Mansfield Legacy vs. Burleson Centennial

BURLESON, TX - Thursday was a big game in District 5-5A between Burleson Centennial and Mansfield Legacy (No. 19 Ranked team in the PBR Texas Power 25). The Centennial Spartans (10-1) won the first meeting on Tuesday, putting them in first place and in contention for the District title, but they would need to take care of business on Thursday against Mansfield Legacy (9-2).

The biggest difference in the game was the four spot that the Broncos put up in the top of the third inning. 2019 SS Nathan Rooney (Weatherford JC) singled in a run with a hard liner to left field, then 2019 C Nate Rombach (Texas Tech) launched a 3-2 offering to left field for a 3 run homer. 4-0 Broncos.

The Spartans answered in the bottom of the fourth with a two run blast off the bat of 2019 SS Miguel Santos (McLennan JC) that cut the lead in half. 4-2 Broncos.

Legacy expanded their lead in the sixth on a sacrifice bunt from starting pitcher 2022 RHP Kayden Voelkel. 5-2 Broncos

Things got interesting in the seventh when Centennial got the first two runners on base with a walk and a single. Thats when Coach McMullen went to closer and second baseman 2019 Payton Cathey. Cathey allowed an RBI single to the first batter he saw bringing the winning run to the plate for the Spartans. But the Richland JC commit got a shallow fly out, a strikeout, and a fly ball to end the game.

Final Score: Legacy 5, Centennial 3. With the split, Legacy and Centennial are now both tied atop District 5-5A at 10-2. With one week left in the regular season, if these two teams finish tied, they will have a one game playoff next Saturday for playoff seeding.

STATS

Legacy
Voelkel: (W) 6 IP, 84 TP, 3 H, 3 ER, 7 K, 3 BB.
Cathey: (S) 1 IP, 1 H, K.
Rooney: 1-4, RBI
Rombach: 1-3, HR, 3 RBI
Wright: 1-3, R
Clark: 1-3
Binkley: 1-3, R

Centennial
Freeman: (L) 6.2 IP, 114 TP, 5 R, 4 ER, 5 H, 7 K, 3 BB
Barnes: 1-4, R
Santos: 1-3, HR, 2 RBI
DeLaRosa: 1-3
Fuller: 1-1, RBI

SCOUT NOTES

Nate Rombach, C, Mansfield Legacy HS, 2019
Texas Tech commit. Rombach has been a household name in the recruiting and scouting circles of North Texas since his sophomore season. He appears taller than his listed 6-foot-4, 215-pound frame. Pure arm strength with true carry on throws to second base, I got a 1.87 on one of his throws between innings. Offensively, there is a ton to like about the right-handed hitter who shows solid strength in the barrel with a fairly patient approach at the plate. Demolished a 3-2 pitch for a huge three-run homer off the scoreboard in left-centerfield, which ended up being the difference in the game as his club won 5-3. Combine the offensive power with the fact that he plays a premium position behind the plate and Rombach could hear his name called this year in the 2019 MLB Amatuer Draft.

Miguel Santos, SS, Burleson Centennial HS, 2019
The McLennan JC commit has a quick twitch, 5-10, 160-pound frame, and is stronger than he looks. Polished defender, can make all the throws from shorstop and has the smooth actions, footwork and clean, elbow dominant arm stroke that should allow him to have an immediate impact at the junior college level next year. The right-handed hitter starts from a tall stance and showed quick hands and sneaky bat speed on Thursday night. He scorched a ground ball right at the second baseman in his first at-bat, then hit an absolute no-doubter home run to left field for two RBI. Going to be an infielder that D1 recruiters will want to pay close attention to at McLennan.