Gators force Mustangs to make plays

• Sophomore pitcher Nick Smith had a no-hitter going through three innings against Georgetown Gateway. Photos by Jennifer Fierro/TexasChalkTalk.com

The Marble Falls High School baseball team lost to Georgetown Gateway 6-5 April 2 in District 244A play.

Trailing 4-2 in the top of the seventh inning, the Gators plated 4 runs and held on to win the game.

“That was ours to have, and we kind of gave it away,” Marble Falls head coach Tyler Porter said. “We were up two with their 9-hole (batter) or 8-hole (batter) leading off. I think it was a walk, a grounder on a fielder's choice, walk.”

The Mustangs led 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning. Freshman Grant Carter beat a throw to first for the infield single then went to third on a standup double by senior Isaias Roman. Senior Evan Nickowski hit a sacrifice flyball for the run.

Gateway tied the game in the fourth inning and led 2-1 in the fifth inning only to have Marble Falls tie the game in its half of the inning. The Mustangs added two runs in the sixth.

In all Marble Falls had 7 hits to Gateway's 3. Porter noted Gateway took advantage of some “unnecessary runs that let them tie it up.”

Marble Falls pitcher Nick Smith started the game and had a no-hitter through three innings.

“He pitched tough,” Porter said.

Meanwhile the Mustangs continue to learn through miscues. Porter noted an infielder had the choice to throw to third for a sure out or be late on a throw to first since the runner already was there. The infielder chose to throw to first, allowing Gateway to be 90 feet from the plate instead of 270 feet.

Then there was the home run that counted for one run instead of two because a Mustang didn't touch all three bags on his way home, though Porter emphasized “that happens more than you think.”

"It's stuff they don't know yet because they're young," he said. "They're going to be good players.

They're just 14 right now. We can't catch a break right now. There's so much stuff.”

Marble Falls travels to Gateway Friday, April 5.

The junior varsity plays at 5 p.m. and the varsity follows.

Jennifer Fierro publishes reports about area youth athletic events on her website TexasChalkTalk.com.

To send her a note, email fierrojennifer@yahoo.com.