Full Breakdown
New Home Leopards Advance to State Championship After 18-6 Semifinal Win Over Tom Bean
6/1/2026, 3:48:49 AM
Semifinal Series Overview
On May 31, 2026, New Home High School’s Leopards defeated Tom Bean’s Tomcats 18-6 in the decisive Game 3 of the UIL Class 2A Division I state semifinal at Crutcher Scott Field, Abilene Christian University. The series, a best-of-three, began with a 5-1 New Home win, followed by a 6-5 Tom Bean victory that forced the final game. The 2-1 series win secured New Home’s spot in the state championship.
Key Performances and Statistics
New Home entered the series with a 29-8 record, while Tom Bean was 27-4. In Game 3, junior right-hander Brock Bessire threw two scoreless innings, allowing one hit, two strikeouts and no walks, becoming the only pitcher on either side to keep Tom Bean off the scoreboard. Senior outfielder Bransen Beckham delivered a three-run double in the fourth, expanding the lead. New Home used eight pitchers in the five-inning contest; Tom Bean employed five pitchers, walked 14 batters and plunked two others. The Leopards recorded eight hits and capitalized on three errors, ultimately winning 18-6 and clinching the series 2-1.
Official Statements & Responses
Coach Brady Webb credited the team’s depth, noting that the Monday bullpen routine ensured multiple arms were ready for high-leverage situations. He emphasized that consistently throwing strikes limited Tom Bean’s offense and expressed pride in the squad’s resilience after a three-game series.
Verbatim Quotes
"I knew we were going to have to have a lot of guys step up. I was just making sure that I was ready for it." — Brock Bessire, junior pitcher, New Home Leopards
"This means everything. I’m so proud of these boys. This was a hard series. We played so great Thursday and we were on a high. Then we lost a tough one Friday, and we needed the guys to come in with a good approach in game three. They were able to do that and I’m so proud of the way they played. This was our goal at the beginning of the year, and we have one more to go." — Brady Webb, head baseball coach, New Home High School
"(Tom Bean is) a good-hitting team. We knew they were gonna hit. But we were throwing strikes, giving us a chance. That's the difference. We threw strikes, and they struggled a little bit at times." — Brady Webb, head baseball coach, New Home High School
"Our Monday routine is everybody who didn’t pitch the weekend before … got a (bull)pen in. Credit to the boys doing a great job with their pens, showing up here ready to go, after some of them haven’t pitched in a month and a half. They came out here and threw strikes and gave us a chance to win." — Brady Webb, head baseball coach, New Home High School
What’s Next: State Championship Showdown
The Leopards will face Iola (26-4) in the UIL Class 2A Division I state championship on Thursday at 9 a.m. at Dell Diamond in Round Rock.
