The Hondo Owls will head out to face off against the Cotulla Cowboys at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Expect the scorekeeper to be kept busy: if their previous games are any indication, these teams will really light up the scoreboard.
On Thursday, Hondo got the win against Natalia by a conclusive 16-2. The Owls might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won seven matchups by eight runs or more this season.
Kolby Gear and Mason Barr did most of the damage at the plate: Gear went 2-for-3 with four RBI, two runs, and two doubles, while Barr went 3-for-4 with two stolen bases, three runs, and one RBI. That's the most hits Gear has posted since back in April of 2024. The team also got some help courtesy of Josiah Quintanilla, who went a perfect 3-for-3 with two runs.
Hondo always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .529. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Natalia only posted an OBP of .263.
Cotulla came out on top against Dilley on Thursday thanks in part to the team's impressive seven-run fourth inning. The Cowboys put the hurt on the Wolves with a sharp 12-2 win. The Cowboys haven't had any issues with the Wolves recently, as the game was their third consecutive victory against them.
Frank Torres was a major factor while hitting and pitching. On the mound, he didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only one hit while striking out 11 over five innings pitched. He has been nothing but reliable: he hasn't tossed less than eight strikeouts in four consecutive appearances. He was also stellar in the batter's box, going a perfect 4-for-4 with three runs, one stolen base, and two RBI. He has become a key player for Cotulla: the team is undefeated when he posts at least two runs, but 2-11-1 otherwise.
In other batting news, Cotulla let Eli Renteria and Devin Ramirez run wild. Renteria went 1-for-2 with two runs, one stolen base, and one double, while Ramirez went 1-for-2 with two stolen bases, three RBI, and one run. Ramirez is on a roll when it comes to stolen bases, as he's now snagged at least one in each of the last three games he's played. Another player making a difference was Eric Aldaco, who earned two runs and four stolen bases.
Hondo's win was their fourth straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 15-5-1. Those road victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 1.0 run on average over those games. As for Cotulla, their record is now 5-11-1.
Cotulla's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Hondo hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .347. It's a different story for Cotulla, though, as they've only averaged .217. Will they be able to contain Hondo's hitters?
Everything went Hondo's way against Cotulla when the teams last played two weeks ago, as Hondo made off with a 17-2 win. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Owls since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
