• DIETZ DELIVERS AGAIN: Ace Dietz pitched a complete game, escaping danger in the second and seventh innings, and the Knights (3-0) took advantage of their opportunities on the road, defeating host Lockhart (1-2) tonight, 5-1. Dietz struck out six Lions, allowing one run on four hits. He walked three. The Knights scored first in the top of the first when Easton Salinas hit a two-out single to drive home Trinidad De La Garza, who had walked. Dietz escaped trouble in the bottom half of the second after the Lions pushed runners to second and third with only one out. Dietz induced a strikeout and a fly ball to tame the Lion threat. In the fourth, the Knights made it 2-0 with another two-out hit, this one a Charlie Owen double to plate Richard Salinas, who had walked. In the top of the sixth, Cole Davis struck out yet came around to score to make it, 3-0. On strike three, the ball eluded catcher Mason Welvaert enabling Davis to run to first. After he beat Welvaert's throw to get on base, Davis stole second and third, and then scored on another passed ball. Welvaert got even in the bottom half of the sixth with a solo home run to left field that made it 3-1. The Knights added two insurance runs in the top of the seventh. After De La Garza walked and Jacob Masters singled, De La Garza stole third and scored on an error by Lion second baseman Rene Delgadillo. Masters advanced to third on the same error and scored on an Easton Salinas sacrifice fly. Dietz again avoided trouble in the bottom of the seventh. With one out and two runners on, Coach Brandon Grant elected to stay with his Ace. A strikeout and a ground out later, Dietz had rewarded his coach's faith with a complete-game four-hitter. The offensive numbers weren't pretty for the Knights overall, but Jacob Castillo went 2-for-4, and Easton Salinas and Charlie Owen went 1-for-4. Salinas had two RBI's and Owen one. The two teams are back at it tomorrow, again with a 7 p.m. start time. The game is at Northwest Park. File photo by Dave Winter. #dayinthelifeatmac #macbaseball @macknightsbaseball #Knighttime #txhsbaseball
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    DIETZ DELIVERS AGAIN: Ace Dietz pitched a complete game, escaping danger in the second and seventh innings, and the Knights (3-0) took advantage of their opportunities on the road, defeating host Lockhart (1-2) tonight, 5-1. Dietz struck out six Lions, allowing one run on four hits. He walked three. The Knights scored first in the top of the first when Easton Salinas hit a two-out single to drive home Trinidad De La Garza, who had walked. Dietz escaped trouble in the bottom half of the second after the Lions pushed runners to second and third with only one out. Dietz induced a strikeout and a fly ball to tame the Lion threat. In the fourth, the Knights made it 2-0 with another two-out hit, this one a Charlie Owen double to plate Richard Salinas, who had walked. In the top of the sixth, Cole Davis struck out yet came around to score to make it, 3-0. On strike three, the ball eluded catcher Mason Welvaert enabling Davis to run to first. After he beat Welvaert's throw to get on base, Davis stole second and third, and then scored on another passed ball. Welvaert got even in the bottom half of the sixth with a solo home run to left field that made it 3-1. The Knights added two insurance runs in the top of the seventh. After De La Garza walked and Jacob Masters singled, De La Garza stole third and scored on an error by Lion second baseman Rene Delgadillo. Masters advanced to third on the same error and scored on an Easton Salinas sacrifice fly. Dietz again avoided trouble in the bottom of the seventh. With one out and two runners on, Coach Brandon Grant elected to stay with his Ace. A strikeout and a ground out later, Dietz had rewarded his coach's faith with a complete-game four-hitter. The offensive numbers weren't pretty for the Knights overall, but Jacob Castillo went 2-for-4, and Easton Salinas and Charlie Owen went 1-for-4. Salinas had two RBI's and Owen one. The two teams are back at it tomorrow, again with a 7 p.m. start time. The game is at Northwest Park. File photo by Dave Winter. #dayinthelifeatmac #macbaseball @macknightsbaseball #Knighttime #txhsbaseball
  • BOMBS AWAY: Just three days after posting a nine-run first inning against LBJ, the JV1 Knights put up another crooked number in the first inning today, scoring eight runs in the bottom of the first to put the visiting Lockhart Lions away early en route to an 18-1 victory at the Mac baseball field. Connor Boggs was 2-for-3 with three runs batted in, including a solo homer to left field in the third inning. Jaxon Rosales's stat line in the box score was solid two's: 2-for-2 with two RBI's and two runs scored. He also stole three bases. Starting and winning pitcher Fabian Castillo helped himself out at the plate matching Rosales in everything but the stolen bases. On the mound, Castillo struck out nine over four and two-thirds innings while allowing only one hit and one run. Jake Allison came on to get the final out and struck out Lion cleanup hitter Jose Ramon to end the game. The Lions and Knights are at it again at 5 p.m. tomorrow, this time at Lockhart High. File photo by Grace Nugent. #dayinthelifeatmac #macbaseball #knighttime @macknightsbaseball #txhsbaseball
