Published: May 12, 2008 12:23 am      

Mildred defeats Bells in Game 3, 19-12

ROYSE CITY — Mildred’s got a date with Gunter Friday, thanks to an offensive awakening Saturday.

The Eagles held on to beat Bells, 19-12, late Saturday in Game 3 of a best-of-three Class 2A, Region II area round baseball series at Bulldog Field in Royse City.

Tenth-ranked Mildred (25-4) doubled its hit production from the first two games with 20, as eight players in the lineup had multi-hit outings. Drew Burnett went 4-for-5 with a double and four RBIs, while brother Trevor Burnett was 2-for-5 with a three-run home run and five RBIs. Justin Aldama added three hits from the designated hitter’s spot.

The 19 runs in the final almost doubled the Eagles’ totals from the first two games in which they scored six and four runs. But even with a lead of seven runs going into the bottom of the seventh, Mildred couldn’t feel safe.

After falling behind 7-0, Bells (16-13) scored seven runs in the third to tie it.

“They’ve got a good ball club,” Mildred coach Robert Barber said. “They were scrappy. They just wouldn’t go away.”

Mildred’s playoff quest continues with a one-game playoff against Gunter. It is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday at Frisco High’s Smotherman Field.

Mildred started sophomore righty Miles Weaver in the finale, and while the offense was staking him to a big lead early, he set the Panthers down in order in the first two innings. He had two outs with two runners on in the third and thought he had a third strike that was called ball four to load the bases. He hit the next batter on the first pitch to score a run, and three straight Bells hits – including a three-run home run – got the Panthers back in it.

Weaver scattered nine hits over 6 1/3, and gave way to Drew Burnett in the sixth after he couldn’t put Bells away leading 18-8. In the seventh, Bells got a leadoff single from Reed Klose, but Burnett retired the seventh, eighth and ninth batters on called third strikes to end the game.