SMHS BASEBALL
Scoring four runs in the bottom of the sixth, San Marcos rallied to defeat the perennial powerhouse Boerne Greyhounds 5-2 for a quality non-district win during the Rattlers district bye.
The Rattlers improve to 17-9-1 for the season while the Greyhounds fall to 17-9.
“We love to create on our defense and that’s what we rely on,” Juan ‘Tres’ Munos said. “We know that we have all the confidence in the world and now our offense is going to pick it up. We were a little sluggish in the beginning, but then Rattler Baseball [tradition], we picked it up in the end.”
The Greyhounds got on the board first, scoring on an RBI single to go up 1-0.
Boerne threatened to score again with runners on first and second with two outs but the Rattlers got the forceout at second to end the at-bat.
In the bottom of the second, the Rattlers loaded up the bases with one out following a single from Charlie Helgeson, a walk from Landon Munoz and Colson Geesee getting hit by the pitch.
Cole Wiatrek scored the first run of the game for the Rattlers, getting hit by the pitch with the bases loaded and tying the game at 1-1.
The Rattlers tried to add on to their lead but Boerne kept San Marcos on the bases, leaving the game tied.
The Greyhounds took back the lead in the top of the third, hitting an RBI double.
Boerne loaded up the bases looking to extend their lead but the Rattlers turned the double play by getting the outs at first and home. San Marcos then ended the Boerne rally on a groundout to strand the runners at second and third.
In the bottom of the sixth with two outs, the Rattlers loaded up the bases with a pair of walks from Munoz and Andrew Wilson before Nate Velasquez was hit by the pitch.
Now with the bases loaded, the Rattlers looked to tie the game up with Munos coming up to the plate.
“Usually in those crucial situations, your heart is beating really fast,” Munos said. “I just take a deep breath, really sink in and just go back to fundamentals. Drive everything up the middle, and that’s what I did.”
Munos connected with an infield single up the middle that was caught by the second baseman, who was unable to make the throw as Munoz scored from third, tying the game at 2-2.
The Rattlers later took the lead as Elijah Ramirez was hit by the pitch with the bases loaded as San Marcos went up 2-1. Jack Vasquez added on to the lead, hitting a two-run RBI single, as the Rattlers entered the top of the seventh leading 5-2.
Now working with a three run lead, the Rattlers brought out Caleb Gomez to close out the game. Gomez sat down the next three batters, ending the game with a strikeout to earn the save and seal the win for San Marcos.”
Munoz earned the win on the mound, throwing 1.2 innings while allowing one hit, no runs, no walks and striking out a game high four batters.
“Just the bullpen [sessions], practices and consistently throwing strikes in my fastball,” Munoz said. “My slider wasn’t on, but I’m just glad I got through it for those two innings.”
The Rattlers are back in district play Tuesday against New Braunfels Canyon for a two-game district series. A win for San Marcos will send the Rattlers into the playoffs, qualifying them for the 6A Division II playoff bracket.
First pitch is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday at Canyon High School.
The Rattlers game vs Austin High on Friday will be published in the Wednesday paper.
DISTRICT STANDINGS
Schertz Clemens 9-0 San Marcos 6-3 Cibolo Steele 6-3 Buda Johnson 5-3 NB Canyon 4-6 East Central 2-9 Converse Judson 0-8
SCORE
San Marcos 5 – Boerne 2 Steele 8 – Canyon 4 Clemens 16 – East Central 6 Johnson – Judson* *Game played after press time