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    BOMBS AWAY: Just three days after posting a nine-run first inning against LBJ, the JV1 Knights put up another crooked number in the first inning today, scoring eight runs in the bottom of the first to put the visiting Lockhart Lions away early en route to an 18-1 victory at the Mac baseball field. Connor Boggs was 2-for-3 with three runs batted in, including a solo homer to left field in the third inning. Jaxon Rosales's stat line in the box score was solid two's: 2-for-2 with two RBI's and two runs scored. He also stole three bases. Starting and winning pitcher Fabian Castillo helped himself out at the plate matching Rosales in everything but the stolen bases. On the mound, Castillo struck out nine over four and two-thirds innings while allowing only one hit and one run. Jake Allison came on to get the final out and struck out Lion cleanup hitter Jose Ramon to end the game. The Lions and Knights are at it again at 5 p.m. tomorrow, this time at Lockhart High. File photo by Grace Nugent. #dayinthelifeatmac #macbaseball #knighttime @macknightsbaseball #txhsbaseball
  • BIG DAY FOR BRYANT: It was a good day for Mac alum @mason_bryant_. His two strikeouts allowed @texasbaseball to escape the top of the sixth inning unscathed. Then the Longhorns took the lead against Texas Tech for good with three runs in the bottom of the sixth. Bryant therefore earned his first college win on the mound and was featured in the @statesman's coverage of the game. @macknightsbaseball @macknightfootball #HookEm #KnightTime
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    BIG DAY FOR BRYANT: It was a good day for Mac alum @mason_bryant_. His two strikeouts allowed @texasbaseball to escape the top of the sixth inning unscathed. Then the Longhorns took the lead against Texas Tech for good with three runs in the bottom of the sixth. Bryant therefore earned his first college win on the mound and was featured in the @statesman's coverage of the game. @macknightsbaseball @macknightfootball #HookEm #KnightTime
  • COMEBACKS ARE CONTAGIOUS: It wasn't looking good for the varsity baseball team after two innings against host LBJ at Nelson Field Friday night. LBJ scored four unearned runs thanks to timely hitting and two uncharacteristic Knight infield errors. The Knights trailed 4-1 on the road against a team that very much would have liked to avenge the Knights' 4-1 win Tuesday in which the Knights scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth to claim the victory in a close game. But the Knights (12-3-1, 2-0) have been resilient in these situations throughout the young season, and they showed it again Friday. With starting pitcher Yzmael Izquierdo and relief pitcher Ethan Vandament posting zeroes on the scoreboard from the third inning on, the team needed an offensive rally to turn the tide. The comeback came in stages with the Knights scoring three runs in the fourth to tie the score, two runs in the fifth to take the lead and another in the sixth to add what proved to be unnecessary insurance. The big fourth-inning was fueled by a barrage of singles. After Jacob Masters walked to start the inning, Cole Davis, Easton Salinas and Diego Barraz all singled to make it 4-3, and Jacob Castillo drove in Easton Salinas with a run-producing ground ball. In the fifth, the Knights took the lead scoring two runs on only one hit. The rally again started with a Masters walk, after which Alec Worden walked. After both runners advanced into scoring position on a passed ball, Davis drove home Masters with a ground ball. Easton Salinas singled home Worden, and the Knights lead, 6-4. The Knights scored one run in the sixth on only one hit. Barraz drew a walk, and advanced to second on Castillo's sacrifice bunt and to third on a wild pitch. Trinidad De La Garza singled him home with the only hit of the inning. The Knights took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Masters doubled home De La Garza, who had walked with two outs in the inning. Izquierdo (4-0) pitched five and a third innings to earn the win. He struck out seven and allowed five hits and six walks but no earned runs. Vandament got the final five outs of the game, four of them on strikeouts. #macbaseball @macknightsbaseball
