Broncos Baseball silences Red Oak to win bi-district

May 8, 2025

By Tony Adams

The Lake Belton Broncos baseball team began its Class 5ADivision 1 tournament with a best two-of-three bi-district playoff series against the Red Oak Hawks.

Impressive starting pitching performances from Brandon Holley and Maverik Maddux left the Hawks off balance throughout the series, as Lake Belton won the series by scores of 4-1 and 8-0.

In game one, the Broncos were the visiting team at Red Oak. Bryce Davis started the Broncos’ scoring in the top of the third with a sacrifice fly that scored Rohde Smith.

RJ Hunt singled home Braxtan Cope, and Smith and Hunt scored on errors to give Lake a 4-0 lead in the fifth.

A bases-loaded ground out by Billy Middleton supplied the Hawks their only run of the game.

Cope, Smith, Hunt, and Zavian Rodriguez suppled Lake the four hits needed for the win.

Holley pitched 6 2/3 innings in the win, allowed one run on six hits, struck out five and walked one. Kellen Scarborough retired the only batter that he faced.

The Broncos struck in the third inning of game two. Hunt doubled home Cole Mikulas, Cameron Bartz’s single up the middle scored Hunt, and Rodriguez’s fielder’s choice scored Bartz to give Broncos a 3-0 lead.

Bartz drove home Mikulas with an infield single, and Hunt scored on a passed ball to increase the Broncos’ lead to five.

Rodriguez was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to force home Mikulas, Samuel Matous scored on a passed ball, and Kaden Ward’s ground out scored Bartz to lift Lake’s advantage to 8-0.

Bartz led the Broncos with three hits, Mikulas, Hunt, and Mees each had two hits, and Bartz and Hunt each scored twice.

Maddux pitched the complete game win, allowed two hits, struck out seven, and walked one in seven innings.

“I am happy with the team’s effort, and our pitching was solid,” Lake Belton head coach Chris Peacock said.

Lake Belton will play North Mesquite in the Class 5A-Division 1 area round in Corsicana. Games one and two will be on Thursday starting at 4:30 pm. Game three, if necessary, will be Friday at 7 pm.