The Mason High School baseball team crushed San Saba 12-2 April 4 and Center Point 17-2 April 1 to remain in the thick of the District 28-2A race.
The Mason High School baseball team crushed San Saba 12-2 April 4 and Center Point 17-2 April 1 to remain in the thick of the District 28-2A race.
Over the six years head coach Jay Immel has been at the helm, he has built a program using the values of the Mason community – hard work, dedication and cheering on your teammates.
Only one team in the district — Johnson City — has enough to contain the Punchers. And it takes a pitcher, who is expected to be a 2025 Major League Baseball draftee to do it.
That's what makes these Punchers fun to watch and cheer for. Prior to accepting the job at Mason, he was the Sonora High School baseball coach for two years and worked for that school district for 10 years.
This year's team has two seniors, Hunter Bradley and Matthew King, who have been in the program for four years.
Other players include Fisher Bradley, Slade Buell, Kingston Garza, Kalen Langehennig, Trevor Loeffler, Grant Nobles, Ray Row and Gustavo Valdez.
'I'm super excited with the group we have,' he said. 'We have a bunch of different guys who can play a bunch of different positions. We have to get a good look at them. We have to figure out where they go.'
Part of what makes the Punchers successful is their ability to roll with whatever is thrown at them.
Take a change in schedule during the district opener against Goldthwaite.
Instead of playing the Eagles on a Tuesday, the game was moved to Saturday.
But before the two played that weekend contest, Mason crushed Goldthwaite 9-0 the night before behind King's strong pitching. He struck out 17 batters and allowed only one hit when the batter beat the throw to first base.
The Punchers packed the momentum with their equipment for the long road trip that was a happy return thanks to their 9-0 victory. Pitcher Row allowed two hits and two walks and struck out five in seven innings.
The pitching staff relies on two catchers – Row and Slade Buell. When one is behind the plate, the other is on the field behind the pitcher.
'It helps so catchers don't get so worn out,' Immel said.
Power hitting complements the Punchers' strong pitching and defense.
During the weekend wins against Goldthwaite, Mason had almost 20 hits to go with its run totals.
'The guys came out and played,' Immel said. 'Pitching was awesome, defense was awesome.'
The Punchers are at Harper Friday, April 11, and welcome the Longhorns Monday, April 14. Both contests begin at 6:30 p.m.
