SPRINGDALE -- Midland was known for its offense this season, but right-hander Parker Frazier made sure the RockHounds didn't need much Friday night at Arvest Ballpark.
Frazier tossed a three-hitter to lead Midland to a 7-0 win over Northwest Arkansas to finish off a three-game sweep in the Texas League Championship Series
At A Glance
Texas League Championship Series
Game 3
Midland 7, Northwest Arkansas 0
Midland^000^403^000^—^7^11^0
Northwest Arkansas^000^000^—^0^3^0
Midland^AB^R^H^RBI^BB^SO^LOB^AVG
Brugman, CF^5^0^1^0^0^0^3^.429
Walsh, 2B^4^0^0^1^1^2^3^.185
Aliotti, 1B^3^1^1^1^0^0^2^.407
Nunez, R, DH^5^1^2^0^0^1^4^.407
Healy, R, 3B^5^1^2^1^0^1^2^.355
Olson, RF^5^1^1^1^0^2^3^.185
Whitaker, LF^4^1^2^3^0^1^1^.500
Kirkland, SS^3^1^0^0^1^0^1^.154
Taylor, C^3^1^2^0^1^0^0^.333
Totals^37^7^11^7^3^7^19^
BATTING
2B: Healy, R, Olson. HR: Whitaker. GIDP: Healy, R. RISP: 4-for-11. LOB: 8.
DP: 2 (Walsh-Aliotti, Walsh-Kirkland-Aliotti).
NW Arkansas^AB^R^H^RBI^BB^SO^LOB^AVG
Torres, Ra, 2B^3^0^1^0^1^0^2^.280
Mondesi, SS^4^0^0^0^0^2^4^.231
Bonifacio, J, RF^4^0^0^0^0^1^3^.105
Liddi, 1B^2^0^0^0^1^0^1^.091
Adams, L, LF^3^0^0^0^0^3^1^.143
Starling, CF^3^0^0^0^0^1^1^.211
Dozier, 3B^3^0^0^0^0^0^0^.318
Evans, C^3^0^0^0^0^1^0^.063
Morin, P, DH^3^0^2^0^0^1^0^.450
Totals^28^0^3^0^2^9^12^
BATTING
2B: Morin, P. GIDP: Starling. RISP: 0-for-4. LOB: 3. DP: (Mondesi-Torres, Ra-Liddi).
Midland^IP^H^R^ER^BB^SO^HR^ERA
Frazier (W, 1-1)^9.0^3^0^0^2^9^0^4.50
NW Arkansas^IP^H^R^ER^BB^SO^HR^ERA
Farrell (L, 0-1)^3.1^6^4^4^1^1^0^5.40
McCarthy^2.0^4^3^3^1^2^1^6.75
Nina^1.2^0^0^0^1^4^0^0.00
Selman^1.0^0^0^0^0^0^0^4.50
Peterson, M^1.0^1^0^0^0^0^0^0.00
HBP: Aliotti 2.
Umpires: HP: Clay Park. 1B: Matthew Czajak. 2B: Mike Cascioppo. 3B: Ramon Hernandez.
T: 2:21. Att: 2,761.
Midland, which won the league title for the second consecutive year, put together a four-run top of the fourth inning and cruised to the win behind Fraizer. The RockHounds, the Double-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics, became the 11th team since the league's inception in 1902 to win consecutive titles.
Midland manager Ryan Christenson said Frazier bounced back, after not being healthy late in the season.
"It was a good matchup for him, an all right-handed lineup with a sinker ball pitcher," Christienson said. "He did a good job keeping the ball down and got a couple double plays when he put guys on base. I can't say enough about how he executed the game plan.
"It was really neat to see him throw a shutout in the championship game."
The 26-year-old right-hander struck out nine and walked two in notching the complete-game. He lost his last three decisions, allowing 19 earned runs in 15.1 innings. But Christenson said he was plagued with a tight back.
Frazier was just fine against the Naturals and his teammates gave him all he needed with a big fourth inning.
The RockHounds put together four consecutive hits against Northwest Arkansas starter Luke Farrell, after the right-hander allowed just one hit through the first three innings. Ryon Healy and Matt Olson cracked back-to-back RBI-doubles and Josh Whitaker added a two-run single up the middle for a 4-0 lead.
Midland put the game away with three more in the sixth keyed by Josh Whitaker's solo home run. Collin Walsh drove in another with a bases-loaded walk off Northwest Arkansas reliever Aroni Nina.
Whitaker was one of four Midland players with two hits and the left fielder drove in three runs.
Christenson loved Frazier's effort on the mound, but acknowledged the Midland offense was its calling card this season.
"We've got some really good, talented players here," Christenson said. "Good hitters, they stick to an approach and grind out at-bats. The beginning of all three of these games had a little tension, but once we got in the flow of the game things started clicking for us."
Northwest Arkansas manager Vance Wilson gave Midland all the credit in the win Friday and the series.
"You look back at all three games and it was more Midland than anything we did," Wilson said. "They've earned it. They out-executed us offensively, defensively and pitching-wise. I was proud of the way we played, but they were the better team no question."
Short hops: Friday night's attendance was 2,761. ... Parker Morin accounted for two of Northwest Arkansas' three hits, including a double. ... Frazier threw 102 pitches, including 70 for strikes. ... It was the Naturals' third appearance in the championship series, winning the title in 2010 and all three were against Midland.
Sports on 09/19/2015