Matt Casas was nearly unhittable in Hays’ 5-0 win over Alamo Heights Friday night. He allowed only one hit and three base runners against the Mules. (Photo by Liza Anna Mezquita)
by JASON GORDON
Matt Casas knew Hays High needed him to step up in a big way Friday night against Alamo Heights.
The Rebels were coming off of a loss against Lehman that could have easily sent the team into a tailspin at the worst time of the season.
But Casas and his Hays teammates came up with one of their best performances of the District 27-4A campaign in a 5-0 win over the Mules.
Casas pitched a complete-game one-hitter, allowing only three base runners the entire night.
After the win over Alamo Heights, Hays knocked off Clemens Tuesday night behind the clutch pitching of Nick Cavazos late to improve to 6-3 in District 27-4A.
“The Lehman loss stung,” Casas said. “But after the win against Alamo Heights we know we can still battle and end this year strong. We are going into our last few district games confident and with a hop in our step.”
Against Alamo Heights, Hays gave Casas all the run support he would ultimately need in the first inning as Masen Gully singled, and was advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Cavazos. Chase Brunnemann followed with an RBI single, and the Rebs led 1-0.
In the second inning, Aaron Martinets walked and eventually came around to score on a Gully sacrifice fly to make it 2-0.
Hays added to its lead in the fourth inning when Trevor Ragsdale’s sacrifice bunt advanced Stefen Navarro to second base. Navarro then scored on Cavazos’ RBI-single.
Hays’ final two runs came in the sixth inning when Victor Rubio scored on a Gully double. Gully crossed the plate after a throwing error on Alamo Heights to make it 5-0.
“This was a really important victory,” Rubio said. “It gave us a lot of confidence.”
Hays head coach Doug Ragsdale agreed the win over Alamo Heights was key for his Rebels.
“It was a great comeback to put our team more solidly in the playoff hunt,” he said. “Offensively, we did a lot better job of playing our style of baseball. We put a couple of big bunts down to move guys around and then drove them in from second.
Defensively, we played without an error. During District, we can’t afford to give up unearned runs.
Hays has important district games coming up against Lockhart Friday night and at Canyon next Tuesday. The Rebels close out the 27-4A regular season April 29 at league-leading Smithson Valley.
“Our feelings about district haven’t changed,” Rubio said. “We still have a job to do and we’re not about to stop now.”
