First District Game...Check

Saturday's game with Follett got changed to yesterday due to the high speed winds and rain. Yesterday was an absolutely gorgeous day for baseball, and the Mustangs took full advantage getting a key district win against the Panthers. Devin Cornell took the mound with Manny Monteiro behind the plate. Cornell came out throwing strong and racked up three quick strike-outs. In the bottom of first, Cornell also came out swinging and hit a bomber over the left-center field fence. Following two strike-outs, Brady Baggett got a good hit for a single, but got picked off at third to end the inning. The Panthers tried to get something going but only managed to get one on with a walk, as three more went down with "Ks." Seth Skarke started the bottom of the second getting robbed of a great hit to the gap. The Mustangs couldn't muster much else and managed to get only one on base before ending the inning with a strike-out. The Mustangs stayed strong in the top of the third allowing only one hit, before retiring the side. Brandon Nichols started the top of the third drawing a walk. Cornell's hit was caught, I think much to the surprise of the left fielder, and a strike-out kept Nichols in his place. Baggett got a great hit up the middle to advance Nichols and get on himself, but the Mustangs were stalled with another strike-out. The Panthers showed some life getting a single, which was followed by a BK called on Skarke at first. I had never heard of anyone other than a pitcher get called for a BK and to clarify the situation if anyone didn't understand, you can't have any part of your body in foul territory until after the pitch is thrown. So now we all know. No one was hurt and the Mustangs stayed focused getting the outs to head to the bottom of the fourth. The Panther's made quick of the Mustangs getting a quick three up three down. The Panthers came out swinging making some contact with the ball but the Mustangs remained perfect getting outs courtesy of Cornell, Skarke, and Kaleb Wood. Ty Owens got things going with a hard hit for a single, however, after a popped up bunt attempt the Panthers made a double play for two quick outs. Another pop-up got Follett their third out, as we went to the top of the sixth. The Mustangs playing stellar defense got a quick three up, three down from great plays from Cornell, Ransom Hollingsworth, and Baggett to send us to the bottom. The boys were determined to put up more runs, and they got them. Hollingsworth and Baggett made contact to get on the bags and get in scoring position. Austin Miller came up next and delivered a hard hit ball down the first baseline scoring two. Skarke drew a walk to get on, and then Tyler Peden stepped up to the plate and layed a fantastic bunt for the sacrifice, scoring Miller. Monteiro came next and crushed a ball that was just a few feet short of going over the fence, to score Skarke. After changing pitchers, the courtesy runner got picked off at second. Owens looked to keep things going getting a great hit, but the inning ended with him getting thrown out while attempting to steal. The boys just needed three more outs to clinch their first district win of the season. The lead-off batter took a hit to the ankle to get on, which was followed by a strike-out. Then in an overzealous attempt to steal third, the runner was thrown out at third from a Monteiro to Peden throw (the proof is on Tyler's leg). It came down to getting that last out and with a ball hit towards second, Hollingsworth made a routine play to end the game. The Mustangs won 5-0. The boys did a great job, especially defensively. There wasn't a single error committed by the Mustangs, and Cornell had a career high 14 strike-outs. Baggett and Owens both went 2 for 3. Miller and Monteiro each got a double, and Cornell had a home run. The boys will be back in action again today against the Rough Riders from Boys Ranch here in Claude at 4:30. Good luck guys.