The Varsity Warhorses bashed 14 hits and scored in all but one inning in a 13-3 rout of the Pearsall Mavericks last Friday, March 31.
Devine seized the advantage early, scoring six runs in the top of the 1st inning and never looking back. Leadoff batter Dillon Ricord was hit by a pitch, Newt Crouch hit a line drive double to center, and Jack Zimmerle singled to left to drive in both for a quick 2-0 lead. Zimmerle advanced to third on an error by Pearsall’s catcher, and later stole home for a 3-0 lead. Corben Boggs singled before being replaced on the bases by pinch runner Matt Ornelas. Connor Schmidt drew a two-out walk, and Dalton Kramer singled to right to load the bases. Kyler Brown’s liner to center drew an error that allowed Ornelas, Schmidt, and Kramer to score for a 6-0 advantage.
Two more runs came in the top of the 2nd inning. Zimmerle singled to start the inning, then stole second before Richie Long drew a walk. Isaac Solis drove in Zimmerle with a one-out single to left, and Long later stole home to put Devine up 8-0.
The Warhorses scored two more runs in the top of the 3rd inning. Brown led things off with a walk, Ricord doubled, and Crouch singled to right to knock in Brown. Zimmerle singled to load the bases, and Boggs and Solis drew consecutive two-out walks to go up 11-0.
Pearsall finally got on the board in the bottom of the 3rd inning, thanks to a walk, two steals, and a groundout, and scored again in the 4th inning on two errors and a groundout.
After being held scoreless in the top of the 4th inning, Devine got back into the swing of things in the top of the 5th inning. Long hit a pop fly and reached base thanks to an error by the Mavericks’ second baseman. Schmidt was hit by a pitch with two outs, and Kramer’s grounder drew another error from Pearsall’s second baseman, allowing Long to score for a 12-2 lead.
The Mavericks scored one more run in the bottom of the 5th, using three singles, a sacrifice bunt, and a hit batter.
Devine responded with four runs in the top of the 6th inning. Ricord led things off with a double, Crouch singled, and Zimmerle walked to load the bases. Long doubled to center to drive in Ricord and Crouch, and Ornelas reached base on an error that allowed Zimmerle to cross the plate. Schmidt drove in Long with a sacrifice grounder, and after Kramer was hit by a pitch, Brown singled on a hard grounder to second to knock in Ornelas for the 17-3 win and improve to 11-4 on the season.
The Warhorses had 14 hits and eight walks. Pitcher Dillon Ricord turned in another stellar performance, allowing just three hits and two walks. Both teams had some sloppy play in the field, with the Warhorses making four errors and Pearsall making five. The Mavericks left three runners on base, while Devine left 11.
Batting: Ricord 2-3, 1 BB; Crouch 3-4, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 SB; Zimmerle 3-4, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 2 SB; Long 1-4, 2 RBI, 1 BB; Long 1-4, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 SB; Boggs 1-4, 1 RBI, 1 BB; Ornelas 1-1, 1 RBI, 1 SB; Solis 1-4, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 2 SB; Schmidt 0-3, 1 RBI, 1 BB; Kramer 1-4; Brown 1-4, 1 RBI, 1 BB.
Pitching: Ricord 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 hits, 2 walks, 7 strikeouts.
Upcoming games
The Warhorses will have faced Bandera on Tuesday, April 4, and will head to Lytle to take on the Pirates on Friday, April 7, before hosting Carrizo Springs on Tuesday, April 11. All games are set for 7:00 pm.
By Marly Davis
Staff Writer