Mustangs take lead to extend baseball season one more night
LEANDER — Marble Falls High School baseball coach David Norwood smiled at the question.
Following his team’s 7-2 victory against Leander Vandegrift April 27, Norwood was asked if he was pleased the Mustangs (8-18, 4-8) found a way to extend their season one more night.
“Our season has been on the line for four weeks,” he said. “We’ve had our backs against the wall.”
So trying to win another road game to force a play-in for the final playoff spot didn’t faze Marble Falls, he said.
And he doesn’t believe his players will have a different approach at 7 p.m. April 28 when they face the survivor of the Leander Rouse-Leander Vandegrift game that will start four hours earlier.
Both contests are at Vandegrift High, 9500 McNeil Drive in Austin.
As for the win April 27, senior pitcher Derek Steffek (5-3) pitched all seven innings and gave up two runs off four hits. Marble Falls didn’t commit an error.
“Derek had his curveball working well,” the coach said.
The Mustangs scored five runs by the third inning, forcing Vandegrift (8-17, 4-8) to play catchup, Norwood said.
Junior Joey Blackledge recorded two hits, while sophomore Dominic Patterson and Steffek each hit RBI singles.
Junior pitcher Cody Goodman (2-5) will start the 7 p.m. contest. Marble Falls has won three road games in the second round of District 25-4A play.