The San Saba High School varsity baseball team continued its push to the playoffs over the past week as the Dillos went on the road and got two much-needed District 29-2A wins against Harper High School and Center Point High School.
San Saba Dillos 15, Harper Longhorns 2
The Dillos’ offense was absolutely on fire throughout the night on April 5 as San Saba scored early and often against Harper en route to a 15-2 thrashing of the host Longhorns.
In what was the Dillos’ most impressive win of the 2022 season so far, San Saba got on the board with five runs in the top of the first inning. San Saba senior Weston Oliver delivered a two-run double with nobody out that scored fellow seniors Wesley Lackey and Drake Bryant to make it 2-0. Later in the inning and with the bases loaded, junior Hayden Reeves delivered a clutch hit when he smacked a three-run double to center field to quickly make it 5-0 in favor of the Dillos.
After the Longhorns scored their only two runs of the game in the bottom of the first inning, the Dillos added to their lead gradually throughout the rest of the game. Following one run in the top of the second inning, San Saba got four more runs in the top of the third inning to put the game out of reach. The Dillos also added one run in the fourth inning and another four runs in the fifth inning to put the game completely out of reach.
Offensively as a team, this was a slugfest for the Dillos as they had 13 total hits that included five doubles. They also took advantage of sluggish fielding from Harper as San Saba was able to capitalize fully on seven defensive errors committed by the Longhorns on the evening.
Reeves drove in a game-high five runs for the Dillos in the lopsided win, while Oliver continued his superb 2022 season by going 3-for-4 at the plate with three runs batted in, three runs scored, and two doubles.
San Saba senior pitcher Reagan Mejia was solid as he only needed to pitch 4.0 innings on 65 pitches as he struck out three batters, allowed only two runs, and issued just one walk. Dillos junior Lance Taylor came on to pitch the final inning of scoreless relief as the game was called after five innings due to the mercy rule.
San Saba Dillos 7, Center Point Pirates 1
The Dillos again cruised on April 11 to another district victory as San Saba went on the road and handled Center Point with a 7-1 triumph.
San Saba got off to another fast start in the first inning of this game with a two-out rally. After Taylor grounded out to drive in the first run of the contest, Mejia ripped a double to center field that drove in another run. Later in the frame, Reeves drew a bases-loaded walk to make it 3-0 Dillos over the Pirates after the first half-inning.
After Center Point scored its first and only run of the game early, the Dillos added two more runs in the top of the third inning on back-to-back RBI singles from Reeves and freshman Winton Lackey to make it 5-1 in favor of San Saba. The Dillos would then get two more insurance runs in the top of the sixth inning with RBI singles from Bryant and Mejia to make it 7-1, a score that would hold the rest of the way.
San Saba got a solid outing from three pitchers: Mejia started the game and struck out three batters in 3.0 innings with one run allowed, Oliver came on second and struck out six in 3.0 innings, and Taylor came on to pitch the seventh inning and struck out two Pirate hitters.
Up next, the Dillos (9-7 overall record and 4-2 mark in district play) under head coach Scott Hayes now officially have clinched a playoff berth will return home on April 14 to host Johnson City High School before traveling on April 19 to take on Mason High School.
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.