SMHS SOFTBALL
Leading 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth, the Rattlers needed a big offensive inning after Judson made it a one-run game.
Facing a 1-1 count with runners on first and second, freshman third baseman Emalyn Martinez belted a two-run RBI double in right-center field and extended the San Marcos lead to 5-2.
“Before when I hit that little pop up, [Cathy Stoughton] was telling me a lot of insight,” Martinez said. “I knew that she was going inside so I could turn on it and then I got the hit.”
Martinez’s RBI double proved to be the difference maker as San Marcos defeated the Converse Judson Rockets 5-2 for the Rattlers first district win of the season.
San Marcos improves their record to 9-9-1 overall and their district record to 1-3.
Head Coach Cathy Stoughton was proud of her team for not only capturing their first district win but also overcoming a sluggish offensive performance by executing on defense.
“This is the first time we have beaten Judson in a while,” Stoughton said. “They always have a good squad, always competitive, and they were a playoff team last year. For us to come in, we had to get over that mental block.
We’ve suffered some injuries and we’ve got some kids’ healthly now.
“Jaylen Perez is pitching really well and she kept us in the game as well as our defense. We just have to play defense behind her, back her up and then hit. The only thing I would criticize us for a little bit is our offense. We were out thinking ourselves in the box and we weren’t making adjustments the way we should’ve based on the speed and location.”
The Rattlers took advantage of several walks and a Judson error to take the early lead.
Forcing three walks to load up the bases, Marley Longoria hit into a fielder’s choice but scored the run on third, giving the Rattlers a 1-0 lead.
With runners on second and third with two outs, San Marcos scored on a dropped third strike when the Rockets overthrew the ball trying to make the throw at first allowing both runs to score.
Going into the second inning, the Rattlers led 3-0.
With one-out in the top of the 3rd inning, Judson loaded up the bases with a chance to break the game open and take the lead. Instead the Rockets came away with nothing.
Pitcher Jaylen Perez caught the grounder and tossed it to catcher Addison Castillo at home for the out before Castillo threw the ball at first baseman Arianna Flores to complete the 1-2-3 double play.
“I know we don’t produce a lot offensively right now, but we do make that up with our defense,” Perez said. “Just staying high, talking to the pitcher. Every little thing we get so hyper about and then it’s just the good feeling of [mak- ing the plays].”
Along with the double play, the Rattlers made several defensive plays that took runs off the board for Judson and kept the Rockets from gaining the lead.
“They always say defense wins championships and we do have a really solid defense,” Stoughton said. “The double play that we turned today with the bases loaded and one out was critical. Those are things that we have to do to keep ourselves in the ballgames at times.
“We had kids leaving their feet. Selina [Silva[ made a great play in center on the diving catch, and then even Ari, though doesn’t show up in the stat sheet, but that wild throw to first where she dove and knocked it down. That’s critical because you’re preventing the runner from getting into scoring position and that changes the game plan for the other team.
All of those little things played into it, and I’m proud of how we played.
Perez earned the win, throwing all seven innings and allowing just six hits, one earned run, four walks while striking out two batters.
“Just on the mound, I knew what type of batters I was going against,” Perez said.
”I saw their hands, the way they stepped. [I] just took priority over the plate and the mound, knowing where they can’t hit the ball [when] they’ve been up to bat and just working what I do best with my drop ball.”
Judson scored their first runs of the game in the top of the fifth inning only for San Marcos to answer back in the same inning after Martinez’s two-run RBI double.
The Rockets were unable to score any more runs, allowing the Rattlers to take the district win.
San Marcos returns to play Friday in a district road showdown with Cibolo Steele. First pitch is set for 7 p.m.
cmcwilliams @sanmarcosrecord.com Twitter: @ColtonBMc
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
San Marcos 5 Judson 2
JUDSON SAN MARCOS
000 020 0 300 020 X — 5 — 2
SAN MARCOS (9-9-1)
BATTING
AB H RBI BB Spillers 2 0 0 1 Silva 3 1 0 0 Martinez 2 1 2 1 Flores 2 1 0 1 Longoria 3 0 1 0 Cisneros 3 0 0 0 Castillo 3 0 0 0 Robledo 2 0 0 0 Rios 2 0 0 0
PITCHING
IP H ER SO Perez 7 6 1 2
Emalyn Martinez tosses the ball to first base for the out in the Rattlers win over Judson. Daily Record photo by Colton McWilliams
