SMHS BASEBALL
San Marcos wrapped up non-district last weekend, defeating Austin High 15-5 before falling on the road to San Antonio Harlan 5-4.
The Rattlers return to district play with a 187-1 overall record and are now in a three-way tie for second place with Buda Johnson and Cibolo Steele.
On Friday, San Marcos was back home in a showdown with the Austin High Maroons.
The Rattlers found themselves down 1-0 in the top of the first inning but answered back in their next at-bat.
Facing runners on first and second with no outs, Jack Vasquez laid down the sacrifice bunt to move the runners over only for Austin High to commit an error on the throw to first. The error allowed Juan Munos to score from second while Elijah Ramirez moved to third and Vasquez to second for the Rattlers.
San Marcos later took the lead when Landon Munoz hit a deep sacrifice fly into right field, allowing Ramirez to score and Vasquez to move to third base, giving the Rattlers a 2-1 lead.
The Rattlers added on to their lead as Colson Geesee hit a deep sacrifice fly into right field, scoring Vasquez and putting San Marcos up 3-1.
In the bottom of the second inning, the Rattlers added on to their lead. Ramirez connected with an RBI double into left field, scoring another run for San Marcos.
Munoz followed up Ramirez with an RBI single before Vasquez stole home, extending the Rattler lead to 6-1.
Andrew Wilson continued the Rattler scoring barrage with an RBI single, pushing the lead to 7-1.
San Marcos later loaded up the bases before Charlie Helgeson forced a bases loaded walk, making it an 8-1 game going into the third inning.
After keeping Austin High off the scoreboard, the Rattlers once again went on the offensive attack.
Geesee connected with an RBI double, scoring another run before Mason Gamboa hit an RBI single to make it a 10-1 game.
Miguel Garcia forced another Rattler bases loaded walk to score another run before Kayden Miranda connected with a two-run RBI single, extending the Rattler lead to 13-1.
The Maroons attempted to make their comeback, scoring four runs in the top of the fourth inning and cutting the Rattler lead down to 13-5.
After a scoreless bottom of the fourth, San Marcos added on to their lead in the bottom of the fifth. Miranda struck again for the Rattlers, hitting an RBI double to push the lead to 14-5.
Going into the bottom of the sixth inning, the Rattlers found an opportunity to end the game early. Nate Velasquez opened the at-bat with a leadoff walk before stealing second. Velasquez later tagged up on a flyout into center field, advancing to third base and representing the game winning run.
Facing a 2-0 count, Wilson scored Velasquez on an RBI single and gave the Rattlers a 15-5 win.
The pitching trio of Cole Wiatrek, Wilson and Ronaldo Mendez-Soto allowed a combined nine hits, four earned runs, three walks and striking out four batters.
On Saturday, the Rattlers wrapped up the weekend with a road trip against the San Antonio Harlan Hawks.
After the first inning, both the Rattlers and the Hawks were tied at 2-2.
Harlan broke the tiebreak in the bottom of the third inning, scoring on an RBI single into left field to go up 3-2.
The Rattlers later tied the game up in the top of the fifth inning. After Ramirez forced a one-out walk, Ramirez scored on a Harlan fielding error off the hit from Munoz, tying the game at 3-3.
San Marcos took the lead in the top of the seventh inning, scoring on a RBI bunt single from Munoz to put the Rattlers up 4-3.
Unfortunately for San Marcos, Harlan had a little late game magic. The Hawks tied the game on an RBI single before winning on a bases loaded walk in a 5-4 loss for the Rattlers.
San Marcos will be back home Tuesday night in district play in a showdown against the rival New Braunfels Canyon Cougars.
Canyon is coming off being swept by Cibolo Steele, losing the first game 2-1 before dropping the second game 123. The Cougars also lost their non-district game on Saturday, falling to the San Antonio Southside Cardinals 7-3.
First pitch is set for 7 p.m.
cmcwilliams @sanmarcosrecord.com Twitter: @ColtonBMc
