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Snyder sophomore Derek Dominguez laid down a bunt during the Tigers’ 6-1 win over Idalou Thursday. Dominguez went 1-4 with a run scored. -
Austin Escobedo delivered a pitch. Escobedo threw all seven innings and allowed just one run on five hits in the Tigers’ win over Idalou.
Before rain and viruses washed away the Best of the West Tournament, the Snyder Tiger baseball team got a 6-1 victory over Idalou on Thursday.
Following the Tigers’ win on the first day of the home town tournament, Friday rain showers piushed all games back a day, leaving the tournament in limbo. Snyder was scheduled to take on Hereford and Monahans on Friday, but both games were delayed due to the weather.
In their first game of the tournament, the Tigers were locked in.
Snyder got on the board first in the second inning after an RBI single from junior Leeroy Tavarez. Snyder went up 2-0 in the third inning when sophomore Derek Dominguez scored on a ground out from senior Ryan Rodriguez.
Junior Austin Escobedo has been one of the Tigers’ most steady arms early this season and that trend continued Thursday as he started the game with four scoreless innings. Idalou managed to scratch across a run in the top of the fifth, but Snyder responded with three runs in the bottom half of the inning.
Junior Blaine House opened the scoring when he scored on a double steal and Rodriguez followed him up with an RBI single to right field to score sophomore Bryce Ford. Later in the inning, Rodriguez scored on a passed ball, putting the Tigers up 5-1 with just two innings to go.
Escobedo pitched a perfect top of the sixth and Snyder went back to work. Ford laced a double off the left field wall, allowing House to score and Snyder took the 6-1 lead. Escobedo gave up a a pair of singles in the top of the seventh, but held Idalou scoreless and closed out the victory.
Head coach Shane Stewart said it was good to see his team play a complete game.
“I liked to see our defense play solid because our pitchers have been giving us good innings,” he said. “Austin threw a great game on the mound and I was glad to see our offense come alive and square some balls up. I feel like we took another step forward today.”
Escobedo gave the Tigers yet another quality start, striking out seven batters over seven innings of one-run ball. Stewart said his length has been big for the Tigers.
“He’s been giving us great starts,” he said. “Tonight again, he pitched good. He scattered some hits, limited the damage and didn’t let them turn anything into big innings. He did a good job tonight.”
After starting the season 1-4, the Tigers have rebounded to win four of their last six games, improving their record to 5-6 on the season. Stewart said he is starting to see it all come together for the Tigers.
“I feel like a lot of things are falling in place,” he said. “Starting with the attitudes, the attitudes have been great. When that is good, then we can make some other things happen and I feel like we are headed in the right direction. With district a week out, I am pleased with the trajectory we are headed.”
The Tigers’ season is on hold after the UIL’s decision to suspend all activies through March 29. The Snyder News will post updates as they become available.
Snyder hitters: Blaine House, 2 hits, 1 walk, 2 runs scored, 2 stolen bases; Derek Dominguez, 1 hit, 1 run scored; Bryce Ford, 2 hits, 1 double, 1 walk, 1 RBI, 1 run scored; Ryan Rodriguez, 1 hit, 2 RBI, 2 runs scored, 1 walk; Austin Escobedo, 2 hits; Leeroy Tavarez, 1 hit, 1 walk, 1 RBI; Kyler Davidson, 1 walk.
Snyder pitcher: Austin Escobedo, 7 innings pitched, 5 hits, 1 run, 1 walk, 7 strikeouts