WALL, TX -- It’s no secret that Wall’s offense is good. They’re averaging 11.5 runs per game and only one team has truly been able to stop them en route to the state tournament at the Dell Diamond in Round Rock.
However, it’s not just the top of the order getting in on the fun. The bottom of Wall’s order, their sixth through ninth hitters, are generating a lot of offense.
The bottom half of Wall’s batting order has hit a collective .450 in 111 postseason at-bats with 52 RBIs. They have also scored nearly half of the Hawks’ 123 runs in the playoffs.
That’s what Wall’s M.O. has been this season.
“That’s one thing we talk about is, if you don’t do your job, someone on this team is going to pick you up,” head coach Jason Schniers said. “As long as we have that opportunity, I feel comfortable with any guy in our lineup.”
One of those hitters leading the charge is senior third baseman Charlie Mascorro.
The senior manning the hot corner has been on a tear this season, hitting .357 this year with 36 RBIs and 12 extra-base hits. But he truly hit his stride in the playoffs.
“(Charlie’s) done it, Colton Diebitsch has done it,” Schniers added. “As I said, everyone in this lineup is capable, it’s just a matter of who it’s gonna be.”
After going hitless in their final regular season clash against Brady on April 23, he began a 10-game hit streak in Wall’s bi-district win over Crane. During that time, Mascorro has hit .428 in 28 at-bats with 16 RBIs and 13 runs scored.
“If runners are on, which is the top of the order’s job, just move them over,” said Mascorro of his role in the lineup. “If anything else happens after that or something happens and I get a double or a triple or something, that’s awesome.”
What sparked Mascorro’s run following the loss to Brady? A slight change in his mechanics at the plate.
“I shortened down my swing a lot,” Mascorro said. “I had my front foot out a little bit, trying to hit everything real, real far. I just shortened everything down and go for the base hits and doubles. I think that helped me a lot. I slowed things down.”
His switch paid off in game one of their regional final series with Brock, where he hit what proved to be a decisive two-run home run over the left field wall. The Hawks were trailing 1-0 entering the inning
Mascorro knew what he was trying to do in the two-strike count with Jake Jansa on second following his RBI double to tie the game.
“My goal was just to get it deep in the outfield so that way that run would score,” the senior said. “I ended up getting a good hold of it. It was an inside-up fastball. I lifted it a little farther and it carried on over.”
After Wall’s 20-1 win over Brock in game three, Mascorro relished the feeling of dominating their rival and getting back to state in the same moment.
“We went into that third game thinking we’re trying to get back to Round Rock, to Dell Diamond,” he said. “We’re not going out against Brock. If we’re going out, it’s gonna be at Dell Diamond. It was real relieving to put a nice whooping on them.”
Mascorro was there in 2017 when Wall made it to the state championship game before being run-ruled by Nacogdoches Central Heights. That loss still motivates him to this day.
“That game, we got run-ruled in five innings. It left a sour taste in our mouths and it was not very good for us,” Mascorro said. “We’ve been trying (to get back) ever since junior year. Now we’re going back senior year. It’s gonna be great.”
Wall (37-1) and Kirbyville (33-7-1) will meet in the first Class 3A state semifinal on Friday at 9:00 a.m. from the Dell Diamond in Round Rock. The winner will advance to the state championship on Saturday at 9:00 a.m.
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