Marble Falls baseball loses to Weiss, Georgetown Gateway

CAPTION: Marble Falls sophomore shortstop Canon Cochran gets to a grounder to throw for an out. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro

The Marble Falls High School baseball team lost to Pflugerville Weiss 6-2 April 6 and to Georgetown Gateway 4-3 in eight innings April 5.

The Wolves took a 3-0 lead in the fourth inning off a hit. All three runs were unearned.

The Mustangs scored two runs in the sixth inning without recording a hit. The Wolves walked two and hit two with a pitch. Senior catcher Isaias Roman hit sacrifice flyball for a RBI. The other run came home on a hit by pitch. A pitching change resulted in a ground ball for a 6-4-3 double play to end the threat.

“We didn’t hit well, we didn’t pitch well, we didn’t play defense,” head coach Tyler Porter said. “I’m not sure we learned much today.”

The Mustangs entered this contest after losing to the Gators hours earlier.

In the eighth inning, sophomore Canon Cochran hit a ball that fell behind second plate that was dropped, scoring the runner from second for a 3-2 lead.

The Gators won on a walk-off walk.

Marble Falls struck first thanks to plating an unearned run for a 1-0 lead in the first inning.

Gateway took a 2-1 advanage in the third inning on a RBI single.

But Andrew Elwartowski hit a ball off the wall to tie the game at 2-2.

Both teams had chances to win before the eighth inning.

In the fifth inning with the score tied at 2-2, the Gators had bases loaded with one out. Marble Falls pitcher Colton Minor went to the mound and forced a groundout to third base to end Gateway’s rally.

In the sixth inning, the Mustangs drew two walks. But the next three struck out.

In the seventh inning, a Mustang was on third base with no outs, but the Gators struck out the next two batters and forced the other to fly out to left field to end the threat.

Gateway loaded the bases in its half of the inning, but pitcher Mason Long forced the batter to fly out for the third out.

Porter said the bus ride back was long.

“They were upset,” he said. “It bothered them. Some kids care a whole lot. They’re still invested, they still care.”

He noted Gateway made an impressive play when the Mustangs called for a safety squeeze in the fifth inning. The third baseman fielded the bunt and “flipped the ball to the catcher at home” for the third out.

Porter, who is the third base coach, said his philosophy is to “make them make a play.”

“We did some things that were aggressive, and you force teams to play perfect defense,” he said.

During his second year leading the program, Porter recalled coaching and playing in District 25-5A, which featured Georgetown High, Georgetown East View, Liberty Hill, Leander High, Leander Rouse, Leander Glenn and Cedar Park High and the difficulty that came with facing teams that had twice the number of pitchers and more on their rosters.

“We beat Leander once or twice, and our kids fought every single game,” he said. “This group (in 2024) — they still care. We’re trying to see the long-term progress. It’ll come.”

Marble Falls is at Lago Vista Tuesday, April 9, before hosting the Vikings Friday, April 12. The junior varsity plays at 4:30 p.m. and the varsity follows.

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