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    COMEBACKS ARE CONTAGIOUS: It wasn't looking good for the varsity baseball team after two innings against host LBJ at Nelson Field Friday night. LBJ scored four unearned runs thanks to timely hitting and two uncharacteristic Knight infield errors. The Knights trailed 4-1 on the road against a team that very much would have liked to avenge the Knights' 4-1 win Tuesday in which the Knights scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth to claim the victory in a close game. But the Knights (12-3-1, 2-0) have been resilient in these situations throughout the young season, and they showed it again Friday. With starting pitcher Yzmael Izquierdo and relief pitcher Ethan Vandament posting zeroes on the scoreboard from the third inning on, the team needed an offensive rally to turn the tide. The comeback came in stages with the Knights scoring three runs in the fourth to tie the score, two runs in the fifth to take the lead and another in the sixth to add what proved to be unnecessary insurance. The big fourth-inning was fueled by a barrage of singles. After Jacob Masters walked to start the inning, Cole Davis, Easton Salinas and Diego Barraz all singled to make it 4-3, and Jacob Castillo drove in Easton Salinas with a run-producing ground ball. In the fifth, the Knights took the lead scoring two runs on only one hit. The rally again started with a Masters walk, after which Alec Worden walked. After both runners advanced into scoring position on a passed ball, Davis drove home Masters with a ground ball. Easton Salinas singled home Worden, and the Knights lead, 6-4. The Knights scored one run in the sixth on only one hit. Barraz drew a walk, and advanced to second on Castillo's sacrifice bunt and to third on a wild pitch. Trinidad De La Garza singled him home with the only hit of the inning. The Knights took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Masters doubled home De La Garza, who had walked with two outs in the inning. Izquierdo (4-0) pitched five and a third innings to earn the win. He struck out seven and allowed five hits and six walks but no earned runs. Vandament got the final five outs of the game, four of them on strikeouts. #macbaseball @macknightsbaseball
  • When students and environmental activist joined on the capital lawn Friday morning, many Austin residents were given the chance to showcase their voice whether it be through song, public speaking, or signs. For some Austin residents such as 74 year old Richard Haplin, rallying for climate change is not a new affair. “I've been doing environmental work mostly for the last 40 years.” Haplin told us. “When I heard about young people coming out and being globally united, saving the planet, and creating a healthy future, I thought, ‘I want to be a part of that.” Haplin, who has been personally affected by climate change, strongly believes in speaking out about it. “My father-in-law and mother-in-law were swamped in Houston with the flood of Harvey.” Haplin said. “We had to go down there in the floor and move them out of there in a wheelchair, and move them into our home where my father-in-law died from results of the flood.” Haplin hopes that protests such as what took place Friday morning will continue and inspire change. “I want to see that the biggest change is more people are educated to act.” Haplin said. “I want more people to realize that their lives are at risk, their children's lives are at risk, and the whole world we live in is at risk. I want them to take the solutions that we have just on our fingertips and make them pervasive.” Haplin expressed that he will continue to rally for environmental consciousness. “It feels like we are all frogs in a pot.” Haplin said. “And the heat it turning up.” Photos and reporting by Stella Shenkman and Zoë Hocker. #dayinthelifeofmac
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    When students and environmental activist joined on the capital lawn Friday morning, many Austin residents were given the chance to showcase their voice whether it be through song, public speaking, or signs. For some Austin residents such as 74 year old Richard Haplin, rallying for climate change is not a new affair. “I've been doing environmental work mostly for the last 40 years.” Haplin told us. “When I heard about young people coming out and being globally united, saving the planet, and creating a healthy future, I thought, ‘I want to be a part of that.” Haplin, who has been personally affected by climate change, strongly believes in speaking out about it. “My father-in-law and mother-in-law were swamped in Houston with the flood of Harvey.” Haplin said. “We had to go down there in the floor and move them out of there in a wheelchair, and move them into our home where my father-in-law died from results of the flood.” Haplin hopes that protests such as what took place Friday morning will continue and inspire change. “I want to see that the biggest change is more people are educated to act.” Haplin said. “I want more people to realize that their lives are at risk, their children's lives are at risk, and the whole world we live in is at risk. I want them to take the solutions that we have just on our fingertips and make them pervasive.” Haplin expressed that he will continue to rally for environmental consciousness. “It feels like we are all frogs in a pot.” Haplin said. “And the heat it turning up.” Photos and reporting by Stella Shenkman and Zoë Hocker. #dayinthelifeofmac
