The Taylor High School varsity baseball team had its rally come up just one run shy Tuesday, Feb. 27 as the Ducks were edged 4-3 at home by Lockhart High School in non-district play.
Facing a 2-0 deficit after the first two innings, Taylor’s offense struggled to get much going throughout the game, but finally broke through in the bottom of the sixth frame. Ducks junior Mario Aguero led off the inning with a single and eventually came in to score Taylor’s first run after sophomore Natas Leman reached on an error to cut the deficit to 2-1.
After senior Jordan Pickerill came in as a pinch-runner, fellow senior Dominick Hartman stepped up in the clutch and crushed a go-ahead, two-run home run to left field to put the Ducks in front of the Lions 3-2.
However, Lockhart was able to plate a pair of runs in the top of the seventh inning on back-to-back RBI singles to retake a 4-3 lead. Taylor was unable to rally a second time in the bottom of the frame as the visiting Lions escaped with a victory.
Despite the loss, the Ducks got a solid collective pitching effort from senior Devin Valdez and fellow senior Braylan Alderete. Valdez struck out four opposing batters in 3.1 innings and allowed two unearned runs to score, while Alderete pitched two scoreless frames with five strikeouts.
Taylor, under Head Coach Kale McQuillen, is scheduled Feb. 29 through March 2 to compete at the Lago Vista Tournament. The Ducks will return home Monday, March 4 at 7 p.m. to host Killeen High School.
