by JASON GORDON
Hays pitcher Sam Breyfogle tossed a one-hitter, striking out seven in his first start of the season, a 10-0 win over East Central. (Photo by Joel San Miguel)
Hays head coach Doug Ragsdale is realistic when talking about his 2010 Rebel baseball team.
He knows they won’t hit 46 home runs, and probably will not have a team on-base percentage of more than .500 like the Rebs did in 2009.
In fact, it may be a generation or two until anyone witnesses a Hays squad put up the kind of prodigious numbers the ’09 team that finished 27-2 and swept through District 17-4A in undefeated style did.
Gone to graduation is almost every starter from that team, but that doesn’t mean Ragsdale has any notion of his Rebels giving up their grasp on the district title.
“We obviously had some players that had incredible years last season,” Ragsdale said. “This year’s team will be what you’re used to seeing in the past out of Hays baseball teams. We’ll be long on pitching, play good defense and try to get runs across with aggressive play at the plate and on the base pads. I fully expect us to be a team that’s in the mix for the district title.”
Already this season, Hays has proven itself against some tough competition at the San Marcos Tournament.
Hays beat always-tough New Braunfels High 3-2 thanks to three strong innings on the mound from Shane Kelley and a Philip Abreo home run.
In a 10-0 win over East Central, Sam Breyfogle had a no-hitter going with two outs in the seventh inning until a seeing-eye single spoiled the bid. Still, Breyfogle struck out seven batters and needed only 62 pitches to record the shutout.
“Sam was pounding the strike zone and moving the ball around real well,” Ragsdale said. “We also played some very good defense behind him.”
Hays fell behind both its next two opponents by three runs in the first inning, ultimately losing to Ft. Worth Keller Central 5-2 despite a Trace Gandy home run. The Rebels came back to tie Wagner thanks in part to Anthony Pesina’s two hits and two stolen bases, leaving them 2-1-1 in their first tournament of the season.
Breyfogle and Kelley will likely be Hays’ two starting pitchers once district play begins at home March 16 against San Marcos High.
Also in the pitching mix for the Rebs will be Nick Cavasos, Matt Casas, Rueben Miller and Dylan Salinas.
Breyfogle and Salinas will split time at first base, Miller and Casas will rotate at second base, Pesina will play shortstop, Kelley and Steffen Navarro are the Rebel third baseman and Justin Heath is Hays’ starting catcher.
In the outfield, Abreo, Gandy Cavasos and Shelby Sherman will all see significant playing time.
“I was very proud of what I saw out of this group at our first tournament,” Ragsdale said. “We’ve always been a confident team that expects to win every time we play, and I don’t think this year’s team will be any different.”
Hays will be tested over the next two weeks, as the Rebels begin play in the Judson Tournament on Thursday, and then play in the Austin ISD Tournament, beginning March 11.
“We’ll play eight Class 5A teams over the next two weeks,” Ragsdale said. “It will be kind of like a baptism under fire for our players who don’t have much experience on varsity, but it should be a great way to get them ready for district.”
