And, here’s the pitch! Port Aransas High School Marlins pitcher Christian Collins stretches hard as he pitches against Runge on Friday. April 23. Collins is a senior, and it was his last district game as a PAHS player. STAFF PHOTO BY KAREN COLLINS A determined Marlins baseball team surged into the playoffs on Friday, April 30, with a 7-1 win over Runge on the Skidmore-Tynan diamond. The game took Port Aransas out of a second-place tie with Runge in District 31-A and put them in undisputed second place.

They’ll play Kingsville Academy, third place in District 32-A, in the first round of the bi-district playoffs tomorrow, Friday, May 7, on the Sinton High School ball field at 7 p.m. The second game is scheduled for Saturday, May 8, at 11 a.m. at Tuloso-Midway, with the third game, if one is needed, 30 minutes after the second game.

Coach Brian Flack said the Marlins came to play on Friday.

“They dominated the game in every aspect,” Flack said. “They won the right to go into the playoffs as the second seed.”

Andrew Groseclose ran his record to 9-1 on the mound, pitching the first six innings of the game with 12 strikeouts and two walks. Groseclose allowed two hits and one run.

Tyler Pate took over in relief for the final inning, striking out two and walking one. He allowed no hits and no runs.

On offense, Dillon Martin went two for three at the plate, batting in two runs, walking once and scoring one run. Groseclose also was two for three, with three RBIs. Pate got one hit in two trips to the plate, hitting a sacrifice fly and batting in one run.

Mac Owens was two for four, scoring twice and batting in one; Zach Ainscough was one for three, walking once and scoring a run; Kevin Sikes was one for three, walking once and scoring once; and Tanner Merrill was two for four.

Port Aransas committed no errors in the course of the victory.

The win leaves the Marlins with a 17-7 overall record and a district record of 6-3.