In district, Marble Falls baseball comes close to first win; softball has first loss
JENNIFER FIERRO • PICAYUNE STAFF
LEANDER — The Marble Falls High School baseball team was two outs away March 18 from earning its first win in the District 25-4A race.
Instead, the Mustangs (4-7-3 overall, 0-3 district) lost 10-9 to Leander Rouse in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Marble Falls led 9-7 going into the final inning and immediately got the lead-off hitter out.
But the next two Raiders walked, so Mustangs head coach J.T. Blair issued the second pitching change of the game.
A ground ball was hit to the second baseman. Blair said he thought it would start a double play to end the game. Instead, the ball went off his glove and rolled to shallow right field, allowing one run to score.
The next batter struck out, and the following Raider was hit by a pitch.
The game-winning hit fell directly over the pitcher’s head in the area between the mound and the shortstop, which allowed the winning run to cross the plate before the Mustangs could get the out.
Still, Blair commended his players for their efforts.
“It was the best offensive game we’ve played all year,” he said, “and, up until the fifth inning, the best defensive game we’ve played all year.”
Marble Falls senior Domenic Patterson got the start at pitcher and played until the fifth inning. By then, the Mustangs led 7-2.
“We hit the ball up and down our lineup,” Blair said. “We had 13 hits, not counting balls we smoked right at guys. It was the best hitting game we had all year.”
But at least seven walks issued by Marble Falls pitchers offset about 12 strikeouts.
Blair said Patterson looked great on the mound.
“He’s been good, really good,” he said.
While Marble Falls didn’t get the victory, the coach said fans were given a peek at what his players can do.
“We’re capable of getting on a roll,” he said. “It’s great to have everybody back in the lineup, and really, that’s what we’re capable of. We’re still not completely healthy, but (March 18) was a glimpse of what we’re capable of.”
jfierro@thepicayune.com
RECORDS: Marble Falls is 4-7-3 overall and 0-3 in District 25-4A.
UP NEXT: 7 p.m. March 21, Marble Falls vs. Leander Rouse at Scearce Baseball Field, 2101 Mustang Drive in Marble Falls
DISTRICT 25-4A STANDINGS:
Cedar Park 4-0
Dripping Springs 4-1 (beat Vista Ridge 9-1 on March 18)
Vista Ridge 2-1
Leander 3-2 (beat Vandegrift 13-8 on March 18)
Vandegrift 1-4
Rouse 1-4
Marble Falls 0-3
Leander Rouse 11, Marble Falls softball 8
LEANDER — The Marble Falls High School softball team lost 11-8 to Leander Rouse on March 18 for its first loss in District 25-4A this season.
The Lady Mustangs (15-7 overall, 4-1 district) scored a run in the first inning but gave up two.
The Lady Raiders seized control of the contest in the third inning.
Rouse scored and had two on base when Marble Falls head coach Chelsey Heller called for a pitching change. By the end, the Lady Raiders led 8-1
The Lady Mustangs started a vicious pattern in the fourth inning during which they scored at least one run but left the bases loaded. Meanwhile, the Lady Raiders scored three in their half of the fourth inning.
Marble Falls scored two in the fifth, three in the sixth and finished the game by scoring a run.
The Lady Mustangs were called out at the plate three times during the contest.
ON OFFENSE: RBIs – Emilee Beurershausen 2, Amanda Thomas 2, Naomi Macias 2, Skylar Riley 1, Corey Oppenheim 1
ON DEFENSE: Losing pitcher – Makenzie Carpenter 3 earned runs off 4 hits, 1 strikeout and 1 walk in 2 innings; Amanda Thomas gave up 6 earned runs off 10 hits in 4 innings
RECORDS: Marble Falls is 15-7 overall and 4-1 in District 25-4A.
UP NEXT: 7 p.m. March 21, Marble Falls vs. Dripping Springs at Scearce Softball Field, 2101 Mustang Drive in Marble Falls
DISTRICT 25-4A STANDINGS:
Marble Falls 4-1
Leander 4-1
Dripping Springs 4-1 (beat Vista Ridge 4-3 on March 18)
Rouse 2-3
Vista Ridge 1-4
Cedar Park 2-4 (def. Vandegrift 6-0 on March 13)
Vandegrift 0-5