STAFF PHOTO BY KAREN COLLINS Stretched out Pitcher Christian Collins of the Port Aransas High School Marlins stretches into a pitch during a game against Runge on Friday, March 13. The Marlin baseball team ran cold and hot last week in keeping with the weather, apparently.

At the Refugio tournament on Thursday and Friday, March 13 and 14, with temperatures in the 40s and rain falling intermittently, the Marlins "played their worst baseball of the year," according to Coach Brian Flack.

However, in Charlotte on Monday, March 16, when the sun came out and the temperature pushed 80s degrees, "the kids redeemed themselves," Flack said.

"It seems that there is a clause in Port Aransas baseball where they don't agree to show up and play if the temperature is in the 40s and if it is raining," Flack said.

"We were not mentally strong enough as a team to put the outside factors aside and concentrate on the task at hand. It was very disappointing," he added. Refugio Tournament Port Aransas 7 Woodsboro 13 1 2 3 4 5 Final Hits Err PA 1 0 3 3 0 7 6 7 WHS 5 3 4 1 0 13 5 1

Leading Hitters: Kevin Sikes: 2-3 2 runs, 2 rbi; Zack Merrill: 1-3,dbl; Ryan Phillips: 1-3; Nick Benavides: 1-3; Alex Groseclose: 1-3

Pitchers:Zach Ainscough and Zack Merrill Refugio 9 1 2 3 4 5 Final Hits Err PA 0 0 1 0 0 1 3 6 RHS 1 0 0 0 8 9 4 1

Leading Hitters: Ryan Phillips 2-3, 1 run scored

Pitchers: Zack Cleveland

The tide turned with the weather on Monday when the Marlins pulled out a big win over Charlotte, a team that has made it to at least the second round of the baseball playoffs each of the last eight years.

The victory was made sweeter, Flack said, because the Marlins beat them at their home park.

"Kevin Sikes was the man of the day, going 3-5 at the plate and putting on a commanding performance on the mound, earning his second victory of the year," Flack said. Junior Varsity Port Aransas 9 Charlotte 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 Final Hits Err PA 4 1 3 1 0 0 9 6 4 CHS 1 0 0 0 0 5 6 2 4

Leading Hitters: Coltan Marcantel: 2-3, 1rbi, 1run; Zack Cleveland: 1-3, 2rbi, 2 runs; Connor Collins: 1-3; Ben Scott: 1-2, 2 rbi, 2 runs scored

Pitching: Andrew Groseclose: 4.1 innings pitched, 6 strikeouts JV record (3-3) Varsity Port Aransas 12 Charlotte 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Final Hits Err PA 0 3 0 4 0 3 2 12 12 1 Char 1 0 0 1 1 0 2 5 4 3 Leading Hitters: Kevin Sikes: 3-5, 3 rbi, 2 runs scored; Zach Ainscough: 2-4, dbl, 2 runs scored; Tanner Merrill: 2-5, 2 rbi, 1 run scored, dbl; Alex Groseclose: 2-2, dbl, 2 walks,1 rbi, 1 run scored; Joseph Shrier: 1-3, 1 rbi, 1 sac, 1 run scored

Pitching: Kevin Sikes - 7 innings 5 runs, 3 earned, 6 strikeouts.