Posted: Sat, 22 May 2010 08:44 AM - 12,100 Readers

By: Rick Cantu

Terrific pitching. Flawless defense. Clutch hitting.

Led by pitcher Parker French, Dripping Springs combined all three as the Tigers tamed Lake Travis 3-0 to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three Region IV quarterfinal game Thursday night at Burger Center.

"This is the most complete game we've played when you look at every facet," the junior right-hander said after improving his personal record to 13-0.

French was the game's pivotal player, striking out nine Cavaliers while allowing only four hits. He helped himself by picking off a pair of Cavs at first base — in the same inning.

Dripping Springs (29-7) took the lead for good in the third inning after outfielder Ryan Dolezal led off the frame with a double to deep center off Lake Travis ace Brad Kuntz. After he was sacrificed to third on a bunt by Cory Bonner, the Tigers took a 1-0 lead on shortstop Tyler Ramon's sharp single to left.

That rally was preceding by a game-changing pair of pickoffs by French in the top of the third.

Lake Travis, which never had a runner reach third base, could have developed a rally when third baseman Kevin Conroy singled with one out. French promptly picked off Conroy for the second out of the inning. Cavalier outfielder Wyatt Church reached first when struck by a pitch, but he was picked off too after a sweeping tag by Dripping Springs first baseman Jarrett Scott.

"That was a huge momentum swing for us," Tigers coach Chris Payne said.

The series resumes at 7:30 p.m. today at Burger.