
Chester's season came to a close Friday night with a pair of three-run losses to Kennard at Gary High School.
The Tigers evened the series with a 9-6 win before pulling out a wild shootout over the Yellowjackets, 14-11.
2A REGIONAL SEMIFINALS
Chester (17-9) vs Kennard (22-13)
G1: Chester 8 Kennard 6
G2: Kennard 9 Chester 6
G3: Kennard 14 Chester 11
(Kennard wins series 2-1)