Belton Baseball finishes regular season in second, heads to playoffs

May 1, 2025

By Clay Whittington

The Tigers have won five consecutive games, but now, collecting two more victories is all that matters.

Belton concluded its regular-season schedule Monday by traveling to Bastrop, where it earned a four-run win to cap off its successful streak, which included a second-place showing in the District 16-5A standings.

The past, however, is no longer of concern.

Tonight, the Tigers open play in Division II playoffs with the first game of their bi-district series against Corsicana.

McLennan Community College will serve as the host for all three games with tonight’s contest and Game 2 on Friday each starting at 7 p.m. If necessary, a deciding game will be played Saturday at 1 p.m.

Corsicana finished the regular season with an overall record of 18-7-1, including a third-place 9-5 showing in District 15.

Thanks in part to the play of a wealth of returning starters, Corsicana closed its schedule with a flurry, winning seven of its final nine games.

Belton has momentum as well, though.

During the final four games of district, the Tigers were on point offensively, ammassing 68 total runs in the quartet of wins.

Facing Killeen Ellison, Belton was dominant, defeating the Eagles 18-3 and 23-1, and the Tigers extended the showing with one-sided

outings against Waco, posting a pair of shutouts. Belton won with 13 and 14 unanswered runs.

In the final game versus the Lions, Rayshaun Peoples was 2 for 2 with a triple, three RBIs and two runs scored, while teammate Austin Wood had a double, an RBI and scored three runs. Additionally, Mayson Cartier was 1 for 3 with a double and an RBI.

On the mound, Jacob Quigley struck out a dozen batters and allowed one hit in five innings.

Then, Belton (14-11, 7-3) completed its fine tuning for the playoffs by traveling to Bastrop for a warm-up game Monday, and the Tigers emerged from the venue with a 6-2 win.

Peoples was instrumental offensively once again, going 2 for 2 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored.

Pecos Smith (2 RBI) and Billy Young (RBI) each had a hit.

Four pitchers — Leonisio Garcia, Wood, Young and Jose Rangel — threw for the Tigers, accounting for a total of five strikeouts and three hits.

Belton would play either Dallas Wilson or Dallas Adamson in the area round if it advances.

Last year, the Tigers saw their playoff run end in the first round as Magnolia earned consecutive wins by a combined score of 21-0.

Belton has not won a playoff game since defeating 4-2 in the first game of a bi-district series against Mansfield in 2022, and the Tigers have not reached the area round since 2021.