Vista Ridge sweeps Marble Falls baseball in district series

JENNIFER FIERRO • PICAYUNE STAFF

MARBLE FALLS —The Marble Falls High School baseball team lost 2-0 to Cedar Park Vista Ridge 2-0 on April 4 in a District 25-4A series sweep by the Rangers.

“Hats off to them,” Mustangs head coach J.T. Blair said about Vista Ridge. “Their pitcher did a great job making pitches. They made some pitches when they had to.”

Rangers pitcher Justin Traxler threw a two-hitter. The Mustangs (8-8-3 overall, 3-5 district) reached third base once and second base twice.

Traxler hit his spots and forced several routine outs.

Meanwhile, Marble Falls pitcher Domenic Patterson, who threw 4⅓ innings was credited with the loss. He was relieved by Garrett Winslett.

“We pitched well and played good defense,” Blair said. “Our pitching and our defense is keeping us in games. A great job by both of our pitchers.”

The coach said the difference in this contest was the Rangers (5-3 district) did the little things well. Though they didn’t score more than two runs, they had base runners from the start, stranding six before finally touching the plate in the fifth inning. Vista Ridge had a total of nine free bases and showed discipline at the plate.

By contrast, the Mustangs, who in Game 1 stranded nine and had a runner called out at the plate, left a total of six runners on base in the second contest.

“In games decided by one or two runs, they’re doing the little things,” Blair said. “Both nights, we had opportunities and didn’t capitalize. That’s the bottom line.”

Four games remain in the district season beginning with a home date against Dripping Springs on April 8 at 7 p.m. The Tigers (6-2 district) are in second place in the district standings.

“We’re very evenly matched,” Blair said. “We’re capable of of beating everybody in this district. So it’s whoever takes advantage of the other’s mistakes and capitalizes on those opportunities.”

jfierro@thepicayune.com

ON OFFENSE: (Marble Falls) hits – Domenic Patterson, R.J. Mintz. (Vista Ridge) RBIs – Brett Barrington 1, Garrett Prossner 1

ON DEFENSE: Winning pitcher – Justin Traxler, no runs off 2 hits with 2 walks and 3 strikeouts in 7 innings. Losing pitcher – Domenic Patterson, 2 earned runs off 4 hits with 5 walks, 1 hit by pitch and 8 strikeouts; Garrett Winslett, no runs off no hits with 3 walks and 1 wild pitch.

RECORDS: Marble Falls is 8-8-3 overall and 3-5 in District 25-4A; Vista Ridge is 5-3 in district.

UP NEXT: 7 p.m. April 8, Marble Falls vs. Dripping Springs at Scearce Baseball Field, 2101 Mustang Drive in Marble Falls

DISTRICT 25-4A STANDINGS

Cedar Park 7-1 (def. Vandegrift 6-0 April 5. Pitcher Blake Bouffard threw a no-hitter)

Dripping Springs 6-2 (def. Leander 7-2 April 5)

Vista Ridge 5-3

Leander 5-5 (def. Dripping Springs 6-2 April 4)

Marble Falls 3-5

Vandegrift 3-7 (def. Cedar Park 2-1 April 4)

Rouse 1-7

DISTRICT 25-4A SOFTBALL STANDINGS

Dripping Springs 7-1 (def. Rouse 5-2)

Leander 7-2 (def. Cedar Park 5-0)

Marble Falls 5-3

Vista Ridge 5-4 (def. Vandegrift 5-0)

Rouse 4-5

Vandegrift 1-7

Cedar Park 1-8