Landry Blows Away Mustangs
Lampasas 4, Marble Falls 1
Badger hurler handcuffs Marble Falls
By JEREMY HEATH Staff Writer

Kyle Landry

LHS senior Kyle Landry has been nothing short of dominant on the mound since District 25-4A play started on March 11.

In a 3-2 loss at Lake Travis, Landry took a one-hitter into the seventh inning before allowing a walk and two hits. In a 2-0 loss at Vista Ridge, Landry made just one mistake (allowing a home run) but a lack of run support saddled him with a loss.

On Saturday, Landry was his same old dominant self against Marble Falls. The difference was, the Badger offense was efficient and produced him four runs, more than enough to send the Mustangs home with a 4-1 loss and diminished playoff hopes.

The Badgers (2-6 in district) also kept alive their own playoff hopes with the win.

"We'd probably have to win out, but I think the guys realize that when they do the things they need to do to put themselves in a position to win games, they can beat anybody in this district," LHS head coach Brian McBeth said.

Landry went the distance, allowing just three hits and one walk while striking out 13. A solo home run in the seventh ended his shutout hopes.

Ryan Abbott

Landry, who was backed up by a one-error defensive performance, pitched his way out of trouble in the first inning before settling down and cruising into the seventh. In the first, he allowed two hits and a walk to load the bases with no outs. He then struck out the next two hitters and induced a ground ball back to himself and threw to first for out No. 3.

In Landry's three district starts, the Badgers are 1-2, but the combined scores of those three games is 6-6.

"With Kyle on the mound, I don't know what it is exactly," McBeth said.

"I think the guys just play with a little more confidence. We just play well."

The Badgers opened the scoring in the third inning when Landry singled home Ryan Abbott, who had reached via walk, and Justin Rainwater drove in Seth Fry, who had singled to move Abbott into scoring position.

In the fourth, Abbott doubled home Cody Singleton to give the Badgers a 3-0 lead that would not be threatened.

Abbott finished 2 for 2 with a double, a run scored and an RBI. Landry and Rainwater each finished 1 for 3 with an RBI. Fry finished 1 for 3 with a run scored. Cody Bailey singled in two plate appearances, and Singleton and Coleton Lucas each crossed the plate.

"We hit the ball better than we have in a while," McBeth said. "We just had the six hits, but we hit a lot of balls hard that just went right to people. But we finally hit the ball well as a team, and that's a good thing."

At press time, McBeth had not decided whom he would pitch in tonight's game at Burnet.

The Bulldogs beat the Badgers, 11-4, at Badger Field on March 14.