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WACO — The Elgin High School varsity baseball team began its 2024 season last week as the Wildcats competed at the Waco Tournament.
ELGIN WILDCATS 7, CONNALLY CADETS 6
Elgin was able to grind out a 7-6 win for its first victory of the season Thursday against Connally, as the Wildcats took a four-run lead into the seventh inning and were able to hold on.
Wildcats senior Nathen Lewis and junior Jalen Owens each drove in two runs apiece against the Cadets, senior Austin Miller hit a solo home run, senior Jack Grames drove in a run and junior Fernando Ramirez had an RBI of his own.
ELGIN WILDCATS 15, LORENA LEOPARDS 1
Elgin cruised to a 15-1 victory over Lorena as the Wildcats used a strong pitching performance from junior Cason Nalle to help get the job done. Nalle pitched a no-hitter against the Leopards as he struck out five opposing batters in four innings while allowing just two walks and one unearned run to score. At the plate, Nalle also drove in a pair of runs in the win.
The Wildcats’ offense was clicking on all cylinders with 14 hits. Owens had three hits and a team-high three RBIs, while senior Omar Palacios also drove in three runs. Lewis had three hits, including a home run and two runs batted in. Miller added another solo home run, while Alex Gamez also drove in a run.
ELGIN WILDCATS 8, UNIVERSITY TROJANS 5
Facing a 4-0 deficit in the first inning, Elgin got its bats going early with seven runs in the bottom of the frame to help the Wildcats get an 8-5 win over University.
Lewis hit a leadoff home run and drove in a pair of runs, junior Malakai Hibbs had two RBIs, sophomore Bryce Barron had one run batted in and Gamez also plated a run.
Barron came on to pitch 4.2 innings in relief to pick up the win and had three strikeouts with just one walk and two runs allowed against the Trojans.
ELGIN WILDCATS 20, WACO LIONS 3
Elgin completed tournament action Saturday with a dominant 20-3 victory over Waco as Elgin scored 10 runs in the top of the first inning and plated 10 more in the fourth frame.
As a team, the Wildcats were able to take advantage of erratic pitching from the Lions as Elgin drew 16 walks in the game. Ramirez, Gamez, Nalle and Elgin junior Joaquin Rodriguez all had two RBIs during the lopsided win. Hibbs picked up the win on the mound for the Wildcats as he pitched 3.0 innings with six strikeouts, while Rodriguez pitched a scoreless inning in relief.
Elgin (4-1 overall record), under Head Coach Jason Bourgeois, has a non-district road game scheduled Feb. 27 at Hutto High School and will compete beginning Feb. 29 at the Llano Tournament.
