Frisco Wakeland baseball team knocks off Rockwall-Heath again in Texas

Last year, the Rockwall-Heath baseball team rolled into the Class 4A state quarterfinals with only one loss in 40 games. Then the Hawks got clobbered by Wakeland (Frisco) two days in a row – by a combined score of 26-9 – and the season was over.

Rockwall-Heath got another chance at Wakeland on Saturday, albeit with a lot less at stake, as the teams met in a nondistrict game. It was much more competitive this time, but Wakeland still came out on top by a score of 6-5.

"It's not a district game, and it's not a regional final like the last time we played them, but it's still important to win," Wakeland coach Barry Rose told The Dallas Morning News. "It's kind of a measuring-stick game. We wanted to come out and play well today, and I think for the most part, we did."

Wakeland got a complete game from Ryan O'hearn, and shortstop Sean McCracken was 3-for-4 with two doubles. Rockwall-Heath's Jovan Hernandez, who earlier this season tied a state record before his hitting streak ended at 42 games, went 0-for-4.

There's a good chance the teams could meet again in the playoffs. Both are in 4A Region II again this year, and in The Dallas Morning News' area 4A rankings, Rockwall-Heath (17-3) is No. 2 and Wakeland (16-4) is No. 3.

Highland Park (Dallas) (18-2) is No. 1 in the Dallas-area 4A rankings and also tops the state coaches poll.

PLANO EAST TOPS HEBRON IN SOFTBALL SHOWDOWN
With two outs in the bottom of the seventh last week, Plano East (No. 4 in the 5A state rankings) trailed Hebron (No. 8) by a run. Then sophomore catcher Kierin Stevens came to the plate and blasted a two-run homer to give Plano East the 2-1 win.

Plano East junior pitcher Holly Kern, who has orally committed to Texas, threw a four-hitter. Hebron junior pitcher Heather Stearns, a Baylor commitment, threw a three-hitter and struck out 13.

MANSFIELD TIMBERVIEW SOCCER TEAM WINS TIGHT DISTRICT RACE
On the final day of the regular season in District 5-5A, four girls soccer teams had a chance to win the district title: Mansfield Timberview (Arlington), Mansfield, Midlothian and Mansfield Legacy. Timberview beat Mansfield Legacy, 2-1, while Mansfield and Midlothian played to a 1-1 tie, giving Timberview the title and the district's top seed in the playoffs.

The 5A boys and girls soccer playoffs begin next week. The 4A playoffs begin a few days earlier, with games on Thursday and Friday.

PLANO WEST, SOUTHLAKE CARROLL HOCKEY TEAMS SEEK NATIONAL TITLE
Plano West, this year's Gold Tier state hockey champions, and runner-up Carroll (Southlake) will begin competition Wednesday in the National High School Hockey Championships at Edge Arena in Bensenville, Ill.
Plano West plays Long Beach (N.Y.) at 6 p.m. and Carroll plays Arlington (N.Y.) at 2 p.m. Plano West and Carroll are the only Texas representatives in the 24-team competition, which begins with pool play Wednesday and concludes with championship games on Saturday.

TOP PERFORMERS
* Jake Howeth, Highland Park baseball: The senior, who was a district MVP in football as a quarterback and defensive back, went 3-for-3 with three RBIs in a 5-2 win over Wylie. Howeth singled, doubled and homered in the win.

* Alicia Pille, Royse City softball: The senior, who has signed with Kansas, pitched a one-hit shutout and struck out 19 in a 7-0 win over Texarkana Texas High. The performance followed back-to-back perfect games she threw against Mount Pleasant and Sulphur Springs.

NEWS AND VIEWS
Garland Lakeview star shooting guard Toddrick Gotcher's team came up short in the 5A state final earlier this month, but he got some good news Sunday when Texas Tech hired former Texas A&M and Kentucky coach Billy Gillispie. Gotcher, who signed with Tech before coach Pat Knight was fired, sounded excited via his Twitter feed. One tweet: "Just found out that Billy Gillispie is the coach! New beginning...ready to play under him! Gym at 3!" Gillispie watched Gotcher play at the state tournament. … The 47th Jesuit-Sheaner Relays, one of the state's top high school track and field meets, is Saturday at Jesuit High School in Dallas. The meet will feature about 700 athletes from across Texas and some from out of state. The meet has often been plagued by chilly weather, but this weekend's forecast looks good. Schedule and information can be found at jsrelays.org.

Matt Wixon is the high school sports columnist for The Dallas Morning News. He can be reached at mwixon@dallasnews.com or on Twitter @mattwixon.