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Looking to make history

McIntire, Ellis lead Jackets into area round

One of the youngest players on the Boyd Yellowjackets’ roster has already stepped into a big leadership role this season.

Freshman Braden McIntire has developed into the Boyd ace.

HEADED TO AREA — Boyd freshman pitcher Braden McIntire and senior catcher Rustyn Ellis will lead the Yellowjackets into a 3A Region II area series against Prairiland this week. Messenger photo by Micah McCartney.

“It’s been a really fun ride this season,” McIntire said. “We had a little rough stretch in the middle of the season, but we have picked it back up here lately. We’ve been really good on defense this season, and our pitching has been really strong.

“I had a few nerves at the beginning of the season being a freshman on the varsity team. But they kind of went away as the season went on. They ramped back up in the series against Paradise because the district title was on the line.”

Boyd started the postseason last week with an 18-0 rout of Dallas Madison, its first playoff win in 18 seasons.

McIntire held Madison hitless and struck out five in two frames. Boyd’s three pitchers allowed just one hit.

“That was a pretty big momentum push,” McIntire said. “We hit the ball really well in that game, and our pitchers were really good. Hopefully that [momentum] will help us as we go deeper in the playoffs.”

The freshman knows he has a pair of watchful eyes on him — his father and coach, Brad McIntire.

“It definitely adds a little more weight on my shoulders playing for my dad,” McIntire said. “If I mess up, people think I’m only out there because I’m the coach’s son. I really have to overachieve than what most kids have to do to prove I’m able to play.”

With a freshman on the mound, the Yellowjackets have turned to an experienced player behind the plate to serve as a mentor, senior four-year starter Rustyn Ellis.

“This team wants to go to Round Rock,” Ellis said. “We want to play in that state tournament. We’ve played well pretty much all year, but had a few early bumps in some tournaments. We finally got together and realized we had to do the little things right to win some games.

“As a senior catcher, it’s important to have someone behind the plate that knows and understands the game. I have a lot of experience, so I’ve been in a lot of different situations. I can help calm these younger pitchers down after they walk a couple in a row, and help them to focus on what they have to do to get us out of the inning.”

The Yellowjackets (26-5) are in the middle of a 3A Region II area series against Prairiland at Frisco Reedy High School.

Game 1 was Thursday. Game 2 is 7:30 p.m. Friday. If necessary, the final game will be at 2 p.m. Saturday.

“Prairiland is a young, scrappy team. They only have three seniors,” said Boyd coach Brad McIntire. “They’ve got a really good lefty on the mound that we’ll have to compete against. They don’t give up, and they’re going to fight until the end. We know we have to stay locked in and play a complete game to get a win.”

The Patriots lost Game 1 of their bi-district series against Pottsboro last week, 9-0. Prairiland rallied to claim a 3-2 win in the second game.

Trailing 7-4 in the fourth inning of Game 3, Prairiland rallied to claim the series with a 10-9 victory.

The Boyd coach is hoping the Yellowjackets will supply plenty of offense.

“We’ve got to hit, plain and simple,” Brad McIntire said. “Our pitching and defense have been good all year, and they keep us in every game. We’ve got to be able to score some runs. If we do that, I think we have a good chance.”

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