High school baseball: Ray gets bats going to sweep Mission Veterans Memorial
The Ray offense found a rhythm Saturday and it helped the Texans close out their series against Mission Veterans Memorial.
Ray scored in five of six innings, including three crooked numbers in an 11-5 win against the Patriots at Cabaniss Baseball Field to earn a sweep in their playoff opening series.
Keevyn Goss had a two-run double in the first and a three-run triple in the fourth bringing in five of the Texans' 11 runs and outside of two runs in the third, Ray pitchers kept the Mission Vets bats in check.
In last week's District 29-5A championship series and in Game 1 against the Patriots, the Texans never got their offense clicking, but Saturday was different.
"Being confident in ourselves (was key)," Ray outfielder Jack Spenst said. "Knowing we can get it done ... we work hard day-in and day-out. It was just a matter of time before they came alive."
Spenst finished 2 for 4 with a solo home run that cleared the wall beyond left-center field in the third that gave the Texans some cushion after Mission Vets pulled within 4-3 after the top of the frame.
Leadoff hitter Ryan Rodriguez had two singles and an RBI worked two walks and said patience and discipline at the plate was important.
"This week was huge, if you don't swing the bat you can't score runs," Rodriguez said. "When you get to the postseason you have to gets some runs across the plate. Swinging the bat and making things happen was the biggest thing for us today.
"Everybody did their part today. It was great."
Goss' bases-clearing triple was part of a four-run fourth that took control of the game as the Texans pounded out 12 hits and worked nine walks to constantly put traffic on the base paths.
"We needed to be patient at the plate," Ray coach Orlando Ruiz said. "Small ball played a part this series ... moving runners over. Base-stealing helped out. I told our hitters to be patient and wait for your pitch to drive."
Ray moves on to face the winner between Weslaco East and McAllen Rowe, who are scheduled to play a one-game playoff Saturday night.
Saturday's highlights
Two walks and a passed ball set the table to Goss to find the gap in the first inning and plate two runs to get Ray going early and Rodriguez and Jack Bell added runs in the second inning as the Texans were barreling up.
Mission Veterans Memorial first baseball Quicky Handy smoked a two-run single into right in the third to draw the Patriots within 4-3 but Goss' three-run triple created separation and the visitors could never answer.
Outside of two errors which contributed to a run in the fourth, the Texans played well behind Jordan Garza (3.0 IP, 4 hits, 3 runs) and Christian Martinez, who earned the win in relief, tossing four innings allowing two runs on two hits with six strikeouts.
Saturday's stars
The top three hitters in the Ray order combined to reach 10 times and score six runs setting the table for Goss to come up in key situations.
Rodriguez finished 2 for 3 with two runs and an RBI and Bell was 1 for 2 with an RBI and two runs. Spenst had two hits on a solo home run and a bunt single adding an RBI.
Eli Guerrero was the lone Patriots batter to notch multiple hits, going 2 for 4. Handy finished 1 for 4 with two RBI.
They said it
Jack Spenst on the confidence Ray took from its bi-district sweep of Mission Veterans Memorial: "It is amazing. It is a great confidence-booster going into Round 2. I feel great about it. Especially this game with 11 hits, I think we feel great as a team and we are going into our next game full of confidence.
Ray coach Orlando Ruiz on the momentum his team recaptured after last week's District 29-5A championship series setback: "I've always told these guys that a district championship is awesome, but the biggest goal is getting to Round Rock and winning it all. ... The biggest takeaway is we swung the bat. When you get 10 or more hits, we win ballgames. That is what happens in baseball. When you hit, you are going to score runs."
Ray outfielder Ryan Rodriguez on the momentum the Texans built: "Last week didn't really go like we wanted it to, but this week we really turned it up. We are going into Round 2 very confident."
This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: High school baseball: Ray bats help team sweep Mission Vets
