Rattlers fall to district champs 2-1
EVAN OTTO Examiner photo by Matthew Ybarra Evan Otto flies out to center field to lead off the bottom of the first inning against Needville. The freshman second baseman is one half of the Otto twins. His brother Owen plays third for the Rattlers.
The Rattlers struck first, but District 25-4A frontrunner Needville prevailed with a clutch hit to secure a 2-1 win at Boenker Field.
With two outs in the bottom of the first inning, Navasota junior shortstop Devin Nuñez hit a line drive to centerfield just under the glove of a Bluejay diving catch attempt. The ball skirted to the wall and Nuñez streaked around the bases for an inside the park homerun and a 1-0 lead.
Camden Babcock singled to right field off Rattler ace Jaden Fox with two outs in the top of the third. Cade Meuth followed with a line-drive double to left field plating Babcock to tie the game.
Giovani Jennings legged out a single to shortstop to lead off the home-half of the third. He advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Gordon Young and to third on a passed ball. With one out, Evan Otto flew out to short left field and Jennings was retired on the relay trying to score.
Needville grabbed the lead in the top of the fourth. Kyson Vacek reached on a leadoff walk and eventually scored on a passed ball.
Navasota threatened again in the bottom of the fourth. Nuñez reached on a one-out infield single to third then stole second. Fox popped out and Nuñez was doubled-up straying too far off the bag.
The Bluejays clinched the District 25-4A championship with the win. Fox pitched seven strong innings allowing five hits, two runs with only one earned, a walk and eight strikeouts.
Navasota wrapped up their season at Royal April 25.