The Taylor High School varsity baseball team won its second 4A-District 22 contest in a row at home Thursday, April 11 as the Ducks rallied past Giddings High School for a 4-2 victory in the Jace Gill Memorial Game.
The Ducks were led by a strong effort on the mound by senior pitcher Devin Valdez as he pitched a complete game in seven innings with 12 strikeouts, only three walks issued, just two hits allowed and both runs given up were unearned.
Valdez also put in work at the plate to get the Ducks going on offense in the bottom of the second inning as his RBI single scored fellow senior Braylan Alderete to give the Ducks a 1-0 lead over the Buffaloes.
After Giddings scored in both the third and fourth frames, Taylor needed to rally and did just that in the fifth inning. With one out, Alderete bunted and reached first base on an error that allowed senior Chris Perez to score from second to tie the game 2-2. Ducks junior Nick Treuter then hit an RBI single to score Alderete to take a 3-2 lead.
The Ducks then got one more insurance run in the fifth frame on a double steal by Treuter and junior Xavier Juarez. After Treuter stole third, he hustled home to score on the throw to pad Taylor’s lead to 4-2.
Giddings’ offense was held in check over the sixth and seventh innings by Valdez and strong defense from Taylor. In the seventh frame, Valdez struck out the first two Buffalo batters and senior shortstop Dominick Hartman made a diving catch to end the game.
Taylor (11-9-2 overall, 3-3 district record), under Head Coach Kale McQuillen, played on the road Friday night at Giddings and will remain away Tuesday, April 16 at 7 p.m. in a crucial district game at Smithville High School.
