ROUND ROCK — Ropes bid for a UIL Class 2A Division II state championship fell short Thursday, June 4, after Burton captured a 6-1 victory at Dell Diamond.
The Eagles were held to four hits by Burton pitcher Tyler Witt, who earned MVP honors after tossing a complete game. Witt allowed one run, struck out six and walked one to finish the season with a 16-0 record.
Ropes tied the game 1-1 in the fourth inning when Jauvyth Cruz lined an RBI single to center field.
Burton responded in the bottom half of the inning on an RBI single by Issac Matthies and broke the game open with a four-run fifth inning to take a 6-1 lead.
Maddox Sierra paced the Eagles after going 3 for 3 and accounting for three of the team’s four hits. Cruz drove in Ropes lone run in the loss.
Ropes starter Elijah Flores took the loss after allowing one run in two innings.
The state runner-up Eagles finished 32-7 after advancing to the state championship game for the first time in program history.
2 p.m. — Burton’s Tyler Witt with a complete-game performance to clinch the Class 2A Division II state championship for the Panthers. Burton defeats Ropes, 6-1.
1:45 p.m. — Burton is three outs away from a state championship. Panthers lead 6-1 going to the top of the 7th.
1:25 p.m. — Easton Witt and Rueben Rodriguez are plunked in back-to-back at-bats. The second pushes across a run with the bases loaded. Then Ryder Briggs with a soft tapper for an RBI groundout. Eli Jaeger with a two-run double and Burton is creating some separation, still batting leading 6-1 Bot 5.
1:15 p.m. — Panthers work around a leadoff hit to escape the inning. Burton leads 2-1 going to the 5th.
1:06 p.m. — Burton takes a 2-1 lead on an RBI single. Panthers still batting with one out in the fourth.
12:58 p.m. — The Eagles’ Jauvyth Cruz hits an RBI single to tie the game at 1 with two outs in the fourth inning.
12:41 p.m. — Flores starting to settle in as he retires Burton in order. Panthers still lead 1-0 as we head to the fourth inning.
12:37 p.m. — Ropes gets out of another jam as Flores pitches around a leadoff hit. Burton still leads 1-0 going to the third.
12:31 p.m. — Eagles retired in order. Burton to the plate leading 1-0.
12:25 p.m. — Flores pitches out of a jam as Burton scores one run on one hit. Panthers lead 1-0 going to the second inning.
12:21 p.m. — Cason Kucel hits a sacrafice fly to give Burton a 1-0 lead in the first.
12:14 p.m. — Tyler Witt hits a leadoff triple for Burton. Panthers threatening early.
12:09 p.m. — Ropes retired in order in the bottom of the first. Elijah Flores heads to the mound for the bottom half.
12:05 p.m. — Underway at Dell Diamond. Ropes is the visiting team and will bat first.
11:39 a.m. — Starting lineup for Ropes.
11:16 a.m. — Ropes is warming up on the field moments after district mate New Home claimed the Class 2A Division I state championship with a 7-2 win against Iola.
Ropes 2026 playoffs
Bi-district: Sudan (10-1, 13-3)
Area: West Texas (10-2, 13-3)
Region semifinals: Albany (3-1)
Region final: Gruver (2-0, 4-3)
State semifinals: Collinsville (4-2, 4-3)
Burton 2026 playoffs
Bi-district: Evadale (8-0, 7-4)
Area: Bartlett (15-1)
Region semifinals: Port Aransas (13-0, 2-4, 15-0)
Region final: Shiner (1-0)
State semifinals: Beckville (8-6)
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Ropes’ historic season ends with state championship loss to Burton
Reporting by Quinton Martinez and Rey Castillo, Corpus Christi Caller Times / Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Quinton Martinez and Rey Castillo, Corpus Christi Caller Times | USA TODAY Network
