LAURA P ATEK contributing writer
Professional baseball player Mike Trout once said “You have to want it more than anyone else.” With that mentality, the Cuero Gobblers continued their district winning streak on the diamond with a decisive 10-1 victory over the Gonzales Apaches at Gobbler Field on April 11. The Friday night rivalry highlighted some strong pitching and a defensive team effort for the Gobblers to take away their fifth district win.
Senior Caleb Nagel started the 10-hit game for the Gobblers with an RBI single in the bottom of the first. The momentum didn’t stop there as Cuero continued to capitalize on their early lead in the bottom of the second inning. Jossiah Taylor and Aiden Strecker each contributed an RBI, extending their lead to 3-0. The third inning continued Cuero's offensive momentum with a single by Kyle Bias. The hit gave the Gobblers another scoring opportunity, with a wild pitch allowing Bias to advance and then score, increasing the lead to 4-0. The third inning also highlighted aggressive base running, as the team racked up five stolen bases over the course of the game, putting pressure on the Apache defense. Offensively, Cuero accumulated a total of 10 hits during the game, with Colton Strelczyk going 2 for 4 with two stolen bases.
Nagel took to the mound with confidence. He struck out 12 batters throughout the game, allowing 5 hits and one earned run for the Apaches. Tanner Nall closed out the game, on the mound, entering in the seventh inning noting a single hit and strike out. The Gobblers held their own on the defensive side as well, with Taylor executing a double play at second base.
The win by the Gobblers brings the season record to 9-9 overall and a district record of 5-0. The Gobblers take on Gonzales again on Monday, April 14 in Gonzales, and then head to LaVernia on Thursday, April 17 for an intense battle for first place. Game times are 4:30 for JV and 7:00 for Varsity.
