By JASON GORDON
Maybe the Hays baseball team should have added some green to its red, white and blue uniforms.
The Rebels certainly could have used the luck of the Irish Wednesday night.
San Marcos High ace pitcher Blake Bagley did more than pinch the Rebs, as his 12 strikeouts led the Rattlers to a 3-2 victory at Rebel Field.
It was the first district loss since 2008 for the Rebels, who fell to 9-5 overall and 0-1 in District 17-4A.
The hard-throwing Bagley did walk seven in a workhorse-like 125-pitch performance. He finally gave way to Ryan Schweers with one out in the seventh inning. Schweers recorded the final two outs in the game to pick up the save.
“I’ve never seen Blake pitch better than he did tonight,” Hays head coach Doug Ragsdale said. “He’s the kind of pitcher our players haven’t seen so far this season. I don’t know if they’ll face anyone that throws that hard all year.”
Hays did manage to take a 1-0 lead on Bagley and the Rattlers in the bottom of the first inning when Justin Heath’s RBI-double to deep right-center field scored Anthony Pesina, but the Rattlers tied it up on a Jeremy Gonzalez sacrifice fly in the top of the third.
San Marcos’ Isiasa Cantu broke the tie in the top of the fourth when he hit a home run just over the wall in left field off Hays starter Sam Breyfogle.
The Rattlers (10-8, 1-0) added an insurance run in the top of the sixth inning when Schweers nailed a sharp single up the middle that plated Payton Pringle.
The Rebels wouldn’t go away quietly, however, as Bagley walked Rueben Miller with two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth to help Hays trim the lead to 3-2.
Bagley’s 119th pitch was perhaps his most important, as he struck out Phillip Abreo to end the inning and the threat.
San Marcos head coach Bryan Webb said Bagley’s high pitch count wasn’t a concern.
“He’s a warrior,” Webb said. “I’ve seen him throw 140 pitches.”
Bagley, who didn’t get out of the second inning in a lopsided loss while pitching at Rebel Field last season, didn’t downplay the importance of the San Marcos victory.
When the final out was recorded, the Rattlers went into a frenzied celebration.
“It’s the biggest win I’ve ever been a part of in my four years at San Marcos High School,” Bagley said. “This was like a playoff atmosphere tonight. These are the kind of games we love playing in and to win at Hays makes it even more special.”
Hays will look to rebound and pick up its first district win Friday night when it travels to Del Valle. The Rebels return home for more 17-4A action Tuesday night against Elgin. Both games are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
