San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
Billela’s walk-off single forces Game 3
The O’Connor baseball team was in a do-or-die situation in Game 2 of its area round game against Los Fresnos.
A win was crucial to keep their hopes alive for advancing to the Region IV-6A quarterfinal.
O’Connor’s Dalton Blake and Cali-Evan Billela responded to the call in a crucial moment. Blake executed a bunt to reach base during a tied game in the bottom of the seventh inning. Then, Billela stepped up to the plate and drove a ball just beyond the reach of a Los Fresnos shortstop, securing a 3-2 victory for the Panthers in Game 2 on Saturday.
O’Connor suffered a 7-1 loss in Game 1, prompting Panthers coach Weston Heiligman to acknowledge that the team did not perform at their peak level during the opening matchup.
The Panthers were down most of Game 2 due to Los Fresnos scoring two runs in the third inning.
O’Connor pitcher Ryan Mason put his head down, walking to the dugout after the tough third inning, but he bounced back to throw seven strikeouts in seven innings.
The Panthers were down entering the fifth inning and they needed key hits to get them back in the ball game.
Blake doubled to become the first Panther to reach second base since the first inning. Billela hit an RBI single that bounced beside the right foul line to cut the Los Fresnos lead to 2-1.
Then O’Connor’s Noah Davila scored a run to tie the game at two after the Los Fresnos’ catcher dropped a pitch and couldn’t scurry in time to make an out.
In the seventh inning, O’Connor’s Xavier Ortega singled, advancing the Panthers’ offensive efforts. Heiligman instructed Blake to bunt during his subsequent at-bat to assist Ortega in reaching second base. However, Blake’s bunt was too close, resulting in Ortega being tagged out.
Nevertheless, Billela, who finished Game 2 3for-4 with two RBIs, hit a walkoff to give the Panthers a chance to obtain victory in Game 3.
Blake went 2-for-3 from the plate in Game 2 with two runs scored.