Lady Mustangs defense comes through at right time
MARBLE FALLS — Errors accounted for all three runs during the game between Marble Falls High School and Cedar Park High April 13.
But the Lady Mustangs (17-8, 8-2) needed only one swing of the bat, courtesy of sophomore Naomi Macias, to earn the 2-1 victory to remain tied with Lake Travis for first place in the District 25-4A standings.
The victory also meant Marble Falls advances to the playoffs for the third consecutive year.
PHOTO: Senior centerfielder Taylor Koska caught several deep hits to keep Cedar Park from scoring more than a run. With the win, Marble Falls clinches a playoff spot for the third straight year. Photo by Virgil Belk/Hill Country Sports Images
“It’s a lot of pressure off,” head coach Tino Salazar said. “With the last three games remaining, if we were to lose all three, we could have gone from first place to missing the playoffs.”
Marble Falls won, but the final inning was filled with drama.
A ball hit to the infield took a high bounce off the upper body of an infielder and rolled to the outfield. A standup RBI double scored the run, but the batter got greedy.
When the ball was thrown back to the infield, it didn’t bounce up and rolled to the dugout, but the Lady Mustangs were quick to get to it. The runner was tagged out before touching third base.
“That play could have gone either way,” Salazar said. “It would have been hard to argue. The girls work together, talk and understand the game.”
Though the next batter hit a triple, the game ended on a groundout to strand the tying run at third.
Marble Falls will travel to face Dripping Springs 7 p.m. April 17.