By Moses Leos III.
Trailing Boerne Champion by two runs with two out in the top of the seventh, the Hays High Rebel baseballers found themselves on the verge of dropping back into the pack of the district race last Thursday night in Boerne.
However, the Rebs are familiar with the situation. When Mike Gonzales singled, the Rebs got it going.
Athen Schultz followed with a double to right that moved Gonzales to third. Justin Montana plated the run with an RBI single to center and Zach Ibarra completed the thrilling two-out rally with an RBI single to score Schultz.
Tyler Woodmansee, although allowing a trio of runs to Champion in the third, settled in and induced a weak ground ball with runners on second and third to send the game into the eighth.
The Rebs again pulled lightning out of a bottle with two outs when Nate Scott singled and Devin Palm doubled down the left field line to score Scott and give the Rebs the lead.
Calvin Coker, relieving Woodmansee, ended the drama for the night with two ground ball outs and a fly ball to preserve the 4-3 victory.
The Rebs, 15-4, and 6-2, gave the Chargers a chance to avenge the loss in a Saturday afternoon game at Rebel field. Behind the two hit pitching of Mike Gonzales, the Rebs quickly reduced those chances to none with a six run second, spearheading a 9-1 win.
Schultz, who had two hits and three stolen bases on the night, led off the Rebs half of the first with a single and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by Jose Cerda.
Fueled by Gonzales’ 3 up and 3 down, the Rebel offense fired up in the second. Palm singled with one out and Gonzales drew a walk. Schultz singled to load the bases while Ibarra and Cerda hit back to back triples to clear the bases.
David Riojas walked; he and Cerda both scored on an error off Justin Diaz’s hard ground ball to shortstop. The Rebs, leading 7-1, added two more in the sixth using doubles by Scott and Ibarra.
Gonzales finished the night with four strikeouts.
At top: Hays High Rebel shortstop Justin Montaña scrambles to second base after a diving catch to force an out. The Rebels pinned the Mules 5-0, bringing the team to 7-2 in district play. (Photo by Cyndy Slovak-Baton)
