Marble Falls baseball beats Akins
CAPTION: Senior pitcher Brenton Liscum took over midway through the contest as head coach Tyler Porter is examining the pitchers and trying to determine where each one can best help the team. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro
The Marble Falls High School baseball team defeated Austin Akins 7-1 March 25 in a non-district contest.
“It was good for us,” head coach Tyler Porter said. “It was a non-district game. So, it’s not that we don’t try and win. We came in there with the plan.”
The plan included creating pitching depth around starters John Alan Whittle, a sophomore, and Canon Cochran, a junior.
Whittle typically starts on Tuesdays, and Porter didn’t change that against Akins. He scattered three hits and allowed a walk while striking out six and in 4 2/3 innings. He did not allow a run. What Porter did change, however, were the number of pitches Whittle threw. The sophomore exited after throwing a 55 pitches, about half as many as he may normally throw.
Senior Brenton Liscum finished the game. He struck out two and walked one and didn’t allow a hit. Liscum had been used more during tournament play.
“I feel good about the arms, but we need to get some guys to the roles that they may be,” the coach said. “I think we have our two frontline starters, so now it’s fitting the other guys in if they’re coming in for one out to bail us out of that type of deal or a quote-unquote closer type role or just a middle relief kind of guy. It’s figuring out where guys fit to try to get them used to it so it’s not new, and they go into a meaningful game.”
The defense continues to make routine outs, which pleased their coach and says plenty about the trust between the pitcher and the Mustangs playing behind him.
The Mustangs led 1-0 on a freshman Crawford Mattox single to score the run and added another in the bottom of the third inning that was unearned.
A 2-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning ballooned when the Mustangs plated five runs.
Freshman Ben Sowers hit a RBI single, while Whittle hit a RBI double. Sophomore Casey Layton went home after tagging and another run scored.
In all, Marble Falls stole six bases. Freshman Cade Briseno and junior Brayson Hambrick also had hits.
Porter said that while he is pleased to average getting a run an inning, what made him happy were the number of freshmen who produced at the plate.
“It was who was hitting,” he said. “The little freshman (Sowers) we use had a line (drive) in the middle, got some RBIs. Some of the younger guys were more comfortable.”
Akins pitcher Ayden Deleon allowed two unearned runs off two hits in five innings with three strikeouts and no walks.
Marble Falls hosts Johnson City at 7 p.m. Friday, March 28, in a non-district contest. It’s the first of two non-district contests for the Eagles, who are ranked No. 1 in the Class 2A poll of the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association.
The Eagles’ ace is senior pitcher Johnny Slawinski, a Texas A&M signee who throws in the upper 90s. It is widely believed his name will be called in the 2025 Major League Baseball Draft. He typically starts on Fridays. But since it’s a non-district contest, Porter said the Mustangs may not face him.
“I told (head coach Rhett Eickenloff) I wanted to see (Slawinski),” he said. “Just so our kids can see him. I hope he throws as much as he can. (Eickenloff) has to do what he’s got to do, obviously, to benefit his team.”
As for whether or not scouts will be in attendance at Scearce Field, Porter said typically the prospect’s high school coach handles that.
Johnson City will play Del Valle Tuesday, April 1, in another non-district game before returning to District 28-2A action.
The Mustangs (4-0) face Salado (10-5-1, 5-0) at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 1, in District 24-4A play. The Eagles are at Georgetown Gateway (6-8, 0-3) Friday after beating the Gators 9-1 March 25.
CAPTION: Freshman Cade Briseno is one of the newcomers who is contributing at the plate, which head coach Tyler Porter calls a good sign for the Mustangs. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro
