The Rattlers season came to an end Saturday as San Marcos fell to the Medina Valley Panthers in a thrilling three-game series, losing the final game 1-0.
San Marcos finishes the season with a 20-14-1 overall record.
“[They] don't ever quit,” Head Coach Bryan Webb said. “I’m super proud of the effort, just the ball didn't bounce our way today and unfortunately we took the loss. But I’m super proud of their effort. … I think these kids just battled their guts out. I don't have anything else bad to say or anything, but I'm super proud of them.”
In Game 1, the Rattlers found themselves down 2-0 before making their comeback in the top of the fifth.
With two outs, Juan ‘Tres’ Munos scored on a wild pitch from third base, cutting the deficit down to 2-1.
Later in the top of the sixth, the Rattlers tied the game on an RBI double by Andrew Wilson.
The game was played until the eighth inning before being delayed by the recent rainstorms.
The decision was made to finish Game 1 in San Marcos before playing Game 2 20 minutes after.
Restarting play in the eighth inning, the Rattlers and the Panthers were deadlocked in the tie going into the 12th inning.
Jack Vasquez drew the one-out walk, giving the Rattlers the game winning run at first.
Facing a 1-2 count, Charlie Helgeson hit a double down the right field line, scoring Vasquez and putting San Marcos up 3-2.
Medina Valley answered back in the bottom of the 12th, scoring on a sacrifice fly, tying the game back up at 3-3.
The Panthers eventually won the game in the bottom of the 14th, scoring on an RBI infield single with the bases loaded on a controversial call where the runner was declared safe at home.
In Game 2, the Rattlers took the early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first following a bases loaded walk by Elijah Ramirez before Medina Valley went up 3-1 over San Marcos.
Going into the sixth inning, the Rattlers looked to stave off elimination.
Loading up the bases again, Vasquez drew a bases loaded walk to cut the deficit down to 3-2. Following Vasquez, Helgeson hit a two-run RBI double, putting the Rattlers in front 4-3.
San Marcos loaded up the bases for the second time in the inning before Nate Velasquez hit a bases-clearing RBI single, making it an 8-3 game.
Pitcher Caleb Gomez shut out the Panthers in the top of the seventh to earn the win on the mound and give the Rattlers the Game 2 victory, forcing Game 3.
“They had some grit, didn't quit [or] panic,” Webb said. “When times looked bad, they rose to the occasion and that's what the program's been built on.Passion, loyalty, commitment, and those kids battle their guts out. They could have won it Thursday and very easily could have lost two [games] today. That's this crazy game we play.”
In the third game of the series, San Marcos and Medina Valley were locked in a pitcher’s duel, playing three scoreless innings.
Medina Valley broke through the deadlock, hitting an RBI double to go up 1-0.
The Rattlers were held scoreless through six innings as San Marcos came up to bat for the last time in the bottom of the seventh.
Landon Munoz put San Marcos on base, connecting with a one-out double in left field, giving the Rattlers a runner in scoring position.
Following a strikeout, Cole Wiatrek forced a two-out walk to put runners on the corners with two outs.
But the Rattlers were unable to bring home the run as the Panthers ended the game on a strikeout to seal the win and send San Marcos home.
Following the Game 3, Webb was proud of the senior players for the amount of time and work they had given to the program while also giving him a few new lessons to learn.
“There are a lot of them who have played for a lot of games and I’m super proud of them,” Webb said. “They've learned a lot of life lessons and they also taught me a lot. This is a bunch that was difficult to coach at times and they've taught me a lot of life lessons on how to be patient, how to move forward out of the old school way and little bit into the new generation. I'm very grateful that I got to coach these guys to be a part of their life for four years.”
With San Marcos entering the offseason, the Rattlers will look to learn from their playoff experience and into the 2027 season.
“Details matter,” Webb said. “Every little thing counts in the playoffs. From signals, routine plays, pitch counts, everything counts. That’s something with growth, experience and wisdom. We’ll attack that in the off season, and into the fall so we'll be fine."
