Lightning disrupts Hornets, Rockets in district opener

A pitcher’s duel between Gatesville’s Bralen Veazey and Robinson’s Derrick Nichols, Jr. meant an absence of offensive thunder on Tuesday but the lightning still made an appearance.

In a 0-0 tie in the sixth inning, lightning delayed – then ultimately postponed – the Hornets and Rockets 23-4A opener.

Through five innings Veazey struck out 11 Rockets and allowed just one hit – to Nichols, Jr. who himself struck out ten and allowed just two hits.

In the top of the sixth Veazey walked Brayden Pick and was in a 3-1 count to Brayden Gant when lightning caused the delay. After about an hour of delay, the decision was made to restart the game at 6 p.m. Wednesday and pick up in the top of the sixth.

For Gatesville head coach Chase Smith, there is good and bad to the postponement.

“Well the pros are that they hopefully lose a little momentum they had with a runner at first and no outs,” Smith said. “The cons are Veazey wont be back to pitch and its tough not seeing him get to finish that game because he was pitching a great game. He wasn’t super sharp but he has such good stuff and he is tough.”

Smith said Banner Allman would be on the hill for the Hornets when play resumes in what will essentially be a bullpen game.

“It’s not a great spot for us to be in but our bats are bound to come through,” Smith said.

Neither team’s bats were all that alive prior to the postponement but the Hornets put runners in scoring position in the bottom of the first, second, and third innings. Only Lawson Mooney advanced past second base. The junior catcher singled in the bottom of the third inning then sprinted from first to third on a Robinson error before being stranded.

Robinson got one runner to third base in the in the top of the second but were thwarted by a Veazey strikeout. The junior lefty’s dominance peaked in the fourth and fifth innings when he struck out five of six hitters he faced.

After completing the game on Mar. 29, the Hornets and Rockets locked up again on Mar. 31 in Robinson. Gatesville will next face China Spring, the district favorite who will likely be 2-0 when the two teams face off.