Mustangs sweep Tigers for first time in seven years
DRIPPING SPRINGS — Facing a must-win contest in Dripping Springs has been difficult for other Marble Falls High School baseball teams.
After all, the Mustangs (3-7) haven’t won at Dripping Springs in head coach David Norwood’s seven years.
But that changed April 17 with a 3-0 victory that allowed Marble Falls to stay in fifth place in District 25-4A and dropped the Tigers to sixth.
The win, which keeps playoff hopes alive, also marked the first time Marble Falls has swept the Tigers (3-8) since Norwood has been the head coach.
“They had a lot to overcome,” he said. “We came out and made plays.”
Indeed. Junior right fielder Jay Watson dived forward for the final out in the fifth to strand a runner at third. Senior second baseman Clynt Powell made every routine play and throw, including starting two 4-3 outs in the bottom of the seventh to preserve the victory.
In addition, senior pitcher Derek Steffek (4-3) didn’t allow a hit until the fifth inning.
“We had to beat them,” he said. “Coming to this place and beating them is huge.”
Norwood said Steffek has an advantage over batters – he works ahead on the count, and that allows him to use different pitches to keep the batter guessing.
“Derek was pretty sharp,” he said.
Marble Falls took the lead in the first inning when Steffek recorded an RBI off a squeeze bunt.
Then two Tiger errors in the sixth gave Marble Falls the extra cushion. Sophomore Carson Bowen was hit by a pitch and got to third base when a fielding error allowed junior Stacy Heinatz to get to first.
Bowen later scored when senior pitcher Dillon Bowers (4-3) was unable to complete the double play thanks to a high throw to first. A fielding error let Heinatz score the final run.
Marble Falls will finish the regular season April 20 against Lake Travis at Scearce Field, 2101 Mustang Drive in Marble Falls, at 7 p.m.