Marble Falls baseball is on four-game winning streak; softball ends losing skid
JENNIFER FIERRO • PICAYUNE STAFF
MARBLE FALLS — The Marble Falls High School baseball team is enjoying a four-game winning streak as the Mustangs take a short break because of state-wide testing.
The Mustangs (8-6-2 overall, 3-3 District 25-4A) completed a sweep of Leander Vandegrift with a 4-0 victory March 28 and crushed Canyon Lake 15-6 in a non-district contest March 29.
“Big confidence builder,” Marble Falls head coach J.T. Blair said about the wins. “This is the way I envisioned us playing all year.”
The game against Vandegrift was scoreless for five innings, which were played in about 45 minutes.
But in the sixth, the Mustangs struck first and kept going.
Senior J.T. Watson drew a walk to begin the inning and went to second when senior Carson Bowen hit a single. Senior Domenic Patterson hit an RBI double and went home on an RBI single from senior Cullen Vaught for a 3-0 lead.
“Once we scored the three in the sixth, that game was over,” Blair said. “Hard to come back from that. Glad we were on the winning end.”
In the seventh inning, Vaught added a two-out RBI single that brought home Bowen, who reached base on a triple.
“It was big,” the coach said. “I knew we were going to hit, it was just a question of when.”
Defensively, the Mustangs were equally solid. Senior pitcher Hunter Dooley scattered four hits in seven innings.
“Anytime our pitchers only walk one hitter a game, we are going to win,” Blair said. “It was a great performance. That’s three games in a row with no errors.”
He said the victory against Canyon Lake allowed the Mustangs to show their depth, and he purposely scheduled this game in the middle of district play and before testing.
“Keep our guys fresh,” he said. “Get some pitchers some work. Get some guys in the lineup that haven’t started in a while but work hard every day and deserve to play.”
Senior pitcher Garrett Winslett pitched four innings for the win. Sophomore pitcher Lane Amidon finished the contest.
Marble Falls’ offense came from Bowen and Dooley, who had back-to-back home runs in the second inning.
Reserve outfielders Lane Bingham had an RBI single and made a diving catch; R.J. Mintz had an RBI double and scored three runs; and Zack Atchison added two hits.
“Our depth shows on days like (this one),” Blair said. “I was proud of those guys. They work hard every day in practice. It was great to see them shine.”
jfierro@thepicayune.com
ON OFFENSE: (Against Vandegrift) RBIs – Cullen Vaught 3, Domenic Patterson 1. (Against Canyon Lake) home runs – Carson Bowen and Hunter Dooley; RBIs – Lane Bingham 1, R.J. Mintz 1.
ON DEFENSE: (Against Vandegrift) winning pitcher – Hunter Dooley, no runs off 4 hits with 1 walk and 5 strikeouts. (Against Canyon Lake) winning pitcher – Garrett Winslett.
RECORDS: Marble Falls is 8-6-2 overall and 3-3 in District 25-4A; Vandegrift is 5-13-1 overall and2-6 in district.
UP NEXT: 7 p.m. April 4, Marble Falls at Cedar Park Vista Ridge, 200 S. Vista Ridge Blvd. in Cedar Park; 2 p.m. April 5, Marble Falls vs. Vista Ridge at Scearce Baseball Field, 2101 Mustang Drive in Marble Falls
DISTRICT 25-4A STANDINGS
Cedar Park 6-0 (def. Rouse 5-4)
Dripping Springs 5-1
Leander 4-3
Vista Ridge 3-3 (def. Leander 5-1)
Marble Falls 3-3
Vandegrift 2-6
Rouse 1-7
Marble Falls softball 7, Leander Vandgrift 1
AUSTIN — The Marble Falls High School softball team beat Leander Vandegrift 7-1 on March 28 to ended a three-game losing skid.
With this victory, the Lady Mustangs (16-9 overall and 5-3 District 25-4A) have their first sweep of a district opponent.
“It was very important,” Marble Falls head coach Chelsey Heller said. “We had to come out and play.”
Marble Falls scored three runs in the third. Senior Tyler Oppenheim reached base on a dropped third strike, stole second and got to third when sophomore Emilee Beuershausen reached base on a bunt. Senior Skyler Riley bunted, which led to two RBIs, while senior Naomi Macias earned an RBI when she reached base on a walk.
Beuershausen had an RBI on a sacrifice bunt in the fourth, while sophomore Mackenzie Carpenter hit an RBI single.
Carpenter and senior Amanda Thomas each had RBIs in the sixth.
Heller said she was happy with the way the Lady Mustangs adjusted at the plate, noting the team and the umpire didn’t see the strike zone the same way.
Defensively, Thomas pitched all seven innings, giving up an unearned run in the first inning.
“We had some great stops and Amanda pitched well,” Heller said.
The Lady Mustangs will not play again until April 8 because of state-wide testing and a bye.
“It’s a good thing right now since we have a week off,” the coach said. “Just hope we keep the ball rolling.”
jfierro@thepicayune.com
ON OFFENSE: RBIs – Mackenzie Carpenter 2, Skylar Riley 2, Emilee Beuershausen 1, Amanda Thomas 1, Naomi Macias 1; runs scored – Tyler Oppenheim 3, Riley 3, Beuershausen 1
ON DEFENSE: Winning pitcher – Amanda Thomas, 1 unearned run off 5 hits with no walks and 8 strikeouts in 7 innings. Losing pitcher – Callaway Barr, 6 earned runs off 10 hits with 4 walks and 10 strikeouts in 7 innings.
RECORDS: Marble Falls is 16-9 overall and 5-3 in District 25-4A play; Vandegrift is 1-6 overall.
UP NEXT: 7 p.m. April 8, Marble Falls vs. Cedar Park at Scearce Softball Field, 2101 Mustang Drive in Marble Falls
DISTRICT 25-4A STANDINGS
Dripping Springs 6-1
Leander 6-2
Marble Falls 5-3
Vista Ridge 4-4 (def. Leander 3-2)
Rouse 4-4 (def. Cedar Park 2-1)
Vandegrift 1-6
Cedar Park 1-7