  • JV-A BOYS SOCCER ENDS SEASON BY EDGING LANIER: Jackson Carpenter scored the only goal of the game as the JV-A soccer team ended its season on a high note with a 1-0 victory over Lanier on a sunny Thursday afternoon at Nelson Stadium. Carpenter's goal came in the first half off a free kick. All of us at MacJournalism would like to congratulate the team and first-year head JV coach Zach Tucker on a successful season. Photos by Ale Luera. #MACsoccer #KnightTime @aisdathletics @mccallumsoccer #txhssoccer #txhsfutbol
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    JV-A BOYS SOCCER ENDS SEASON BY EDGING LANIER: Jackson Carpenter scored the only goal of the game as the JV-A soccer team ended its season on a high note with a 1-0 victory over Lanier on a sunny Thursday afternoon at Nelson Stadium. Carpenter's goal came in the first half off a free kick. All of us at MacJournalism would like to congratulate the team and first-year head JV coach Zach Tucker on a successful season. Photos by Ale Luera. #MACsoccer #KnightTime @aisdathletics @mccallumsoccer #txhssoccer #txhsfutbol
  • NINE BALL: The JV1 baseball team took to the Northwest Park field late Friday afternoon with hopes of completing a two-game sweep of rival LBJ. The varsity was playing concurrently at Nelson, and the JV2 squad was waiting to play at Northwest in the nightcap. There was a chance the Knights could win all six games against the Jags this week. The mystery of whether the JV1 team would hold serve ended quickly, thanks to a nine-run first inning for the Knights. After Jaxon Rosales walked and Micah Rushing was hit by a pitch, Andy Honea and Connor Boggs both singled, and Fabian Castillo drew a walk. Julian Soliz was hit by a pitch, and JJ Valle-Soliz hit a ground ball to Jag shortstop Aaron Gostein, who threw to the plate, but Boggs beat the throw home and scored to make it 4-0. Juan Valle then reached on an error, Jake Allison singled, and Wyatt Cunningham, the 10th batter of the inning, drove in a run with a ground ball but was thrown out at first. With the Knights up 9-0, the Jags had recorded the first out of the inning. By the time it was over, Mac had a total of 18 runs on 13 hits and seven LBJ errors. Castillo was 2-for-2 with an RBI, Boggs was 2-for-2 with 2 RBI's, and Honea was 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI's and three runs scored. Micah Rushing started on the mound for the Knights, lasting three innings, allowing six hits and five runs while striking out four and walking one. Rushing was relieved by Valle-Soliz who pitched a scoreless inning, allowing no hits, striking out two and walking two. The Knights will take on Lockhart at 5 p.m. on Monday at Mac and at 5 p.m. Tuesday at Lockhart. They are at East View on Wednesday and then don't play again until a home-and-home with Crockett on Thursday March 28 and Friday March 29. File photo and reporting by Grace Nugent. #macbaseball #knighttime #txhsbaseball @macknightsbaseball
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    NINE BALL: The JV1 baseball team took to the Northwest Park field late Friday afternoon with hopes of completing a two-game sweep of rival LBJ. The varsity was playing concurrently at Nelson, and the JV2 squad was waiting to play at Northwest in the nightcap. There was a chance the Knights could win all six games against the Jags this week. The mystery of whether the JV1 team would hold serve ended quickly, thanks to a nine-run first inning for the Knights. After Jaxon Rosales walked and Micah Rushing was hit by a pitch, Andy Honea and Connor Boggs both singled, and Fabian Castillo drew a walk. Julian Soliz was hit by a pitch, and JJ Valle-Soliz hit a ground ball to Jag shortstop Aaron Gostein, who threw to the plate, but Boggs beat the throw home and scored to make it 4-0. Juan Valle then reached on an error, Jake Allison singled, and Wyatt Cunningham, the 10th batter of the inning, drove in a run with a ground ball but was thrown out at first. With the Knights up 9-0, the Jags had recorded the first out of the inning. By the time it was over, Mac had a total of 18 runs on 13 hits and seven LBJ errors. Castillo was 2-for-2 with an RBI, Boggs was 2-for-2 with 2 RBI's, and Honea was 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI's and three runs scored. Micah Rushing started on the mound for the Knights, lasting three innings, allowing six hits and five runs while striking out four and walking one. Rushing was relieved by Valle-Soliz who pitched a scoreless inning, allowing no hits, striking out two and walking two. The Knights will take on Lockhart at 5 p.m. on Monday at Mac and at 5 p.m. Tuesday at Lockhart. They are at East View on Wednesday and then don't play again until a home-and-home with Crockett on Thursday March 28 and Friday March 29. File photo and reporting by Grace Nugent. #macbaseball #knighttime #txhsbaseball @macknightsbaseball
