EVAN HALE
evan.hale@taylor press.net
CALDWELL – The Taylor Ducks varsity baseball team’s hot start continued Tuesday March 28 after picking up a win against the Caldwell Hornets.
Coming off a 12-0 win over the Manor New Tech Titans, the Ducks battled the Hornets in a close game where the Ducks came away with a 2-1 win.
The district matchup between the Ducks and Hornets started as a defensive battle between the two teams. Both teams wanted to get off to a hot start in their respective district seasons, and knew defense would have to win the game.
Being the visiting team, the Ducks first to step inside the batter’s box looking to get their explosive offense in a rhythm early. Unfortunately, the Hornets were equal to the task and got out of the inning before the Ducks could do any damage.
Taylor knew they had to respond with elite defense of their own to keep the Hornets’ fans from taking over the game in the first inning. Devin Valdez was on the mound for the Ducks, and he put on a pitching masterclass starting off strong in the first inning.
Valdez and the Ducks would get out of the inning to go back on offense with the score tied at 0-0. This would be the trend of the game all the way until the fifth inning, then the Ducks finally broke through.
Junior Dominick Hartman stepped into the batter’s box with teammate senior Jake Jansky on second base. Hartman would get a hold of a pitch for a ground ball that goes into the outfield.
Jansky used his speed to his advantage as he rounded third base and set his sights on home plate. His speed proved to be the difference maker in this situation, being called safe after sliding into home for the opening score of the game.
With a 1-0 deficit and playing on their home field, the Hornets knew they needed an offensive spark if they wanted to stay in this game. Valdez secured two outs for the Ducks before walking a Hornet batter, which gave the Caldwell some momentum.
The next batter up would swing at a pitch that soared through to the outfield. The Hornets came up with a double off of the hit, which also scored a run to tie the game 1-1.
Ducks head coach Justin Adams pulled Valdez off the mound in favor of senior Cohen Tyree, sensing a rally coming from the Hornets. Valdez finished the game with 11 strikeouts while only walking two batters and allowing three hits and a run.
Tyree secured the third out for the Ducks to send them back on offense, and with the game tied at 1-1 the Ducks responded again. With two outs on the board and senior Conner Cobb on base as a pinch runner, sophomore Nick Treuter stepped up to the plate.
Treuter waited for the right pitch before sending a ground ball that gets into the outfield, and Cobb did the rest. Cobb rounded third looking to break the tie, and after the dust settled at the plate, Cobb was ruled safe and the Ducks had the lead.
Tyree and the defense carried the Ducks the rest of the way shutting down the Hornets to pick up their second district win.
Now sitting on top of the district standings with a 2-0 record, the Ducks now set their sights on the La Grange Leopards, where they will be back on their home field Tuesday, April 4.
