Sandelovic no-hits Bartlett in Shiner win, Luling advances as well

A month ago, Ky Sandelovic came up one strike short of a no-hitter in the Shiner baseball team’s 11-1 win over Flatonia April 13.

But the senior made up for it on Saturday. Sandelovic struck out 12 batters and allowed just two baserunners – both on walks – to record his first career no-hitter in the Comanches’ 5-0 win over Bartlett in a Class A area-round contest Saturday in La Grange.

“Getting a no-hitter in the playoffs is big,” Sandelovic said. “The games mean more and your season is on the line. I came at them with my fastball and my curve, and kept them off balance.”

Shiner (20-7) advanced to the region quarterfinal round where it will face Thrall in a best-of-three series Friday and Saturday in La Grange. Game One will take place at 7 p.m. Friday, while Game Two will be played at 2 p.m. Saturday with a third game to follow if necessary.

The Comanches and Bulldogs were originally scheduled to play on Friday in Dripping Springs. But wet field conditions prompted the teams to move their game to La Grange Saturday afternoon, and the move seemed to pay off for Shiner.

“The delay helped us because we were able to practice on the field Friday,” Sandelovic said. “We had been practicing in the gym because of the rain.”

The extra day of practice not only gave Sandelovic an extra day to rest his arm, but also an extra day of preparation for the Comanches’ defense. Shiner did not commit an error on Saturday.

The Comanches scratched a run across the plate in the top of the first inning, and held a 1-0 lead for six innings thanks to the arm of Sandelovic and his defense. Shiner broke through in the top of the seventh with four runs to give Sandelovic all the run support he needed to close out Bartlett.

“That extra day paid off because our defense was solid,” Sandelovic said.

Brady Cejka (2-for-3, walk, 2 RBIs) and Zach Reese (2-for-4, 2 RBIs) led the way offensively for the Comanches. Shiner recorded eight hits on the day.

Luling

Luling used a handful of San Diego errors and several hit batsmen and walks to pick up a 7-2 victory over the Vaqueros in a Class 2A area-round contest Friday at Pearsall High School. The game was originally scheduled to take place at Alamo Heights before wet field conditions forced the game to be moved to Pearsall.

“I’m so proud of our kids,” Luling coach Mike Eckles said. “They were nervous during the first two innings, but they picked it up in the third and got things going.”

Trayden Staton started the scoring in the bottom of the second. He reached on a double and moved to third on a passed ball before scoring on a Juan Ordonez single to give Luling (25-6) a 1-0 lead.

San Diego scored twice in the top of the third to take a 2-1 lead before the Eagles took the lead for good with three runs in the bottom of the third. Byron Martin singled and Brett Eckles and Staton walked to load the bases for Marc Magallanez, who reached base on an error that allowed Martin to score the tying run.

Ordonez and Vince Garcia were both hit by pitches to drive in Eckles and Staton, respectively, to give Luling a 4-2 lead that would not be relinquished. Martin reached base on an error in the fourth and scored on an error which landed Staton on base as the Eagles led 5-2 after four innings of play.

Anthony Perales reached base on an error and Martin was hit by a pitch before a sacrifice bunt by Eckles moved Abraham Palomo – Perales’ courtesy runner – and Martin up a base. An error allowed Palomo and Martin both to score and Staton to reach base safely.

Ryan Larison went the distance on the mound for Luling. He gave up two runs on two hits and walked five, while striking out 14.

Garcia went 2-for-2 with a hit batsman and an RBI to lead the Eagles at the plate. Ordonez (1-for-2, hit batsman, 2 RBIs) and Staton (1-for-3, double) also did well at the plate for Luling.

The Eagles face George West in a best-of-three series Friday and Saturday in Pleasanton. Game One takes place at 7 p.m. Friday with Game Two happening at 4 p.m. Saturday and Game Three to follow if necessary.