SMHS BASEBALL
Facing runners on first and second with two outs, the Rattlers were needing one final out to seal the win against the Salado Eagles.
Ronaldo Mendez-Soto, who just entered the game at first base, came up with the final out, making a sliding catch near the San Marcos dugout on the foul out to seal a 2-1 win over the Eagles. “[I was] just getting us out [of ] the jam right there,” Mendez-Soto said. “Trying to do everything I can.”
After falling to Cibolo Steele on Friday in a close 2-1 battle, the Rattlers have bounced back to win two straight games, beating San Antonio 6-0 on Saturday before winning against Salado 2-1.
Jack Vasquez threw five innings in the start while striking out seven batters. Daily Record photo by Gerald Castillo
Head Coach Bryan Webb was proud of his team for not only bouncing back but also coming together as a team during a critical stretch of the season.
“This is why we play the non-district schedule we play,” Webb said. “[O’Connor and Salado] are both playoff district championship teams and being able to win both of those games is big. The whole week is based on getting better, being ready to go when your time comes.”
The Rattlers used their trademark defense against a high powered Salado offense, holding the Eagles to just four hits and one earned run.
Starting pitcher Jack Vasquez finished his night throwing five innings and allowing just three hits, one earned run, one walk and striking out seven batters.
Reliever Caleb Gomez pitched 1.2 innings allowing just one hit, no earned runs, one walk and striking out one batter while closer Zehavi Hernandez earned the save by getting the final out in last at-bat in the top of the seventh.
“That’s what we hang our hat on,” Webb said. “That’s what we do every single day to start practice. We’re a defensive minded team. We think we can win the 2-1, 3-2 games. We have the pitching and the defense to do it. If we can just find enough runs to manufacture until that offense comes around, we can hold anybody. I’m proud of our defense. That’s what the program’s built on.”
For Mendez-Soto, the ability for the defense to make the critical plays on defense is always important, especially to his teammates on the mound.
“It just really helps out our pitchers,” Mendez- Soto said. “It gives them the confidence to stay in the zone.”
Knowing his teammates have his back behind the mound while returning from an arm injury, Gomez is confident in his defense.
“It feels great,” Gomez said.
”My arm is feeling great. I have the best defense in Central Texas. Just playing behind them and I think I’ll be fine every game.”
The Rattler offense struck first in their first at-bat, scoring on a Salado fielding error off the ground-ball hit from Vasquez to go up 1-0. Later in the second inning, Elijah Ramirez hit a single into left field before the outfielder missed the ball and allowed it to roll to the fence. Jyuan Alonso scored from first while Ramirez advanced to third on the play.
Salado answered back with an RBI single in the third inning but were unable to score any more runs, sealing the Rattlers win.
San Marcos will be back home Friday night for another non-district game, facing off with the Austin High Maroons. The Maroons are coming off a two-game sweep of the Austin Akins Eagles and are sitting in fourth place in the District 26 playoff race.
First pitch is set for 7:30 p.m. in San Marcos.
cmcwilliams @sanmarcosrecord.com Twitter: @ColtonBMc
Elijah Ramirez and third base coach Jeremy Gonzales celebrate after Ramirez reaches third base on a Salado fielding error. Daily Record photo by Gerald Castillo
