Wall Falls to Paradise in Game 3, Ends Season in State Semifinals

ABILENE, TX — The No. 3 Wall Hawks split the final two games against No. 4 Paradise on Friday, ending their season in the state semifinals.

The Hawks overcame their bad offensive night in Game 1, scoring nine runs in Game 2 and eight runs in Game 3, but fell in the end.

Wall claimed a 9-4 victory in Game 2 to force a winner-take-all Game 3, but ultimately ran out of gas in a loss, 11-8.

"It was a great series," Head Coach Jeremy Gordon said after the game. "I saw a lot of resiliency out of us. It's who we've been all year."

Game 2 - Wall 9, Paradise 4

Paradise took an early lead, using small ball tactics and taking advantage of some early walks to score runs in each of the first three innings.

Wall managed to tie the game at the top of the 3rd with two runs, thanks to a triple from Hagyn Barbee. Another run in the top of the 4th tied the game again.  It was all Wall after that. The Hawks added one in the 5th, two in the 6th, and three more in the 7th to claim the win, 9-4.

Wall’s Reid Ballard received the win for his performance on the mound in Game 2. He allowed one earned run on five hits and walked three. Wyatt Jost came into the game in the 7th inning to secure the win. He allowed no hits and no runs in his single inning.

Game 3 - Paradise 11, Wall 8

It was a slugfest in the winner-take-all matchup. Paradise took the lead early, before Wall capitalized on two big innings to wrestle the lead back. Paradise exploded in the bottom of the 6th, scoring four, putting the Hawks away in the top of the 7th inning to claim the overall series victory, 11-8.

Wall's Kellan Oliver and Stephen Laney had outstanding games for the Hawks in Game 3. Laney led the team with four RBIs in the contest. Further than that, Laney seemed to always be there to make a play when Wall needed him most. A young man who has fought all season for more playing time in the lineup, Laney made the most of his opportunity on one of the biggest stages in high school baseball.

"Huge shout out to Stephen Laney," Gordon said. "The kid wanted to find his way into the lineup, and made it impossible for us to leave him out of it...his heart is the size of Texas. He's a true competitor, and I'm so proud of him."

After pitching six innings in Game 1, Oliver continued to contribute on offense in Games 2 and 3. Specifically in Game 3, Oliver finished the contest with two hits and three RBIs, two of which came in the top of the 4th inning when he launched a baseball more than 365 feet into the woods behind the stadium for a 2-run home run.

Although the Hawks may have fallen one step short of having the chance to defend their state title, Coach Gordon said that this is a group that he will remember forever.

"They mean everything to me," Coach Gordon said of his seniors. "I came in when they were sophomores, and they had already played a lot of baseball. They were given a head coach with zero experience, and despite that, they just bought in. They trusted me, we built relationships, and they've done everything I've asked them to do, even if they aren't happy with it. I will forever love those guys, and they will forever have a spot in my heart."

Wall ends 2026 with a 34-8 official overall record. The defending champs fell in the state semifinals, but no one should be surprised if they see Wall back in a similar series next year.