By JASON GORDON
Hays hadn’t started any district baseball season 0-2 in more than a decade.
That statistic changed Tuesday night with a 5-0 loss to Alamo Heights at Rebel Field.
As has been its trend all season, Hays had trouble fielding the ball in key situations, and Tuesday night the Mules had all the answers defensively for almost every ball that looked like it might drop into the field of play off of Rebel bats.
Crafty Alamo Heights starter Brandon Garwood allowed only two hits while striking out nine. Hays starter Trevor Ragsdale gave up only two earned runs in five-plus innings pitched.
“We just can’t quite get everyone to buy into what we’re doing right now,” Hays head coach Doug Ragsdale said. “Our pitchers are doing a great job. We just have to give up a little individualism at the plate and in the field.”
After a heartbreaking district-opening loss in extra innings against rival Lehman last week, Hays trailed early against Heights.
Robert Schuler’s double down the left-field line keyed a 2-0 start in the top of the first, and it turned out to be the only runs the Mules would need.
Hays looked to have an answer in the bottom of the first when Granger Studdard hit a scorching line drive to right-center field with Daniel Valdez on base that looked destined for the wall when Alamo Heights right fielder Cameron Mineo made a diving catch to rob the Rebel centerfielder of an RBI hit.
It was the first of two stellar plays Mineo made, which set the tone defensively for Heights.
Hays left the bases loaded in the bottom of the fourth, its last real chance to climb back into the game.
Heights tacked on two unearned runs in the top of the fifth to break it open.
“It’s still early,” Studdard said. “We can turn this thing around if we make the routine plays on defense and put the ball in play on offense.”
Hays is back in district action Friday night at Clemens.
