by MOSES LEOS III
One week ago, the Hays High Rebel baseball team completed one of the more remarkable moments in the history of the program. Hays’ comeback win over Schertz Clemens gave them the chance to get one step closer to the state tournament.
But there was no magic comeback, no rally for the ages, in the regional semifinal round against Corpus Christi Moody on Saturday night. Stellar pitching by Moody left-hander Kenny Saenz stymied the Rebels, who only managed two hits in a 6-1 loss.
Just arriving at the game was a challenge for both Moody and Hays. In what was supposed to be a three-game series, torrential rains in San Antonio trimmed the series to a one-game, winner take all showdown. Both teams tried to start the series on Friday night, but ultimately settled for the one game at Uni-Trade Stadium in Laredo, after working through several alternate sites because of the weather.
The Moody offense showed their offensive capabilities from the get-go. In the top of the first, with runners on first and second and one out, Moody catcher Michael Cantu rolled a slow ground-ball to the left side of the infield, forcing a Rebel throwing error. The error allowed the Trojans to score an unearned run, giving them a 1-0 lead. Two batters later, Tres Luna singled, bringing in another run to make the score 2-0.
Hays battled back in the bottom half of the first, as Alex Robles reached first base on a walk. Justin Montana then moved Robles to second via a sacrifice bunt, bringing up center fielder Granger Studdard. On a full count pitch, Studdard slapped a double to left field, bringing in Robles to cut the Moody lead to 2-1.
That was the last time Hays had any success at the plate. From then on, it was the Saenz showcase.
The lefty ace from Moody kept Hays in check, going the full seven innings, striking out nine Rebel batters. The velocity of Saenz’s pitches, which consistently hit above 80 miles per hour all game, were difficult for Hays batters to adjust to.
“It has been a long time since we’ve seen a pitcher throw that fast,” said Studdard. “Adjusting to his speed caught us off guard.”
Saenz’s ability to make every pitch seem the same was another reason for Rebel batting struggles.
“(Saenz) was very deceptive. Everything he threw [looked] exactly the same. He delivered the same, even when he changed speeds,” said senior designated hitter Adrian Acosta. “We faced a good pitcher.”
The Rebels’ inability to execute their game plan of “short and quick” swings hindered them.
“I don‘t think we executed our game plan. [Saenz] is throwing 87 to 88 [MPH]; he’s popping it and we never made the adjustment,” said head coach David Null. “In the excitement of the moment, when the adrenaline is flowing, we over swung a bit. Offensively, we never really executed our game plan.”
The latter issue took effect in the top of the second, as Moody opened up for four runs in the inning. Moody first baseman Johnny Gonzales began with a solo home run to left center field, giving the Trojans a 3-1 lead. From there, the Trojan offense levied a salvo on Rebel pitcher Tyler Woodmansee, scoring three more runs on three hits.
Woodmansee, who struck out three in a six-inning effort, was initially taken aback by the raucous Moody crowd.
“We were not expecting such a crowd,” Woodmansee said. “It was really loud at field level.”
Past playoff experience for Moody was apparent for Null, who described the unease of his pitcher in the early going.
“[Woodmansee] is one of those guys who’s got an arm that doesn’t stop. He can throw a ton. That wasn’t the problem,” Null said. “He started the game too amped up, and he was overthrowing a little bit.”
Despite their woes in the early going, Woodmansee and the Rebel defense played sound baseball the rest of the way. Hays kept Moody off of the board with five innings of shutout baseball, allowing only four more Trojan hits. In addition, a 6-4-3 double play in the fourth and a 4-6-3 double play in the sixth kept Moody runners from reaching scoring position.
However, unlike the Clemens game, Hays could not reawaken their bats. Saenz was equally sound, as he pitched six shutout innings the rest of the game. As a result, Hays only managed one hit and got one runner on third base after the first inning.
Despite not reaching their ultimate goal of the state tournament, Null was proud of the team he fielded in his first year as head coach.
“I have a great group of guys. I had many of them four years ago (as freshmen). I knew the talent that was here. I knew we could make a run in the playoffs. I believed it all along,” Null said. “I couldn’t have asked for a better group in my first year.”
The moment was also bittersweet for the ten graduating seniors.
“This was a great experience,” Acosta said. “I will remember this for the rest of my life.”
Setting up the table for future teams also hit home for Studdard.
“We didn’t reach our goal for state. But we set the bar high,” Studdard said. “We had a heck of a season.”