(Seguin) – With the University Interschollastic League (UIL) suspending the spring schedules of the state’s high school athletic programs until at least May 4, we take a look back at the interrupted seasons for some of the teams in the Seguin area and Guadalupe County.
The second instalment in the series focuses on the Seguin High School baseball team.
The Matadors entered Dusty Brittain’s second season as head coach with lofty goals, and the intention of building on last year’s trip to the 5A bi-district playoffs with another post-season berth and a run that extended beyond the first round.
Seguin mixed a tough non-district tournament schedule with the first four games of the 26-5A slate to compile a 7-8 overall record and a 2-2 mark in district play.
The veteran returnees from the 2019 playoff team were all having productive seasons, but first-year starter Drew Burnett, a junior DH and first baseman, had emerged as arguably the team’s most reliable offensive player.
Burnett was batting .436 with a pair of home runs, 10 RBIs, and a .549 on-base percentage. Pitcher and third-baseman Stephen Kent made the most of his 10 appearances with a .450 average, four extra-base hits, and a .577 OBP.
The returning All-District players in the lineup were each stringing together strong 2020 campaigns.
Mikey Hernandez made an impact offensively and on the mound. He was batting .388 with five doubles, two triples, 10 RBIs, and 14 runs scored. The senior right-hander was also the pitching staff ace, compiling a 2-1 record with a 0.875 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 16 innings.
Junior center fielder and leadoff hitter Tristan Moreno sported a .359 average with three triples, 15 runs, and seven stolen bases.
Sophomore catcher Cory Mazzurana led the Mats with 14 RBIs, and carried a .311 batting average with a home run and three doubles.
Junior shortstop Micah Rodriguez had also emerged as a .300 hitter, and led the team with eight stolen bases.
Speed was one of Seguin’s team strengths. The Matadors wreaked havoc on the bases with 24 steals in 28 attempts through 15 ballgames.
In addition to Hernandez, Moreno and Chase Boenig gave the pitching staff the ability to efficiently record outs and keep opposing lineups in check.
Moreno was 2-0 with a save, a 1.00 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 14 innings. Boenig owned a 0.875 ERA and 19 strikeouts in 16 innings of work.
Seguin had just played its final tournament in San Marcos when the UIL hit the “pause” button on everyone’s season nearly two weeks ago.
The first four district games included a 12-2 thumping of San Antonio-Wagner and a 4-2 win over Veterans Memorial in between a 12-2 loss to Kerrville-Tivy and an 8-5 setback to Boerne-Champion.
The Matadors had remaining games in the first round of district play against Harlandale, McCollum, Memorial, and Kennedy, with the second round to follow. A non-district tilt with Central Catholic would have filled the open date in the 26-5A schedule.
If the UIL sticks to its timeline and resumes play on May 4, KWED, Seguintoday.com, and the Seguin Daily News will update the revised baseball schedule when district coaches iron it out and set the broadcast schedule accordingly.