Pablo Morales pitching for the Lockney Longhorns on February 24, 2022 in Tulia. (Cervantes Photography/used with permission)
LOCKNEY) The Lockney Longhorns have just about weathered the storm of injuries and remain in the playoff hunt after sweeping a two game series from the Olton Mustangs, 19-5 on Tuesday followed by an 11-0 blanking on Friday. Lockney (12-6, 5-3 ) moves up to third place in the 3-2A baseball race, and is gaining momentum with players getting healthy down the stretch run. Post edging Floydada 10-9 on Saturday enabled Lockney to move up in the district standings.
The versatile senior Austin Rodriguez pitched one hit shut-out ball for four innings before giving way to classmate Pablo Morales make his return the mound by closing out the game with a pair of strikeouts to end the game. Morales has been out of the rotation for more than two weeks due to a shoulder problem. Rodriguez alternates between three very important positions – pitcher, shortstop and catcher. Friday he was wearing his pitching cap and he retired seven Mustangs with a strikeout.
Lockney’s offense had a Good Friday with 10-hits led by Morales going 3-3 at the plate that produced a pair of RBI and he scored twice. Morales had a triple, double and single in his very positive outing. Martin Salas and Quincy Johnson both went 2-3 batting. Salas slapped a triple and single, while Johnson got aboard on two singles. The each had one RBI.
The Longhorns have two series remaining in the regular season against the Post Bold Gold Antelopes (4-11-1) and the Ralls Jackrabbits (12-8). Post split a pair of one run games with the Floydada Whirlwinds this week, and Ralls went 1-1 against the New Deal Lions.
Lockney’s series with the Bold Gold will start Tuesday at Norm Cash Field in Post, then return to Longhorn Field at the end of the week.
OLTON – 0 0 0 0 0 – 0 1 4
LOCKNEY – 2 2 3 4 x – 11 10 1
WP – Austin Rodriguez (2-0), LP – Lassiter
records: Lockney (12-6, 5-3), Olton (0-9, 0-8)
Lockney’s stats
Triples (3) – Rodriguez, Pablo Morales, Martin Salas
Double – Morales
Singles – Quincy Johnson (3), Morales, Dyllan Thiebaud, Salas, Xavier Jimenez
DIST 3-2A Baseball results Friday-Saturday
Lockney 11 Olton 0
Post 10 Floydada 9
New Deal 10 Ralls 0
DIST 3-2A Baseball standings and season records
New Deal 9-1 13-4
Ralls 7-1 12-8
Lockney 5-3 12-6
Floydada 5-5 8-10
Post 3-5 4-11-1
Hale Center 2-6 4-10-1
Olton 0-8 0-9
DIST 3-2A Baseball series starting Tuesday (April 19)
Lockney at Post
Floydada at Ralls
Olton at Hale Center
New Deal vs Petersburg (non-district)
