Baseball: Eyas Find Optimism in District Loss to Bandera, 1-0

Optimism in a loss is not what a lot of fans like to hear about,

Freshman Garrett Winters

but this year’s Eyas (young Hawks) played an admirable game to start District 26-3A at Bandera, Monday night.

Junior Logan Felch was the losing pitcher, but giving up one run was something Head Coach Trent Dunavant can live with in order to give this young team some confidence.

“This was the best game we have played all year,” Dunavant started. “That was the kind of defense we need to play…now we are playing.”

Canyon Lake will play two to four Freshman on any given game, with some Sophomores and Juniors thrown in to up the average age to 16.

Senior Dylan Adams was nails playing third base and making several ground outs and becoming Felch’s closest friend.

In the fifth inning Felch started with two stikeouts before walking the next Bulldog. A single from the next Bulldog had a great play that started with Centerfielder Daniel Camarillo throwing to third base to get the lead runner. The throw was late but caught the trail runner down on the throw to first base to end the inning.

“I felt the same all the way through (the contest),” Pitcher Felch stated. “The defense helped tonight.”

Third Baseman Dylan Adams

Adams turned in another great play in the sixth inning when a sharp grounder handcuffed the play, but a strong throw to Walker on first base ended another threat for Bandera.

Freshman Garrett Winters will also have the opportunity to earn closer friendships from the pitchers with his fielding at short stop as the season continues.

Yes, the offense was dormant, but Bandera’s Senior Pitcher, Nick Palacios had the Hawks tied in knots with the help of a very wide strike zone.

“He (Palacios) threw at a velocity we could not handle,” Dunavant quipped. “Our little (freshman) competed.”

The zone was wide, but it was also wide for Felch as the umpire was consistent throughout the game.

“He (Palacios) threw pretty good,” Felch said as an understatement. “I was trying to jump on the fast ball.”

Canyon Lake could only muster a couple of innings with a chance to scratch a run across the plate.

The seventh inning was the best opportunity as the Hawks had two singles by Freshman Cody Powell and Michael Brady with one out, but the rally never could get going to bring the tying run across the plate.

To put this game in perspective, CL had a chance to win the game on a night that the opposing pitcher had 13 strikeouts and no errors by Bandera’s defense.

Last season, this game would of been over much sooner, but now with each at bat, each new inning and each new game, this team will grow into a eyesore for the other teams in district play.

With the new three game format, the telling sign will be the Hawks second and third pitchers in the rotation. In seasons past, the two game home and home series you could see just one pitcher…this season, this young team will have a chance against other pitchers that might not be as good as a Palacios.

Optimism would be the operative word after this loss. The line score is simple: All Seniors playing for Bandera for Canyon Lake?
1 Senior
5 Juniors
3 Freshman

A young team that has a chance to win. That is all you need!

                 1   2   3   4   5   6   7   R   H   E
 Canyon Lake     0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   3   1
 Bandera         0   1   0   0   0   0   X   1   7   0

 E:CL-L. Felch. LOB:CL-6, BH-7. 2b:BH-Hoesen. 3b:BH-Hempstead.
 HBP:CL-T. Walker (2). 

 Pitching        IP  R   ER  H   BB  SO  W   L
 Hawks
 Logan Felch     6   1   1   7   1   5   0   1
 Bulldogs
 Nick Palacios   7   0   0   3   1  13   1   0

 Pitches/Stikes:
 CL-Logan Felch   26/53  79
 BH-Nick Palacios 16/61  77

 Game Started: 7:11pm. Game Time: 1:34.
 Weather: 61 degrees, Wind 15-20 mph.