By Bill Peterson
BUDA – Another Friday night brought another 10-strikeout shutout for Hays pitcher David Casas.
The Rebels kept themselves one step ahead of New Braunfels Canyon in the District 26-4A playoff race with Casas' usual strong performance at Rebel Field, which produced a 7-0 win against New Braunfels. The Rebels, now 9-1 in District 26-4A, maintained their one-game lead.
Casas worked a no-hitter until one out in the fifth inning, when the Unicorns nicked him for the first of only two hits all night. Casas responded by striking out the next two batters.
Casas also pitched a ten-strikeout shutout a week earlier in a 9-0 win against Lockhart. In five Friday night starts during the district season, Casas has pitched four shutouts. In his other Friday start, Casas whiffed ten for a 3-2 win against New Braunfels Canyon.
Nick DeSantiago gave Hays an early lead with his home run leading off the second inning. Hays then put the game away in the third inning, scoring four runs on five hits. With Casas pitching, the Rebels didn't need anything else.
DeSantiago went into the books as the game's hitting star, homering with two RBI to highlight his three-for-three night. Rene Ramirez, Greg San Miguel and Colton Boothe also drove in runs.
The district race now is down to Hays and Canyon with much more on the line than the district title. Playoff positioning also looms. The championship buys a first-round pass in the playoffs with no chance of facing another district champion until the third round. The second place team plays in the first round and faces a district champion in the second.
Hays will play this week against Schertz Clemens and Cibolo Steele. Should Hays and Canyon both will each of their games this week, the big game is coming on April 22, when Canyon visits Hays. A Canyon win ties the two teams for first place with one game left in the season, opening an uncomfortable tiebreaking procedure. A Hays win all but clinches the district for the Rebels.
