Baseball: Carroll's Maisto blanks Flower Mound in regional quarters

COLLEYVILLE -- Lady Panther field at Colleyville Heritage High School had just about 40 spectators taking in the action Friday night. They weren't there to see a softball game, however.

The fans were spillover from a packed Panther field as observers took advantage of any area they could with a vantage point of the field for a highly-anticipated regional quarterfinal baseball showdown between Flower Mound and Southlake Carroll.

And just as Carroll head coach Larry Hughes had anticipated, a pitcher's duel ensued. In the end, it was Carroll's Greg Maisto who was at his finest, surrendering just one hit and besting Flower Mound starter Cody Gunter as the Dragons secured a 3-0 victory.

"What an atmosphere," Hughes said. "For high school baseball, there isn't a better atmosphere than this. I suggested the field and was here last year for a Frisco Wakeland and Highland Park game and it was just awesome. That's the neatest part about this is getting everyone packed in and involved. And it's always fun when you win."

Carroll scored twice in the top of the fourth on run-scoring doubles from Kenny Hill and Tyler Brown before tacking on a third run in the top of the fifth.

Maisto, meanwhile, went the distance for the Dragons, surrendering just a one-out double in the bottom of the second inning and recording seven strikeouts.

"Greg Maisto," Hughes said. "What a game. I know he didn't strike out a ton, but one an inning against a team like Flower Mound and a shutout ... we'll take that. He did an outstanding job and that was the whole idea behind playing one game with all of their left-handed hitters."

For Flower Mound, a team that had won its last nine games in district and the playoffs sees its season come to a close after advancing to the third round for the first time since 2009.

"We went up against a good pitcher tonight," said Marte Amrine, Flower Mound head coach. "He came out and threw his best game. He rose up to the task tonight and shut us down. That's what I told our guys. Baseball is a humbling game. One minute you're the hero and the next you feel like the lowest person in the world. That's what makes baseball so great. It's the ups and downs and highs and lows. It's just like life. But these guys have enough character and enough courage that even though they are down tonight, they're going to move on and do great things.

"I've enjoyed every minute of it and that makes it heartbreaking. To know how hard they've worked and everything they put into this season. Tonight just wasn't our night."

It appeared it may be Flower Mound's night early as Gunter settled into a groove on the bump. The senior didn't surrender a hit in the first two innings, struck out the side in order in the third and whiffed Carroll's leadoff hitter in the fourth.

However, after getting ahead in the count with two quick strikes, Gunter hit Carroll's Darien McLemore putting a runner at first. Moments later, Hill made Gunter pay, roping a double down the third-base line for a 1-0 lead. Brown followed with a double of his own to put the Dragons in front, 2-0.

"I thought Cody did a good job," Amrine said. "He held them to two hits, it just so happened those two hits were huge. They came at a big time and they were able to scratch runs. They hit a couple of shots and took advantage."

In the top of the fifth, Carroll tacked on insurance when Quinn Brankin opened the inning with a double and later came around to score. Brankin scored on a double-play, touching home before the second out was recorded after a Carroll batter made a wide turn at first following a Flower Mound throwing error.

From there, Maisto recorded eight consecutive outs before surrendering a walk with two down in the bottom of the seventh.

Maisto's biggest jam came in the bottom of the second when Flower Mound's Kyle St. Pierre walked with one out and moved to third on a double by Alec Landers. The hit prompted Hughes to bring his infield in despite being in the second inning and Maisto promptly got Flower Mound's Jett Meenach on a liner to third before getting out the inning by fielding a grounder off the bat of Anthony Soriano.

"We knew it was going to be a pitcher's duel," Hughes said. "I didn't feel like we could give up even one run. I was hoping we could get the strikeout or a slow grounder. Greg's fastball moves like crazy and it's hard to pick up.

"He had great composure in this kind of environment. It was pretty hostile for a kid to tune it out and stay focused against a good hitting team like that is pretty incredible."

"We knew their pitcher was tough and it was going to be a battle," Amrine added. "We didn't play our best game, but it's because they put pressure on us. That's what happens."

Carroll advances to the regional semifinals where they will face the winner between El Paso Montwood and El Paso Americas.

"They're going to get to move on and I hope they keep playing," Amrine said. "Coach Hughes and I are good friends and I have a lot of respect for him. I hope they make it all the way to Round Rock."

For Flower Mound, though, the season ended in disappointment.

"We had an outstanding group of seniors and an outstanding team," Amrine said. "It's one the funnest teams I've ever been around and one of the best teams I've ever been around. I loved every minute of it and I wouldn't trade anything for this group."

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