A young Tiger baseball team played tough against perennial powerhouse Rogers, but couldn’t overcome errors Friday night in Bell County, where the Eagles ended the evening on top, 11-1.
The two schools played each other close for much of the game, but the other RHS was able to get four runs in both the third and fifth innings, making it difficult for Rockdale to fight back.
“It didn’t feel like an 11-1 ballgame,” RHS coach John Hooser said. “Mason Willard pitched his guts out.”
“We have to figure how to get off the field with two outs. We’ve done that several times this year,” he said. “We have to have more confidence and be the guy that can make the play when the ball is hit to them.”
“Also at the plate, we need to have more quality at-bats later in the game,” the coach added. “From our first at-bat to our last at-bat of the game, there needs to be some growth through the game. Especially when we’re facing the same pitcher.”
Hooser also talked about having a younger team battling in a competitive district.
“That’s not a 10-run game right there,” he said. “You give good teams like that chances and give them big innings they’re going to put you down.”
“But it’s more about situational awareness,” he added. “There’s a lot of nuances in baseball that a lot of our kids haven’t experienced at the varsity level and at times I do think those moments may overwhelm them a little bit but with some of these experiences they’re going to mature and they’re going to get better.”
Za’Kori Yanez, Mason Willard, Tra’on Crawford and Tyler Stewart each had hits and Willard led at the mound with five strikeouts and allowed seven hits in 3.1 innings. Mario Casarez also pitched for the Tigers, striking out one batter and allowing three hits. Willard and Casarez each only allowed one earn run against the Eagles.
THIS WEEK—Rockdale baseball hosted Caldwell on Tuesday after press time and head to Cameron Friday to take on the Yoemen.
The school from across the Little River is undefeated in district play is currently ranked eighth in Class 3A by the Texas High School Baseball Association. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. following the conclusion of the junior varsity game.
LADY TIGERS—Rockdale softball also plays on Friday in Cameron. Game time is scheduled for 6.
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