Joey Hernandez crushed two home runs to help lead Lehman to a key district win over Clemens Friday night. (Photo by Judy Cooper)
By MARK CAUL
On the eve of one of the most important games of the season for the Lehman baseball team, it was one of the two seniors honored prior to the contest who helped keep the Lobos playoff hopes alive.
Senior outfielder Joey Hernandez slugged a pair of home runs to lead Lehman to a 7-6 win over Clemens on Senior Night at Lobo Baseball Field on Friday.
Hernandez and outfielder Chris Tello are the lone seniors for Lehman this season.
“Our seniors don’t want this season to end with out making the playoffs,” Lehman head coach Toby Robinson said.
Lehman can now clinch a playoff spot with a win Friday at Lockhart. The Lobos will also make the postseason with a loss against Lockhart if Clemens beats Alamo Heights on Friday.
The win came after the Lobos had been held to a total of one run in consecutive losses to Smithson Valley and Alamo Heights.
“The kids took those losses personally,” said Lehman head coach Toby Robinson. “They worked hard this week and it paid off at the plate.”
Against Clemens, Hernandez’ first home run tied the score at 2-2 in the bottom of the third inning.
Jacob Urea promptly followed up Hernandez’s blast with one of own. The back-to-back jacks gave Lehman a 3-2 lead.
The Lobos added three more runs in the fifth inning as Hernandez ripped a pitch over the outfield wall off of Clemens starter Tyler Corvalli to extend the lead to 6-3.
Junior starter Justin Vajgert scattered four hits and only gave up three earned runs in five innings of work on the mound for the Lobos.
“It was a must win,” said Vajgert, who picked up the pitching victory. “Now we want to take care of business on our own next week. We don’t want to have to worry about what anyone else does.”
Lehman beat Lockhart last year in its final game of the season to clinch its first-ever playoff spot, where the Lobos were eventually knocked out by Class 4A state champion Brenham in the first round.
“We are in the same position we were in last year,” Robinson said. “Win and we’re in the playoffs. It will be the biggest game of the season.”
