ROUND ROCK – The Smithson Valley baseball program was trying to make history in the 5A-DI baseball state finals vs Aledo last Friday at Dell Diamond Stadium. Unfortunately for the Rangers, history repeated itself in another sport.
Early inning mistakes cost the Rangers a run, gave Aledo an extra run, and a slide-rule obstruction call ended their hopes of becoming the first San Antonio area team to ever win UIL state titles in football and baseball in the same athletic year as Smithson Valley fell 8-1.
The baseball game was eerily similar to the 2023 5A state football final between the two teams when Smithson Valley had the early lead, but Aledo ended up winning the game.
In last Friday’s contest at Dell Diamond, the Rangers hung in early thanks to Bearcat mistakes, but fell behind after making their own miscues, and were unable to keep up with Aledo’s offense.
Bryce Wells’ RBI single in the first inning tied the game at 1-1, but the Rangers lost a run earlier in the inning when Blake Allen reached on an error but was tagged out after turning towards second base instead of running down the first-base line. He would’ve scored on the ensuing action.
In the second inning, the Rangers thought they had turned a 5-3 double play, but the first baseman bobbled the throw from third and dropped it when the batter collided with him. The Bearcats eventually scored a run.
Down 4-1 in the fifth, the Rangers had the bases loaded with one out, but PK Moeller grounded into a fielder’s choice at second. The runner going to second was called for obstruction on the slide, and Moeller was called out, to end the inning. Smithson Valley (28-13) never threatened to score after that.
Devin Miller, a Cal State - Fullerton commit, pitched a complete game 4-hitter for Aledo, which won their second state title in baseball, while Lucas Nawrocki went 4-4 with 2 RBIs and 2 runs scored and was named the game’s MVP. Aiden Verette took the loss for Smithson Valley.
NOTES: The teams combined for seven errors. ... Aledo’s Blake Burdine won his second state title against the Rangers as the only Aledo baseball player to play in the 2023 football final. He and Moeller will be football teammates at Trinity University in the fall. ... Moeller was one of six Rangers trying to win titles in both sports.
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