Jacob Ponce and the Sachse baseball team will look to stave off elimination Friday and force a deciding third game in the best-of-three area-round series against Waxahachie. Photo by David Wolman / C&S Media
By David Wolman
WAXAHACHIE — Defensive miscues and missed offensive opportunities proved too much for Sachse to overcome in a 5-1 loss to Waxahachie in Game 1 of a Class 6A Division I area-round playoff series Thursday night.
Despite the loss, Sachse’s defense looked sharp early.
Waxahachie struck first in the bottom of the opening inning when Hayden Zandt lined an RBI single into left field for a 1-0 Indians lead. However, the Mustangs quickly limited the damage thanks to a key defensive play from second baseman Julian Moreno, who fielded a sharp two-hopper up the middle, stepped on second base and fired to first baseman Jacob Ponce to complete an inning-ending double play.
Sachse continued to flash strong defense in the second inning. Shortstop Noah Siddall sprinted deep into shallow left field to haul in a fly ball and keep the deficit at one run.
But things unraveled for the Mustangs in the third inning.
A fly ball near the wall in right field dropped despite a Sachse defender being in position to make the catch. Moments later, Waxahachie extended its lead to 2-0 on an RBI sacrifice fly.
The Indians continued to capitalize on Sachse mistakes later in the inning. Devin Duarte reached base, advanced to second and third on consecutive wild pitches and eventually scored on another wild pitch to push the lead to 3-0.
Sachse answered in the top of the fourth.
Moreno laid down a perfectly placed bunt up the first-base line, and a bobble by Waxahachie pitcher Grimm Davis allowed him to beat the throw to first as the Mustangs scored to cut the deficit to 3-1.
Sachse threatened to pull even closer moments later. Aaron Silva singled through the right side, and pinch-runner Landon Parks attempted to score from second base. But Waxahachie right fielder Luke Ballard delivered a strong throw home, and catcher Jax Robinson applied the tag for the inning’s first out.
The Indians then shut the door on the rally. Robinson later threw out another Sachse baserunner, and a strikeout ended the inning with the Mustangs still trailing by two runs.
Waxahachie seized firm control in the bottom of the fourth.
Weston Davis delivered an RBI double to extend the lead to 4-1 before the Indians manufactured another run on a heads-up baserunning play. After Kayson Weyrauch drew a walk and casually advanced to second while Sachse’s infield was unaware, Davis sprinted home from third to make it 5-1.
Sachse managed to put at least one runner on base in each of the final three innings but could not generate another run.
The Mustangs’ best opportunity came in the seventh inning when Aiden Sabolski and Siddall drew consecutive walks to put runners on first and second with nobody out. Robinson, however, came on in relief and struck out three straight batters to end the game and secure the win for Waxahachie.
Game 2 is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday at Sachse. If necessary, Game 3 would be played at 11 a.m. Saturday at Forney High School.
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