ANSON — A year ago, the Anson Tigers couldn’t have come much closer to reaching the state tournament. Stopped within one victory of a trip to Round Rock, the Tigers fell in three games to New Deal in the Region I-2A championship series in Seminole. 

At first glance, a Game 3 loss to New Deal was a disaster, ending in a 10-2 loss. But Anson was trailing 4-2 after five complete innings — still competing for a shot at state when New Deal broke things open with s six-run sixth inning. 

That is the memory that is currently fueling the 2022 Anson Club, which is hoping to navigate its way back through a tough Region I bracket to reach the promised land for Class 2A teams: Dell Diamond in Round Rock for the state tournament.