Texans, Billies split series 1-1

The ever-growing rivalry between Fredericksburg and Wimberley came to the diamond this week as the Texans and Billies split their two-game series with Wimberley taking Game 1 in a 3-1 victory and Fredericksburg taking Game 2 11-8.

The split leaves Wimberley’s record at 13-7-3 and is currently tied for first place in district play along with Canyon Lake and Boerne.

Game 1 turned into a pitcher’s duel as both Fredericksburg and Wimberley had their No. 1 pitchers on the mound.

After two scoreless innings, the Billies struck first blood as a one-out RBI single lead to the Billies taking a 1-0 lead. Despite runners on the corners with one out, Wimberley turned the double play to end the inning and keep the damage at a minimum.

The Texans broke into the score column in the fourth inning as Trevor Willis knocked in Josh Prado on a two-out RBI single to tie the game up at 1-1.

After holding off Fredericksburg in the top of the 5th inning, the Texans took their first lead of the game as Ethan Lancaster knocked in two runs on a one-out single to take the lead at 3-1.

The RBI single was just enough for the Texans as the defense kept the Billies off the board as Wimberley came home with the 3-1 victory.

Starting pitcher Matthew Tippie finished the game throwing 6 and two thirds inning while allowing six hits, no walks, and striking out nine Fredericksburg batters.

Zach Britton closed out the game in the 7th inning by lining out the batter to center field.

But while Game 1 was a defensive battle, Game 2 turned into a offensive slugfest.

After the Texans were scoreless in the 1st inning, the Billies came out on fire in the bottom of the 1st scoring four runs to take an early 4-0 lead.

But the Texans struck back in the second inning as Fletcher Stauffer hit a 2-run homer to cut the lead down to 4-2.

Fredericksburg didn’t go quietly however as the Billies scored three unanswered runs despite facing two outs to extend the lead at 7-2.

Kyle Yeatter’s RBI double in the third inning was enough to score Prado was Wimberley once again cut into the Billy lead at 7-3.

After the two teams went scoreless in the fifth inning, Yeatter struck again in the fifth inning by hitting another double but scoring two Texan runners as Wimberley now trailed 7-5.

Following a passed ball that allowed Yeatter to take third base, an error by the Fredericksburg third baseman allowed Yeater to score as the Texans trailed 7-6.

The Billies extended the lead once again as an RBI ground out in the bottom of the fifth extended the lead at 8-6.

Fredericksburg added to their lead in the sixth inning by scoring three insurance runs to make it an 11-6 game.

Though Wimberley fought valiantly in the top of the seventh inning by scoring two more runs, the Billies held off the Texans to seal the 11-8 win.

The top batter for the Texans was Yeatter who went 2-3 with two doubles and three RBIs.

Wimberley now begins a two-game series with the Davenport Wolves this week with Game 1 being played at Davenport Tues day night and Game 2 being played at Wimberley Friday Night with all games starting at 7 p.m. The Texans conclude the week with a road trip to Pflugerville to battle the Panthers on Saturday at 12 p.m.