Alamo Heights wins district opener 9-1
By Mark Kusenberger
tsrnsports.com
Special to SAsports.com
Mundo Sanchez no-hit the Fredericksburg Battlin’ Billies to lead the Alamo Heights Mules to a 9-1 victory in their District 27-4A opener at the Muleyard.
Sanchez had a perfect game through five innings. In the sixth, he walked Sam Henke and Lucas Kneitz to lead off the inning. Although Sanchez struck out the next three hitters to end the inning, two wild pitches in the process allowed Henke to score the only Fredericksburg run off the day.
Alamo Heights (14-8, 1-0 in 27-4A) opened the scoring in the bottom of the second off Fredericksburg starting pitcher Sam Henke, who took the loss. Trent Jones led off with a double down the left field line, then scored one out later on a double to right by Luke Campbell. Preston Whitley drove home Campbell on a single to right; the Fredericksburg catcher muffed the throw home, allowing Whitley to advance to second. Whitley scored on a Danny Yancelson single to make it 3-0 Mules.
Heights added two more in the third when Nick Amick led off with a single, stole second, and scored when David Rodriguez reached second on a throwing error by the Billies’ shortstop. Two outs later, Rodriguez scored on a Campbell single to right, giving Alamo Heights at 5-0 lead.
Fredericksburg flip-flopped their pitcher and third baseman to start to Mule fourth, sending Chadd Flick to the hill. Yancelson greeted Flick with a bloop double, then went to third on a bunt single which T.P. Loftis pushed past Flick’s right side. Both runners advanced one base on a Mike Warren grounder to third, then another base on a wild pitch, where Yancelson scored to make it 6-0. One out later, the Fredericksburg catcher threw wildly to third base, allowing Loftis score, putting the Mules ahead by 7.
Meanwhile, Sanchez was mowing through the Billies’ lineup. No Fredericksburg player hit the ball to the outfield until the 7th and Sanchez struck out 7 Billies from the third to the sixth innings.
Sanchez nearly had his perfect game in the 5th thanks to his offense. With two out in the fifth, Yancelson singled up the middle, then went to third on a basehit by Loftis. Warren walked to load the bases, then Amick doubled to left field, scoring Yancelson and Loftis. Warren held at third; had he scored as well, Heights would have clinched a 10-0 run-rule victory, and Sanchez would have had a perfect game. Instead, David Rodriguez lined out to third baseman Henke, and the game continued.
Sanchez lost his perfect game and shutout in the 6th. Fredericksburg’s Jesse Rodriguez drew a 7-pitch walk to lead off the seventh. Holden Light, who started at first base, then pitched the last 4 outs for Fredericksburg, flied out to right fielder Whitley. Tye Pressler grounded into a force play to retire Rodriguez, then Flick flied out to Whitley to end the game. Sanchez pumped his fist, twirled, then celebrated with his teammates and coaches.
Even if Sanchez flirted with a perfect game, a no-hitter should never feel like a letdown.
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