By Ronnie Hughes

Leader Correspondent

NEW CANEY — West Orange-Stark advances in the Class 4A playoffs with a huge win over Giddings in the Area round.

Giddings forced three games but the Mustangs would come from behind to take Game Three 11-8 after trailing 8-7 entering the bottom of the sixth inning.

The Mustangs put together a whole team effort in the Game Three win with Chad Dallas getting the win on the mound after entering the game in the fifth and down a run. KJ Miller hit the go-ahead RBI to lift his team with Ryan Ragsdale hitting a two run RBI for some security runs.

The Mustangs entered game two of the 4A area round with a one game advantage over the Giddings Buffaloes after a narrow, 3-2, win Thursday night. The Mustangs faltered in game two unable to closeout the series losing, 7-2.

The Stangs’ found themselves in an early 2-0 hole with the Buffaloes scoring in the bottom of the first and second innings. Dacota Kaufman scored one run and batted in another for Giddings.

West Orange finally got some offense going in the top of the third inning. Leading hitting, KJ Miller, singled to short stop to open the inning with Payton Robertson reaching on an E-4 to put two runners on and no outs. Jack Dallas launched a shot to left field to bring home Miller to pull the Stangs within one run of the Buffaloes. Robertson scooted across the plate a few batters later as Caleb Ramsey hit a two out RBI single with bases loaded. Blake Robinson popped out to first base leaving three Mustang runners stranded ending the side tied at two runs each.

Giddings went three-up-three-down in the bottom of third and fourth innings. The Mustangs were unable to take advantage of the defensive effort leaving a runner stranded in the top of the fourth and two runners in the top of the fifth inning. Buffaloes got help on a wild pitch that scored Dakota Best from third base to recapture the lead, 3-2, after five complete innings.

The Mustangs went for a quick one-two-three inning in the top of sixth which gave way to a huge inning for the Buffaloes. Two walks and a hit batter loaded the bases with Dacota Kaufman scoring Tyler Medac on an RBI single to shallow right field. The Mustangs faced a tough decision being down 4-2 and taking Payton Robertson out the game for Caleb Ramsey. Ramsey gave up three runs to follow. Ryan Garcia knocked in Shelby Becker on a line shot to center field. Zack Albers followed suit with an RBI single of his own and giving the Buffaloes a commanding, 7-2 lead, heading into the final inning.

The Mustangs were unable to produce anything as they were in the bottom of their lineup with the Buffaloes making quick work and forcing a crucial game three.

West Orange took control of Game Three early. A five-run bottom of the first was the jolt the Stangs’ needed after a lackluster finish to game two. KJ Miller kept his bat alive leading off with single to shallow left field. Following a Payton Robertson walk, Jack Dallas, hits a chopper to third to score Miller. Ragsdale loaded the bases with a single to right field and Chad Dallas kept the bats moving with a sac-fly RBI. The Stangs batted through the order with Blake Robinson capping off the inning with a an RBI single to score BB Tezeno. Stangs led, 5-0 after one inning of play.

After a drawn out first inning the two clubs both worked through a quick second inning to make way for a Giddings surge at the plate. Ryan Ragsdale was on the bump in game three for the Stangs’ and the Buffaloes started a rally on him as he’d give up five runs in the top of the third. Dacota Kaufman led off with a single to right center field. The Stangs got a quick two outs and looked like they’d get out of the inning without any damage. Kyle Jones took a full count pitch though to load the bases for the Buffaloes with Tyler Medac hitting a two-run double to deep left to pull game within one run, 5-4. Carson Becker tied the game at five runs each with an RBI single to left field.

The Mustangs kept pushing forward with two runs in the bottom of third. Ragsdale led off with a monster double to right field with Chad Dallas reaching on a chopper up the middle to put runners in the corner. Ragsdale scored on an attempted pick off leading to a wild throw. Tezeno later scored for a 7-5 Mustang lead after three complete innings.

The Buffaloes came stampeding back with Ryan Garcia scoring in the top of fourth to pull game to 7-6. The Mustang bats went cold following a Buffalo pitching change.

Giddings slipped two runs across in the top of the sixth inning to overtake the Mustangs. Garcia scored his third run of the game with Dakota Best hitting his second RBI to drive home Kaufman to give the Buffaloes a 8-7 advantage heading into the bottom half of the inning.

WO-S quickly got two runners on the bag in the bottom of the sixth. Tre Bernard led off inning with a single and Ronald Carter reached on a fielder choice. Bernard scored the tying run on a wild pitch as he was able to scamper in from third base. KJ Miller steps to the plate in an all familiar situation. Runner in scoring position and the chance to give his team the lead. Miller stepped into a 3-1 count and hits into a sac-fly to score Carter and the give the Stangs the lead, 9-8. Jack Dallas would see two outs with one on after Payton Robertson walked. Dallas ripped a shot past short to put two on the bags again with Ragsdale due up and facing two outs. Ragsdale took the first pitch to the center field wall to score both Dallas and Robertson to boost the Mustangs out front, 11-8.

The Mustangs entered the top of the seventh just three outs away from advancing to the quarterfinal round to face the winner of Bridge City and Belleville. Chad Dallas quickly sat down the first batter and the defense cleaned up the final two to secure the victory that ushers the Mustangs into the next round.

The Mustangs took Game One Thursday night 3-2.

A stellar defensive effort led by first baseman Caleb Ramsey, who stretched himself to the limits to snag every ball thrown his way to keep runners off the bags was key in the Mustang victory. Jack Dallas notched 11 strikeouts en route to the complete game victory and is now 2-0, in the 2016 post season after torching Splendora last week and he moves to 7-5 overall.

The Mustangs gave up two early hits in the top of the first inning to the Buffaloes, but Jack Dallas battled back notching two strikeouts to leave two runners stranded. KJ Miller kept his stellar season at the plate going leading off with a single to right field. Miller is batting right at .500 on the season. Following a Payton Robertson fly-out, Jack Dallas, would bring home Miller on an RBI single just past the first baseman. Mustangs held a 1-0 lead after one inning of play.

Jack continued his dominance on the bump as he’d strikeout all three batters in the top of the second making it five consecutive going back to the first inning. WO-S went three-up-three-down to make for a quick second inning before notching another run across in the third. Following another quick three out inning for the Buffaloes, KJ Miller led off the bottom of the inning with a single for the Mustangs. Robertson hit a monster triple to bring home Miller while an RBI sac fly by Jack Dallas would score Robertson for a 3-0 Mustang advantage after three complete.

Zack Albers scored the first run of the night for the Buffaloes after stealing home on a wild pitch. Albers led off the inning with a double, but the Mustang defense would prevent more runners from reaching the bags.

The Mustang bats went stale for the remainder of the game leaving six batters stranded over the next three innings. The Buffalo were only able to muster one more run against the Mustangs with Jack Dallas striking out the final four of six batters.