  • A STORYBOOK ENDING: Juniors (1,5) Max Rhodes, (2) Janssen Transier, (3) Kristen Tibbetts and (4) Kelsey Tasch all read drafts of their next Shield stories aloud to their fellow staff members during a peer-editing session in the library Friday morning. With the seniors ... well, you know ... elsewhere on Friday, the non-seniors decided they wanted to leave the classroom too, and Jane Farmer was nice enough to let the newspaper staff have an on-campus field trip to the library. By the way, all four of these Shield reporters--Rhodes, Transier, Tibbetts and Tasch--also found out on Friday that they had won Quill and Scroll Gold Keys in the 2019 International Writing, Photography and Multimedia Contest. In fact, the Shield won 23 Gold Keys, including four Sweepstakes (or first place) Awards. The haul of individual awards enabled the Shield to win the Blue and Gold Award for Staff Excellence. It's the top award that Quill and Scroll gives out, and only one school in the country receives it. It is the second straight year the Shield has won this national award. To read more about the award and to see the Shield stories, photos and designs that won, please click the link in our bio.#macjournalism #quillandscroll
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    A STORYBOOK ENDING: Juniors (1,5) Max Rhodes, (2) Janssen Transier, (3) Kristen Tibbetts and (4) Kelsey Tasch all read drafts of their next Shield stories aloud to their fellow staff members during a peer-editing session in the library Friday morning. With the seniors ... well, you know ... elsewhere on Friday, the non-seniors decided they wanted to leave the classroom too, and Jane Farmer was nice enough to let the newspaper staff have an on-campus field trip to the library. By the way, all four of these Shield reporters--Rhodes, Transier, Tibbetts and Tasch--also found out on Friday that they had won Quill and Scroll Gold Keys in the 2019 International Writing, Photography and Multimedia Contest. In fact, the Shield won 23 Gold Keys, including four Sweepstakes (or first place) Awards. The haul of individual awards enabled the Shield to win the Blue and Gold Award for Staff Excellence. It's the top award that Quill and Scroll gives out, and only one school in the country receives it. It is the second straight year the Shield has won this national award. To read more about the award and to see the Shield stories, photos and designs that won, please click the link in our bio.#macjournalism #quillandscroll
  • JV2 SWEEPS LBJ: After getting thumped 19-1 in the first game of their series against Mac on Tuesday, the JV2 Jags jumped out to a 2-0 lead against their hosts at Northwest Park on Friday night, but Braeden Price singled to drive in Jacob Ramirez and then stole second and home to make it 2-2 after one inning, and it was pretty much all Knights from there. The Knights scored six in the second and five in the third en route to a 13-3 victory and a series sweep over their purple arch-rivals. Henry Sandlin hit a first-pitch double to lead off the home half of the second inning, then stole third and scored on a wild pitch to give the Knights the lead for good at 3-2. Joaquin White singled and scored on a JJ Valle-Soliz double, and the floodgates were open. Price ended up 2-fo-2 with two runs scored and two runs batted in. Hudson Koch needed only 61 pitches to throw five innings for the complete-game win. He also struck out six. File photo by Dave Winter. #MACbaseball #Knighttime @macknightsbaseball #txhsbaseball⚾️
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    JV2 SWEEPS LBJ: After getting thumped 19-1 in the first game of their series against Mac on Tuesday, the JV2 Jags jumped out to a 2-0 lead against their hosts at Northwest Park on Friday night, but Braeden Price singled to drive in Jacob Ramirez and then stole second and home to make it 2-2 after one inning, and it was pretty much all Knights from there. The Knights scored six in the second and five in the third en route to a 13-3 victory and a series sweep over their purple arch-rivals. Henry Sandlin hit a first-pitch double to lead off the home half of the second inning, then stole third and scored on a wild pitch to give the Knights the lead for good at 3-2. Joaquin White singled and scored on a JJ Valle-Soliz double, and the floodgates were open. Price ended up 2-fo-2 with two runs scored and two runs batted in. Hudson Koch needed only 61 pitches to throw five innings for the complete-game win. He also struck out six. File photo by Dave Winter. #MACbaseball #Knighttime @macknightsbaseball #txhsbaseball⚾️