Dillos Baseball qualifies for playoffs with victory over Junction

  • San Saba High School varsity baseball senior Andrew Graham (18) looks for a sign from a coach on Wednesday, April 21st, during the Dillos' home District game vs. rival Mason High School. Graham was one of three players honored prior to the Dillos' 10-0 victory over Junction High School on April 27th for the annual Senior Night game. Photo courtesy of Rita Boultinghouse
    San Saba High School varsity baseball senior Andrew Graham (18) looks for a sign from a coach on Wednesday, April 21st, during the Dillos' home District game vs. rival Mason High School. Graham was one of three players honored prior to the Dillos' 10-0 victory over Junction High School on April 27th for the annual Senior Night game. Photo courtesy of Rita Boultinghouse
  • San Saba High School varsity baseball senior Logan Glover (21) swings at a pitch on Wednesday, April 21st, during the Dillos' home District game vs. rival Mason High School. Glover was one of three players honored prior to the Dillos' 10-0 victory over Junction High School on April 27th for the annual Senior Night game. Photo courtesy of Rita Boultinghouse
    San Saba High School varsity baseball senior Logan Glover (21) swings at a pitch on Wednesday, April 21st, during the Dillos' home District game vs. rival Mason High School. Glover was one of three players honored prior to the Dillos' 10-0 victory over Junction High School on April 27th for the annual Senior Night game. Photo courtesy of Rita Boultinghouse
  • San Saba High School varsity baseball senior Risien Shahan (12) slides into second base on Wednesday, April 21st, during the Dillos' home District game vs. rival Mason High School. Shahan was one of three players honored prior to the Dillos' 10-0 victory over Junction High School on April 27th for the annual Senior Night game. Photo courtesy of Rita Boultinghouse
    San Saba High School varsity baseball senior Risien Shahan (12) slides into second base on Wednesday, April 21st, during the Dillos' home District game vs. rival Mason High School. Shahan was one of three players honored prior to the Dillos' 10-0 victory over Junction High School on April 27th for the annual Senior Night game. Photo courtesy of Rita Boultinghouse

    The San Saba High School varsity baseball team will be headed to the UIL Class 2A playoffs in 2021 after the Dillos clinched a postseason berth on Tuesday, April 27, with a 10-0 win against district foe Junction High School.

    Three seniors played in their final regular-season home game in San Saba with Logan Glover, Andrew Graham, and Risien Shanan propelling the Dillos to a dominant victory.

    The Dillos got the scoring started in the bottom of the second inning when Graham hit a single to left field followed by another RBI single smacked into center field by Wesley Lackey to put San Saba up 2-0 over Junction. San Saba would go on to add two more runs in the inning by taking advantage of a critical error with two outs by Junction for a 4-0 advantage.

    The Dillos would go on to do even more damage in the bottom of the third inning with another surge of scoring plays. After Hayden Reeves hit an RBI fielder’s choice for a 5-0 lead that kept the bases loaded with one out, Jaxzen Mask took one for the team when he was hit with a pitch that brought in another run at 6-0. San Saba kept the hits coming as Lackey stepped up to the plate and ripped a two-run double to center field to give him his third RBI on the night. Following an RBI single by Shahan and a run scored on a wild pitch, San Saba’s lead ballooned to 10-0 and put the mercy rule into play if they were able to maintain the 10-run lead into the fifth inning. The Dillos would not allow the visiting Eagles to score once as the score held 10-0.

    Dillos starting pitcher Reagan Mejia allowed just one hit in 5.0 innings pitched with two strikeouts and only one walk issued in a dominant pitching effort.

    As the fourth seed for District 29-2A, the Dillos will enter the bi-district round of the playoffs at 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 6, as San Saba will take on Sabinal High School. The best-of-three series will be held at neutral site Ingram Moore High School with Game 2 set for 10 a.m. on May 8 and Game 3 (if necessary) to follow afterward.

    Be sure to check out next week’s edition of the San Saba News & Star for more updates on Dillos and Lady Dillos varsity athletics.

    Sports editor Andrew Salmi can be contacted via email at salmi.courier@gmail.com or by cell phone at (818) 645-1115.