Local storylines, players to watch at state baseball tournament

Argyle takes on Boerne Champion at 7 p.m. Thursday at Dell Diamond for a spot in the 5A championship game, which will be played at noon Saturday at Dell Diamond. The Eagles advanced to the 4A state championship game last year and are one win away from reaching the title game again in their first year at the 5A level.

The Record-Chronicle breaks down some storylines and players to keep an eye on as the Eagles travel to Round Rock.

Local history at state

As Argyle heads to its sixth state tournament in the last 10 years, it sits firmly as the most successful baseball program among the Record-Chronicle’s 11 UIL schools.

The Eagles have the most state appearances of any team in the area and the most state championships with three, all coming at the 4A level. No other area team has won one state title, according to state tournament brackets in the UIL’s online archives, though several have come close.

Ponder has the next most state tournament appearances with three, having lost in the 1A title game in 1993, the 2A title game in 2004 and the 2A semifinals in 2009.

Ryan and Pilot Point are next with two state tournament appearances apiece. The Raiders fell in the 4A state title game in 2003 and 2004, while the Bearcats lost in the 2A title game in 1995 and the 2A semifinals in 1996. Krum was defeated by Palmer in the 1A semifinals in 1982, and Lake Dallas dropped its 3A semifinal with Hallettsville in 1997.

Argyle looks to write the latest chapter in its storied history this season. The Eagles lost the 3A title game in 2014 before winning 4A titles in 2015, 2018 and 2019.

Coming off a 4A title game loss to Sinton last year, the Eagles found their way back to state in their first year at the 5A level. They have a chance to replicate their 2015 feat, when they won the state title in their first season in a new classification a year after falling in the title game.

Bumps in the road

A year after sweeping its way through the playoffs with 10 straight wins before falling in the 4A title game, Argyle has seen a few more challenges during its first 5A playoff run.

All but one of the Eagles’ best-of-three playoff series have gone to a decisive third game as they have faced elimination in seven different contests

A sweep of Abilene Wylie in the regional semifinals is the lone exception, as series with Midlothian, Fort Worth Arlington Heights, Burleson and Lubbock Cooper all went the distance. The latter three of those teams all won the series opener, leaving Argyle needing to win two straight games to stay alive each time.

The Eagles have found ways to respond, though, brushing off tough losses to turn in inspired performances with their backs against the wall.

Argyle will need to win two more elimination games to take home its fourth state title in program history without the luxury of being able to take a loss as they could in previous best-of-three series. It will be win-or-go-home for the Eagles the rest of the way, a situation they have survived time and again through the first five rounds of the playoffs.

Time will tell whether that remains true in Round Rock.

Players to watch

JC Davis, SS

Davis played an integral part in the Eagles’ run to the 4A title game last year and remains a cornerstone of this year’s squad. The senior Weatherford College signee was the Record-Chronicle’s 2022 Defensive Player of the Year and has delivered with key hits at various points, too. Davis has the ability to produce highlight plays with both his bat and glove that make him a must-watch at the state tourney.

Park Prater, OF/LHP

Prater has been a consistent presence both on the mound and at the plate for the Eagles throughout the season and has swung a particularly hot bat in the last four games. The junior had five RBIs in the series-clincher against Abilene Wylie and has one RBI in each of the last three games. His abilities as a pitcher and hitter could be crucial to Argyle’s championship aspirations.

Conor Lillis, OF/LHP

Perhaps not one of the Eagles’ headliners, Lillis has nonetheless turned in several pivotal performances during the playoffs. The senior threw 5 2/3 innings of two-hit ball along with posting three RBIs in the series-clinching win over Burleson, then allowed just one hit and one walk in five combined innings of relief in Games 2 and 3 against Lubbock Cooper and added a combined two RBIs at the plate.