Ryan Silapan: Harleton's Murray, Johnson set tone for baseball program

ROUND ROCK — Even Mother Nature couldn't stop the Harleton Wildcats baseball team — especially No. 8 and No. 9 hitters Peyton Murray and Cameron Johnson.

In a game that featured an hour and 39 minute weather delay, Harleton was able to get 10 hits. Of Harleton's 10 hits, four came from the duo of from Murray and Johnson.

Both went 2-for-4 at the plate, with both having an RBI and a run scored and Johnson adding a stolen base as Harleton never trailed in defeating the Shiner Comanches 10-5 in the UIL 2A State Championship on Thursday afternoon at Dell Diamond.

"I was nervous," Johnson said of how he was feeling pregame. "Being the nine hole and not thinking much of it, I knew in my mind I needed to have a big approach. I made a few adjustments and squared the ball up."

Harleton captured the program's first state title in their fourth trip to state.

Murray and Johnson had opportunities early and helped Harleton break out with a six-run top of the second inning.

Following back-to-back singles by Mason Clark and Shawn Booth, the Wildcats were looking for that hit to break a scoreless game.

Murray provided the first run with an RBI single, and Johnson followed suit with an RBI single of his own.

"Batting eighth isn't typically where you want to be batting at," Murray said. "But you know being the DH, I had to show everybody that that's what I’m about. I had to show them, getting two hits in the game is a dream come true, and a state championship... It's unbelievable."

Both would score runs of their own as Harleton scored six runs in the inning and never looked back.

"We just had to do our job when the team needed us," Johnson said. "I just did a job to help set up the team for success. I was just trying to start a rally."

Harleton Coach D.J. Beck said Murray and Johnson have been in the 8-9 batters spots all season and felt they could not only provide sparks, but also make some plays.

"Those two guys are the juniors on the team and have been in that spot all year long," Beck said. "We feel like those guys can turn a line up over, and that's exactly what they did today. It worked out perfect."

It wasn't just the second inning where Murray and Johnson made their impact — in the fourth, Johnson singled and scored and in the fifth Johnson singled and stole a base.

After a near miraculous come-from-behind 4-3 bottom of the seventh walk-off victory the previous night against Collinsville, the Wildcats had all the confidence in the world regardless of their opponent.

Harleton (37-1) came into the game with just one loss the entire season, while Shiner (32-5) mercy-ruled New Home 11-0 in five innings the night before.

"We came into the game thinking we need to show them what Harleton is all about," Murray said. "We got to bring it back to H-Town. We just got to do what we did all season long and bring it to them — every team is beatable."

Murray said he wasn't sure if the Wildcats were even going to make the title game, but once they did there was no reason for them not to bring home the first state title in school history.

"In the game yesterday I was like ‘Oh crap we’re about to lose and not make it to the championship,’" Murray said. "But with that comeback and the fiery start we had today, everything is doable. It's amazing."

Shiner combined for seven hits, with six of the seven coming from their 1-4 hitters, while Harleton got four from their bottom two, including five from their 3-5 hitters.

Beck didn't change a thing; his players simply rose to the occasion when given the opportunity.

"Tough 1-9," Beck said of his team. "It's awesome; I can't explain it. To say that I thought we would be standing here would be farfetched. I knew we had a chance to be good, but I didn't know how good. The main thing is we kept getting better and better and better. Credit to our guys for coming to work every day."

Harleton has all the makings to keep this going as the Wildcats graduated just two seniors from this year's team in Dylan Armstrong — who was the winning pitcher in the game — and Braden Hopkins, who scored a run in the game.

But that's for next year; right now the Wildcats are going to enjoy winning the first state title in program history for a long, long time.

"This is something I’m going to remember for a long time," Murray said. "This is something I’m going to tell my grandkids about, great grandkids. This is something that I will remember forever."

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