ROUND ROCK — Ira’s Class 1A state semifinal game against Chester wasn’t always pretty Wednesday at Dell Diamond. But the good thing for coach Toby Goodwin and his Bulldogs is it didn’t need to be.

IHS was outhit 8-4, had three errors lead to four unearned runs and trailed 5-0 just three innings into its first-ever state tournament game. And when the Bulldogs did finally rally, they did the bulk of their damage with their bats on their shoulders, taking advantage of seven walks, two hit batsmen and two wild pitches on their way to a 10-5 win.

But in the end, the come-from-behind victory over a feisty Yellow Jackets squad was enough to earn the Bulldogs their first state championship appearance in program history. And that reality is as beautiful as Goodwin could have ever imagined it would be.