Coaches warned at the beginning of the season that the introduction of a new “BB CORE” bat by the University Interscholastic League would cut the number of long balls in high school games.

With last season’s bats, coach Brian Flack agreed that ground-rule doubles by Alex Groseclose and Tyler Pate against the Falls City Badgers at home on Friday, March 30, would both have been overthe fence home runs.

As it was, the Marlins posted their 13th season win and third district win, 14-4, and were voted third in the state among 1A baseball teams in the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association poll.

Groseclose’s double came as he led off the bottom of the fourth and wouldn’t have scored anyone but him, had it gone over the fence. If Pate’s had been hit with last year’s bat, however, it would have driven in Andrew Groseclose, who had just singled with a line drive to center field.

Pate was the winning pitcher, having lasted five innings on the mound and allowed four runs, two of which were earned. Pettus batters picked up four hits off Pate; he struck out 10, hit one batter with a pitch and walked five.

Pate looked to be in trouble in the fourth inning when, after a strikeout and a batter thrown out, he walked two and hit a batter, loading the bases. The sixth Pettus batter up took two balls and a run scored after a wild pitch, but the next three offerings from Pate saw two foul balls and a clean strike with the batter watching it go past, retiring the side.

John Amundsen, who took over throwing duties in the sixth inning, allowed one hit and two walks. He had no strikeouts and allowed no runs.

Andrew Groseclose got hits each of his three times at bat and batted in three runs. One of his hits was a double. Alex Groseclose went two for three, with both of his hits being doubles; he batted in one run.

Jake Roberts went one for three with an RBI; Blue Shodrock was one for two with an RBI with a sacrifice grounder in the fourth frame and was hit by a pitch once. Amundsen picked up a double and two RBIs in his two trips to the plate.

Follett was 0 for 1, but drove in two runs with a sacrifice and walked once.

The Marlins spread their scoring over five of the six innings, picking up two runs in the bottom of the sixth to close the game under the UIL’s 10-run rule.