Mustangs score seven runs in seventh inning for come-from-behind win
MARBLE FALLS —Heading into the bottom of the seventh inning, the Marble Falls High School baseball team faced a 9-3 deficit against Llano Saturday.
By the time the game was over, the Mustangs had pulled ahead, 10-9.
The contest was a warmup game for the both teams as they prepared for the playoffs.
Llano junior pitcher Dallas Redden had pitched a superb game, giving up only three hits in four innings while striking out six.
Teammate Preston Rabb, a junior, performed well and kept the Mustangs at bay.
Until the seventh inning.
Mustangs freshman Stacy Heinatz reached first on an error. Sophomore Ryan Garcia hit a single to left-center field. After a strikeout, sophomore Zed Woerner drew a walk.
That set up the perfect storm for senior Turner McQuaide.
At a full count, the senior unloaded a shot to left field for a grand slam home run about 350 feet away to trim the deficit, 9-8.
Junior Brian Hicks followed with a double to the left-field corner. Senior Cameron Venghaus hit an RBI triple to the right-field corner and slid under the tag.
Senior Justin Garcia recorded a perfect bunt down the first-base line, allowing Venghaus to score the winning run on the suicide squeeze.
“Llano and Marble Falls are close to each other,” Mustangs head coach David Norwood said. “It’s about bragging rights. I thought the kids wanted to win.”
That was obvious on the plate.
Llano recorded three home runs resulting in seven runs. Marble Falls answered with two of its own, giving six runs.
“We lost focus in the seventh,” Llano head coach Brad Harmon said. “After 9-3, we kind of relaxed a little bit.”
Harmon said the Yellowjackets will forget this game and get ready for the bi-district best-of-three series against China Spring that starts Thursday at Killeen Harker Heights.
Meanwhile, the Mustangs will prepare for Dripping Springs, its opponent in the bi-district best-of-three series that begins 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Scearce Baseball Field, 2101 Mustang Drive.
“Hopefully, this will carry over,” Norwood said. “It’s good to knock the rust off.”
Marble Falls lost to Giddings, 12-3, Friday in another warmup contest.