The Natalia Mustangs battled in a shortened Jourdanton Baseball Tournament. After not playing in their Thursday game due to the on-field incident vs. Hondo, the boys in blue competed in two games Friday where they split action vs. Pearsall and Sabinal. Saturday’s games were canceled due to weather.
“I was really proud of how we competed in Jourdanton,” Coach Kasey Crowther said. “After starting the tourney off with some errors, we then played 10 straight innings without a defensive error.”
Pearsall- The Pearsall Mavericks used the early errors to their advantage to take a 2-0 lead on Natalia. The Mavericks were able to limit Natalia to two hits in the battle, as they picked up the close-out victory.
Natalia finished being edged 6-2 in the hit category on the morning.
Rene Velasquez and Xavier Laque accounted for the hits for the Stangs. Manuel Garcia pitched 4.0, allowing six hit, two runs both of which were un-earned and struck out seven. Sonny Rymers pitched 2.0, allowed 0 runs, 0 hits and struck out two.
Sabinal- Natalia responded Friday with a solid 8-1 victory over the Sabinal Jackets. Natalia out-hit the Uvalde County squad 11-3 during the five and a half inning event in Jourdanton.
Natalia scored one run in their opening at bat and two in the second before a big 4-run 5th inning paced the Stangs to victory.
Luis Buentello and Manuel Garcia led the offense with three hits each, as Laque had two.
Buentello pitched 1.0, allowed 0 runs, struck out one as Rymers pitched 5.0 allowing 1 run and struck out eight .
Manuel Garcia and catcher Joe Blanquiz finished with All-Tournament awards for their performances Friday.
Upcoming Tournament
On press night Natalia was on the road in Dimmitt County battling Carrizo Springs.
This coming weekend, Natalia will be one of twelve teams competing in the Edgewood Tournament. Natalia opens play Thursday, March 3rd against Memorial at 10:45 a.m. as they battle Laredo Martin at 2:15 p.m.
Other teams in the tourney include: Cole, Kennedy, Stockdale, Lanier, Roma, Southside, Harlandale, John Jay and Sam Houston.
By Eric Smith
Staff Writer