Overton and Collinsville will open the UIL baseball state championship schedule Thursday morning with a showdown that features one of the most dangerous arms in the 2A bracket and a team chasing a repeat.
Opening pitch will be bright and early - slated for 9 a.m. at Dell Diamond in Round Rock.
Follow along in the space marked below, as we will be posting previews, live scoring and updates from this game, and all 11 state championship games across Class 1A-6A this week,
The Mustangs are chasing the program’s first state title behind a playoff-tested roster and the all-around dominance of junior Rylan Holleman. He enters the final 12-0 on the mound with a 2.19 ERA and is also hitting .457 with eight home runs. Overton (31-8) has responded to adversity throughout the postseason, including back-to-back series wins over Gary and Burton (each series lasting three games) to reach Round Rock.
Collinsville (31-4) is no stranger to the state tournament stage. The Pirates are the defending 2A champions and back in Round Rock with a 10-1 playoff mark and a young but explosive core. Sophomores Jaxon Jenkins and Jaxon Spivey and freshmen Caysen Schafer and Paxton Davidson have been key all postseason, but it’s seniors Garrett Trevino and Cash Morgan along with junior catcher Peyton Davidson who give the group its backbone.
Both teams have been pushed along the way. Collinsville pulled off a 14-13 win in 9 innings in a decisive Game 3 against Windthorst in the second round, but have not lost since. Overton also needed three games to get past Gary and Burton.
This game has the potential to kick off state championship week with a bang.
Follow High School On SI - Texas for coverage of this game and every UIL state championship from Round Rock throughout the week.
Overton vs. Collinsville: Texas high school baseball Class 2A Division II state championship; live scoring, recap
Collinsville
Paxton Davidson, SS; Jaxon Jenkins, 3B; Peyton Davidson, C; Cash Morgan, 1B; Garrett Trevino, P; Casen Schafer, CF; Noe Cantu, DH; Jaxon Spivey, 2B; Brandon Cantu, RF; Riley Patterson, LF.
Overton
Mason Rowe, SS; Bryson Bobbitt, 2B; Brody Brown, 3B; Rylan Holleman, P; Braxton Harper, 1B; Landon Hill, RF; Bryce Still, C; Joey Zalman, CF; Jayden Edwards, LF.
A throwing error and a bunt single led off the game, giving Collinsville two-on with nobody out in the top of the first.
Overton is fighting itself here a bit in the first inning. Collinsville commits another error - this one on another bunt a bunt - and Collinsville has the bases loaded with nobody out.
RUN(s) - Cash Morgan ripped an RBI single through the right side to drive in a pair of runs and Collinsville leads 2-0 with nobody out.
Another bunt single allowed Collinsville to re-load the bases with nobody out.
RUN(s) - Another bunt and another Overton error: its third miscue of the game - a throwing error at first on a miscommunication by the pitcher and second baseman - allows two more runs to score for Collinsville to make it 4-0 with 1 out.
Collinsville got four runs on two hits and three errors and leads 4-0 after half of an inning.
Both teams seemingly have some first-inning jitters. Overton's leadoff man, Mason Rowe, reaches on a throwing error and both leadoff batters began the game the same way - on an E6.
Back-to-back hit batters followed the error to give Overton life, as it loaded the bases with nobody out.
The half-inning began the same way, but that's all. After Overton loads the bases with nobody out, right hander Garrett Trevino worked back from a 3-1 count to get a huge strikeout and then coaxed a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning. Overton gets no runs.
After Jaxon Jenkins is hit by a pitch to open the inning, he's cut down on the bases when Overton catcher Bryce Still nabbed him stealing at second.
A much cleaner inning for the Mustangs, as Rylan Holleman gets Collinsville in order. It's still 4-0.
Landed Hill led off the bottom of the second with Overton's first hit of the game - a single to left - and he moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by catcher Bryce Still.
