Cardinals take second after two-game sweep

SHINER — Dominance wouldn’t even be the word to describe the double-header games between Shiner St. Paul and the overmatched San Antonio Keystone Cobras on Tuesday. After two games resulting in a 15-run rule in both of them, the Cardinals (7-2) have moved up to second place in TAPPS District 4-IV as they took down the Cobras 22-1 and 20-4.

“I’m happy we got the win and took the 15-run rule like we should,” St. Paul head coach Charlie Meischen said.

Shiner St. Paul 22, San Antonio Keystone 1

Designated as the away team, the Cardinals plated 12 runners in the first frame to start the game off, taking advantage of five Cobra errors while accumulating seven hits. Conor Kresta led the way, going 3-of-3 with a triple and three RBIs.

On the mound was sophomore pitcher Dalton Jahn who struggled with the first two batters but then struck out the next two and forced a ground out, allowing just one run, one walk and one hit batter.

The pitching depth showed Tuesday as Meischen threw in his rotation players to get experience for his young arms. In an earlier district game, the head coach believed that Kresta was his ace, Ryan Malinovsky his number two and Jahn his number three.

The first-inning run was San Antonio Keystone’s lone run of the game.

Back at the top of the second inning, the Cardinals added 10 more runs, grabbing eight hits while take advantage of two errors. The team would win the game 22-1.

SPH      12 10 0 xxx x – 22 15 0

SAK      1 0 0 xxx x – 1 1 7

San Antonio Keystone 4, Shiner St. Paul 20

Meischen opted to change his lineup, putting in his second team to take on San Antonio Keystone. Out on the mound was senior Joshua Haynes who struggled to get out of the first as he allowed four runs, giving up two hits, walking two batters and hitting another two. In for relief was senior Clayton Reese who finished out the first and second inning before sophomore Zachary Davis closed out the third.

At the plate, the Cardinals would score 13 runners as they took advantage of five errors by the Cobras. Max Patek led the way going 2-for-2 in the inning, both singles. The team combined for five hits as five batters made it via error and four on walks.

The Cardinals added seven more in the second inning, adding four hits to their total while they took advantage of two errors.

Meischen said he was proud of his second team’s performance, a lineup full of players who deserve playing time. As the head coach referenced in a previous interview, the team is deep.

“This is probably the deepest roster we’ve had since I’ve been around,” he said in a March 31 interview.

The Cardinals are now in second behind Hallettsville Sacred Heart (8-1) and in front of third-place San Antonio Lutheran (6-3). Shiner St. Paul takes on Victoria Faith (4-5), a team they previously beat 14-1. Sacred Heart takes on San Antonio Keystone (0-9), who they beat 23-0, and San Antonio Lutheran (6-3) takes on Kerrville Our Lady of the Hills (2-7), who they beat 15-4.

First pitch is set at 6 p.m. tonight for Shiner St. Paul who will clinch second with a win.

SAK      4 0 0 xxx x – 4 2 7

SPH      13 7 x xxx x – 20 9 0