The Houston County Bears kept its season alive Friday night with a dramatic comeback victory over the Woodward Academy War Eagles in Game 2 of their Elite Eight playoff series, forcing a winner-take-all Game 3.
Woodward Academy took control early in Game One of the doubleheader. Houston County plated the first run in the second inning, but the War Eagles answered quickly with a three-run homer in the bottom half to take the lead for good. Woodward continued to add insurance runs throughout the game while Houston County struggled to keep pace offensively. The Bears managed to trim the deficit to 4-2 and later 6-3, but Woodward pulled away late with four additional runs to secure a 10-3 victory and snap Houston County’s six-game winning streak.
Game 2 appeared to be heading in Woodward’s favor as well. The War Eagles scored three runs in the second inning and steadily built a 6-1 advantage through five and a half innings while Houston County’s offense remained quiet. Isaiah Galason delivered an RBI grounder on a fielder’s choice to cut the deficit to 6-2, but the turning point came moments later.
With momentum beginning to shift, George Bassett hit an infield single back to the pitcher. A rushed throw to first was late and skipped away, allowing Bassett to drive in a run while another scored on the error to make it 6-4. Peyton Nauss followed with an RBI single to trim the lead to one run. Houston County threatened to do even more damage, but the inning ended with a strikeout looking that stranded a runner in scoring position.
Houston County’s pitching staff then delivered in a critical moment. After Ja’Khi Wilson allowed a double with one out, Raymond Byrd entered in relief and escaped the inning to keep the Bears within striking distance heading into the seventh.
The final inning produced the dramatic finish. Houston County loaded the bases before Noah Odom was hit by a pitch, forcing home the tying run and evening the score at 6-6. Moments later, Galason bluffed a steal of home before retreating to third. The Woodward pitcher was ruled for a balk after being caught off guard, allowing Galason to score the winning run in stunning fashion as Houston County walked off with a 7-6 victory.
The series is now tied 1-1 and will head back to Woodward Academy for a decisive Game 3. The winner will advance to the state semifinals at home against the Pope Greyhounds. For Houston County, it marks the program’s first playoff Game 3 since its quarterfinal home matchup against Blessed Trinity in 2023.
