First inning continues to haunt Mustangs
MARBLE FALLS — On paper, the Marble Falls High School baseball team suffered the loss to Leander Rouse 3-0 March 13 the same way the Mustangs lost to Cedar Park Vista Ridge 1-0 last week.
In each game, opponents scored all their runs in the first inning. In each game, Marble Falls (3-11, 0-2) recorded only three hits. But head coach David Norwood didn’t call it deja vu. Instead, he said players need to have short memories at the plate where they forget about the previous pitch and concentrate on the one coming.
And they need to be mentally stronger so they can overcome a bad call.
“We had some adversity,” he said. “We didn’t fight back very well.”
That was traced to two incidents.
First, Rouse leadoff batter Logan Kinder took advantage of a Mustang fielding error to get on base. Once the inning ended, Rouse (10-3, 1-0) plated three runs off four hits.
Second, sophomore Saul Guzman slid into second and disrupted the second baseman, who appeared to be late in throwing to first. But the official ruled the ball was in time, awarding a double play and ending the second inning.
While Marble Falls couldn’t get the official to change his mind on the call, Norwood told his players they must have a next-pitch mentality.
Senior pitcher Derek Steffek was credited with the loss. He struck out six and gave up three unearned runs off seven hits.
Meanwhile, Rouse pitcher Kinder used a nasty curveball to keep the Mustangs off balance in recording 10 strikeouts. Kinder, who pitched all seven innings for the first time this season, was one strikeout shy of tying his personal mark.
Having the early lead made it easier for Kinder to pitch, he said, especially when it looked like Marble Falls was going rally in the bottom half of the first inning.
After two outs, juniors Stacy Heinatz and Dominic Patterson each hit singles, while Steffek drew a walk.
But Kinder ended the inning with a strikeout.
“That excelled my performance right there, having confidence I can shut them down when the bases are loaded,” he said.
Marble Falls will host both San Marcos at 3 p.m. and Austin Lanier at 6 p.m. March 14 at Scearce Field, 2101 Mustang Drive.