After a 1-out walk, an errant pickoff throw went into center, giving Overton runners at first and third. But Collinsville escaped the jam again, turning a 1-3-2 double play on a sacrifice bunt - catching a runner at the plate after he broke for home on the play to first.
Overton has now had five baserunners through two innings and gotten nothing to show for it.
Overton left fielder Jayden Edwards saves extra-bases with a sprawling catch in left field. The ball was headed into the corner and Edwards went into a full dive to make the catch near the line for the inning's first out.
Holleman strands a Collinsville runner at third - catching him in a rundown for the third out.
Overton got a pair of runners in the third inning but got nothing to show for it.
Southpaw Landon Hill came on in relief for Overton to start the fourth and he gets a strikeout and fly balls for a quick 1-2-3 inning.
After a two-out walk, Jayden Edwards doubled into the left field corner on a 1-2 pitch to put runners at second and third with two outs.
Another missed opportunity for Overton and another jam escaped by Garrett Trevino. He gets a grounder on the infield to end yet another threat and preserve the shutout.
Collinsville gets its leadoff man on with a walk, but a good pickoff move by Landon Hill eliminates the runner and sparks a 1-2-3 inning. Despite the walk, Hill is dealing out there today in relief.
It's another 1-2-3 inning for Overton. Credit Collinsville starter Garrett Trevino: his performance was not flashy, but he quietly dealt through the first five innings, pitching out of tough spots all day. It's been a gutsy performance for the right hander.
Collinsville got runner on with two outs on a hit-by-pitch, but Hill shuts down the threat and Overton gets its turn with six outs remaining in its season.
Overton drew a 2-out walk but goes quietly again on a slow roller back to the mound. The Mustangs have had lots of chances today, but just hasn't been able to string together hits at the right time.
Collinsville got its first extra-base hit of the game - a leadoff double by Paxton Davidson to the gap in left center - and Jaxon Jenkins followed with a bunt single to put runners on the corners with nobody out.
RUN(s) - Davidson scores on a double steal and an error. Collinsville leads 5-0 and Jenkins goes to third on the throwing error home. Now we have an argument at the plate from Overton's coaching staff, but it's not clear why. Umpires talked it over and seemingly nothing happened. There didn't seem to be anything controversial on the play. Collinsville leads 5-0.
RUN(s) - More insurance for Collinsville, as Peyton Davidson ripped a double into left field to drive in Jenkins and leave runners at first and second with no outs. Collinsville leads 6-0.
Collinsville has scored two runs and has loaded the bases with no outs on a double, single, double, hit batter and a walk to begin the inning.
RUN(s) - A walk with the bases loaded made it 7-0. The bases remained loaded and Overton went to the bullpen after the free pass.
RUN(s) - After a pitching change, Collinsville picked up another run on a four-pitch walk with the bases loaded to force in a run, making it 8-0.
RUN(s) - Paxton Davidson drove in two runs on a single to left to make it 10-0.
RUN(s) - Jaxon Jenkins lined a 2-run single to left and Collinsville extended its lead to 12-0.
Jayden Edwards led off the bottom of the seventh with a double for Overton to give him a 2-for-3 day with 2 doubles.
GAME OVER! Casen Schafer got a fly ball to center and Collinsville claimed the state championship in back-to-back seasons.
Two crooked innings - aided by walks, Overton miscues and some timely hits - helped Collinsville score four runs in the first inning and eight more in the seventh to claim its third state championship in program history.
Jaxon Jenkins was named named UIL finals game MVP after going 3-for-4 with 2 RBI and scoring two runs. Starting pitcher Garrett Trevino (12-1) earned the win in the championship game after pitching 4 scoreless innings, allowing 3 hits with 2 strikeouts and 3 walks. Casen Schafer picked up the save in relief.
Paxton Davidson had 2 hits, including a double, and scored three times for Collinsville, while Cash Morgan and Brandon Cantu had 2 RBI apiece.
Batting in the nine-hole, Jayden Edwards led Overton's offense with 2 doubles.