BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Wylie’s Farrar, Moore pitch way to shared honor

Coming off a bi-district sweep of Plainview in which Reese Farrar and Rylee Moore both pitched five-inning one-hitters, it was going to be difficult for Wylie’s co-aces to repeat that performance against El Paso Parkland in the area round.

And yet, they did.

Farrar pitched her second one-hitter of the playoffs while Moore tossed a five-inning no-hitter to fuel the Lady Bulldogs past the Lady Matadors 20-1 and 10-0 and into the Region I-4A quarterfinals, where WHS (30-6) will face off with 36-1 El Paso Hanks this week.

In the process, coach Heather Collier’s dynamic pitching duo claimed our penultimate Big Country Preps Player of the Year award of the 2022-23 school year.

Farrar’s start was similar to the one she delivered in a 11-1 win over Plainview in Wylie’s playoff opener, when she gave up a first-inning triple to account for her only hit allowed while striking out 14 and walking none. Against Parkland, another first-inning triple contributed to the only run Farrar would allow as the right-hander struck out 10 and walked three while no-hitting the Lady Matadors the rest of the way.

Moore then followed Farrar’s gem with one of her own, tossing a five-inning no-hitter in which she struck out two, walked none and drew 12 groundouts. A third-inning hit batter and a fifth-inning error were the only things separating Moore from a perfect game.

The stellar effort against Parkland was Moore’s second shutout of the playoffs as she limited Plainview to one hit and two walks with eight strikeouts in a 10-0 bi-district win the week before.

Through four playoff starts so far, Farrar and Moore have combined to allow two runs (one earned) on three hits and five walks while tallying a remarkable 30 strikeouts in 20 innings. 

The two seniors will try to keep it going this week against Hanks, when that series kicks off at 6 p.m. Friday in Monahans. 

BIG COUNTRY PREPS TOP 10

1. Summer Smith, pitcher, Jr., Hermleigh — Was 4 for 5 with a homer, two triples and a double in last week’s 28-3 area round rout of Van Horn.

She also tossed a two hitter in the circle, fanning 12.

2. Maddox Stewart, pitcher/infielder, So., Gordon — Hit a combined 3-for-7, with two walks, five runs scored and two RBIs in two wins over Meridian.

He also threw a combined 7 1/3 innings, allowing no earned runs and no hits.  This included 5 1/3 innings of hitless ball in Game 2 that saw him pulled due to pitch count with a no-hitter still intact.

Stewart led the effort to earn the Gordon Longhorns a ticket to the second round for the first time since 2002.

3. Hannah Wells, pitcher, So., Coahoma — Tossed a four-hit shutout in last week’s 4-0 area round win over Holliday, striking out 11 in the process. 

She was also 2-for-2 with a double and two RBIs to help CHS (29-3) advance to the Region I-3A quarterfinals. 

4. Abby Wolf, pitcher, So., Bangs — Earned two complete game wins in the circle in last weeks 2-0 area round sweep of Hamlin, including a 3-1 win in Game 1 that saw her scatter seven Hamlin hits and strand 11 base runners. 

At the plate she was a combined 3 for 8 with three RBIs over two games. 

5. Nick Miller, pitcher, Sr., Anson — Closed his career on a high note, working 6.2 Innings in a 9-5 bi-district win over Hamilton. 

Miller allowed only one earned run on four hits with one walk and 14 strikeouts. 

6. Reese Borho, Tye Briscoe and Braden Regala, outfielders, Sr./So./Jr., Wylie — This trio had quite a series as Wylie swept Plainview with run-rule victories of 15-5 and 12-2 in the bi-district round.

Borho went 3 for 3 with a triple, a home run, four walks, six runs and two RBIs, while Briscoe finished the week 4 for 5 with a triple, two walks, five runs and five RBIs. 

Regala, meanwhile, went 4 for 8 at the plate with a double and four runs and robbed a three-run home run in Game 1 to keep momentum on the Bulldogs’ side in the fourth inning.

7. Tyler Wilburn, pitcher, Jr., Anson — Worked eight innings in a 4-3 10-inning loss to Hamilton, allowing three earned runs on seven hits.  He pitched to contact, walking two and striking out three. 

He also helped himself at the plate, going 1 for 4 with two RBIs.

8. Rylan Stokes, catcher, So., Abilene High — Was 3 for 4 with a triple, walk and five RBIs through two games in last week’s bi-district series with Amarillo high. 

The Eagles swept their bi-district series with Amarillo, 6-5 and 13-4.

9. Owen Huntsinger, Sr., Brownwood — Had two hits and five RBIs in a 16-4 win over Lake View in Game 1 of last week’s 4A bi-district series won by the Lions.

Brownwood (21-8) advances to face Wichita Falls High (17-13) in the Region I-4A area round with Game 1 set for 5 p.m. Thursday in Glen Rose.

10. Luke Heller, pitcher, Jr., Stephenville — Tossed a complete game one-hit shutout in last week’s 12-0 big-district win over Levelland last week. The Yellowjackets closed out the series with a 13-2 win in Game 2.

Stephenville (21-12-1) will face Krum (16-17) in the area round, with Game 2 slated for 6:30 p.m. Thursday in Weatherford.