The old sports adage often goes, "It's hard to beat a team three teams in the same season."
Well, Southlake Carroll's baseball team made it 4-for-4 against Trophy Club Byron Nelson this season, sweeping the Bobcats before the weekend to advance to the regional semifinals of the Class 6A Region I playoffs where they will meet Keller Timber Creek.
It is the sixth time in seven seasons Carroll has reached the fourth round, with the Dragons previously going 3-3 in the semifinals.
After allowing just one run total in sweeping the District 5-6A series, the Carroll pitching staff was again up to the task in the playoffs, allowing just two runs over 14 innings in the sweep.
Kyle Warden got Carroll out to a solid start, picking up the win in Game 1 after throwing 5.1 scoreless innings before giving way to Adam Stephenson for a clean 1.2 innings of relief. The pair combined to allow just six hits and three walks with five strikeouts.
Offensively, Carroll did all its damage in two innings, posting two in the top of the third before tacking on three more in the fourth.
Stephenson had a strong day at the plate in addition to his effort out of the bullpen, going 1-for-2 with a double, two RBIs and a walk, while Cole Johnson had two hits, a run and an RBI and Nik Millsap had three hits and drove in two.
Millsap stayed hot Friday in Game 2, pounding out three more hits, including a double and homer to finish with two RBIs.
Carroll six extra-base hits as a team, including two triples from Will Quillen, a three-bagger from Stephenson and a round-tripper from Johnson.
That was plenty of support for starting pitcher Nicco Cole.
The Dragons' ace went the distance, allowing two runs on four hits with 10 strikeouts.
With the win, Carroll advances to face Keller Timber Creek.
The Falcons won via sweep in the first two rounds before holding off Odessa in three games in the regional quarterfinals.
A win and Carroll would be one series win from a second consecutive berth to the state tournament in Round Rock.
Carroll will face Timber Creek in a best 2 out of 3 game series starting Thursday, May 24, at 7 p.m. at Dallas Jesuit. The series continues Friday, May 25, at 4:30 p.m. and if necessary the third and final game will begin just 30 minutes after the conclusion of Game 2.
To ensure Dragon fans can catch all the exciting action the JV/Varsity Dragon Football Spring Game to be played at Dragon Stadium has been pushed up to Wednesday May 23 at 7 p.m.