by CHARLES DEE
The Rebels closed out a perfect week with a pair of wins in the Judson tournament on Friday, 12-2 over SA Jefferson and 5-4 over Judson and followed those with a 10-1 victory over Bastrop in the championship game on Saturday.
Hays head coach David Null credited the pitching team of Dalton Niles, Justin Diaz, Tyler Woodmansee and Adrian Acosta. Niles controlled Jefferson, surrendering only three hits in the win. Diaz mystified the Bear hitters, scattering two hits in his six innings. Against Judson, Acosta battled to leave with the game tied in the fourth. Matt Requenez and Woodmansee closed things out recording five strikeouts in their three innings of work.
The Rebs jumped on Jeff early with four runs in each of the first three innings on the backs of Niles’ three hits and two each by Justin Montana and Granger Studdard. Against Judson, Nate Scott led the offense with a triple and three RBIs, including the game winner in the sixth. Jose Cerda helped the cause with a home run to tie the game in the fourth. In the championship, the Rebs used doubles by Alex Robles and Studdard in the sixth to stretch a 5-0 lead to 10 and win the championship going away. Niles and Devin Palm added two hits apiece to the cause.
Now 9-3 on the year, the Rebels are led offensively by Studdard, .487 avg, and Niles, .432, with Scott at .386. Rebel pitching has a very respectable team ERA of 2.97, having given up four runs or less in the six-win streak.
The Rebs opened district Tuesday night with a 13-0 win over Lockhart. Woodmansee struck out 11 in the shutout victory. Studdard led the way with two hits and three RBIs. Niles and Palm also garnered two hits. The Rebs are now 10-3 on the year and will return to play March 12 at home against Schertz Clemens.
