Lehman shortstop Nick Cerda watches a grand-slam home run deep over the fence at Lobo Field in his team’s season-opening win. The Lobos went on to finish second in the Bastrop Tournament last weekend. (Photo by Judy Cooper)
by MARK CAUL
If their pre-season scrimmages were any indication, the Lehman baseball team should have had an inkling that they would be a lot more explosive than last year’s playoff squad.
Once the season opener against Crockett arrived, they were equally as offensive-minded.
Junior Nick Cerda’s fourth inning grand slam keyed a five-run fourth inning as the Lobos spanked Crockett 11-1 to begin their season on the winning track.
Lehman head coach Toby Robinson praised the play of Cerda, who went 2-for-2 with 5 RBI’s.
“We missed a lot of scoring opportunities early and Cerda’s home run kicked us into gear,” Robinson said.
Lehman took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning as Rudy Martinez doubled to open the frame and was promptly doubled home by sophomore Justin Vajgert.
From there, the two teams were locked into a pitchers duel until Cerda smashed the second pitch he saw deep into the stands for his first home run of the campaign.
Cerda’s grand slam plated Joey Hernandez who singled, along with Hunter Lehman and Vajgert who had reached base by walking to give Lehman a 5-0 advantage.
Vajgert was also exceptional in his first start on the mound of the season as he took a no-hitter into the fifth inning before surrendering a one-out single to Michael Rendon.
Vajgert finished with a one-hitter and struck out 10 of the 20 Crockett batters he faced.
“Justin was dominant on the mound tonight and came really close to throwing a no-hitter,” said Robinson. “This is what we expect from our pitchers every time they take the mound.”
DJ Trejo also contributed a three-run double in sixth inning for the Lobos in a five-run sixth inning.
Lehman continued to swing hot bats a few nights later in the opener of the Bastrop Tournament with an 13-7 win over the host Bears.
Cerda had a three-run double and Martinez also drove in a pair of runs as the Lobos overcame an early 6-2 second inning deficit.
“We didn’t get off to the start we wanted but we finally got going offensively,” Robinson said.
Freshman Justin Penney (1-0) picked up the win for the Lobos despite allowing six earned runs in the early going.
Lehman (3-1) went on to beat Canyon Lake 7-4 in the winner’s bracket of the tournament before losing a close 6-5 decision to La Vernia in the championship game.
After trailing 4-0 for much of the contest, Lehman came storming back in the middle of the fourth inning when Cerda slugged a 2-run blast over the left field wall to pull the Lobos to within 4-2.
Then, a few batters later, Vajgert followed with another 2-run shot to tie the score at 4-4.
The score held up until the bottom of the seventh inning when LaVernia drove home the winning run with a sacrifice fly to right field with no outs.
Second baseman Xavier Soliz, Hunter Lehman and Jacob Urea were named to the All-Tournament Team for the Lobos who will travel to Dallas for the Jesuit Tournament over the weekend.
