San Marcos is ahead of schedule, according to head coach Bryan Webb.
The Rattlers tied with Seguin in a home scrimmage Tuesday, 6-6. Webb used the opportunity to work through multiple batting lineups and pitching changes and to test the positional versatility of his players.
It was the fifth exhibition of the season for the team. San Marcos tied 1-1 with Lake Travis on Feb. 8, fell 15-13 to Kyle Lehman on Feb. 11, then picked up a pair of wins over Marshall and Buda Hays on Feb. 15.
And so far, Webb’s mostly liked what he’s seen.
“When we're playing with our ones, we have done a pretty good job,” Webb said. “You can't go into a season with ones. It's a long season and you've got to have some depth and, you know, that's what the scrimmages are about. But we have shown that we are capable of playing with the big boys.”
In one inning during Tuesday’s scrimmage, senior Ryan Wilder led off with a nine-pitch at-bat that ended with him earning a single. Sophomore Johnny Pardo followed up with a bunt and hustled down the baseline. The Matadors’ pitcher scooped the ball up and hurled it towards first base, but the ball flew too far over, leading to Wilder reaching home and Pardo ending up at third base.
The Rattlers scored another two runs in the frame. Webb said it had been a while since he saw a bunt work so well.
“(Former Rattler David) Hamilton graduated in 2016. He had a swing and bunt one time and he actually came all the way around. But Pardo's a great bunter. That's what he's kind of known for, is he can lay it down,” Webb said. “We've got a family-first approach at the plate, you know, 'Do what's best for the team, not yourself.' And guys went up there and got some sacrifice flies and some bunts and we played Rattler baseball right there. And we've been doing that in all the scrimmages.”
San Marcos will play in two more scrimmages before hosting their first tournament of the season next weekend. They’ll host Austin Bowie in an exhibition this Friday at 5 p.m.
Webb said the team still has a lot that needs cleaning up, especially its baserunning. But he’s looking forward to seeing the Rattlers reach their potential.
“We're excited, man, we're ready to go,” Webb said. “We've got three tournaments to figure it all out and we've got about 21 games before we hit (District) 26-6A and, you know, we're moving. We're where we're supposed to be right now.”
