June 27, 2025
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Baseball: Manny Marin’s hot bat paces Plano to marathon win over Mendota

Reapers’ leadoff hitter gets three doubles, scores three runs in 10-6 win

By Bill Lidinsky
Plano's Manny Marin receives a high-five after a base hit during Monday's game with Mendota in Plano.

Plano's Manny Marin receives a high-five after a base hit during Monday's game with Mendota in Plano. (Photo provided by Mark D. Parris)

PLANO – Just three games into his senior year as Plano’s starting shortstop and leadoff hitter, Manny Marin has embraced his role as one of the Reapers’ key diamond fixtures.

After collecting three hits in Plano’s first two games of the year last week, Marin matched that by amassing three more hits with a trio of booming doubles as well as three runs scored and two runs batted in during the Reapers 10-6 victory over Mendota Monday at Plano.

The contest was officially called complete by the umpires after six innings due to darkness as Marin paced his club at the dish.

“I really love my approach at the plate in only our third game and today was pretty special with three doubles,” Marin said. “I’m feeling very confident up there at bat right now.”

Marin was joined in success by sophomore No. 2 hitter Kaden Aguirre who went 3-for-3 with a triple and an RBI, senior No. 3 batter Mason Accidentale going 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles and an RBI sacrifice fly as well as senior cleanup hitter Sean Earwood who posted a 2-for-4 day offensively and a pair of RBIs to boot.

Plano pitcher Christian Sloat delivers an offering during Monday's game with Mendota in Plano.

Plano pitcher Christian Sloat delivers an offering during Monday's game with Mendota in Plano. (Photo provided by Mark D. Parris)

All in all, the Reapers quintessential quartet at the top of the lineup produced 10 of Plano’s 12 hits during the outing with Earwood also earning his second win of the season on the mound as the Reapers improved their record to 2-1. Plano pitching struck out a whopping 16 Mendota batters on the day but also walked eight throughout the marathon affair that took better than 2 1/2 hours to complete.

“This was a long one for sure and we still didn’t get all seven innings in,” Plano coach Nate Hill joked. “But credit to our hitters today especially with Manny (Marin) at the top of our lineup. They had good hitter mentality and jumped right on Mendota from our first at bats and then really took control later on in the game. Our pitching was solid striking out 16 but we need to clean things up with not allowing so many walks. Overall though I’m pleased with our effort today.”

Mendota (0-1), playing in its first game of the season registered only four hits coming off the bats of Izaiah Nanez, Emilio Perez, Justin Randof, and Ryne Strouss. Starting and losing pitcher Dom Stamberger (3.2 IP, 7 R, 7 H, 5 K, 3 BB) took the loss on the hill but the Trojans fought valiantly until the Reapers busted the game open with seven runs during the final three innings.

“Nothing replaces live-game situations and today we saw that for the first time this season and even though we struck out a lot I was happy with how we performed against a very good Plano ballclub,” Mendota first year coach Rob Nunn said. “Our goal in our first contest was to compete in all aspects of the game and I thought we accomplished that even though we didn’t get the win.”

Mendota's Ted Landgraf takes a swing during Monday's game in Plano.

Mendota's Ted Landgraf takes a swing during Monday's game in Plano. (Photo provided by Mark D. Parris)

Plano posted two runs in the bottom of the first inning when Marin led off with a double to left field and eventually scored on an error after Aguirre singled. Aguirre would then tally after an Accidentale double and Eric Perez’s RBI ground out that put the Reapers ahead 2-0 through one inning of play.

Mendota then cut the gap to 2-1 in the top of the second when Perez led off with a double against Plano starting pitcher Christian Sloat (3 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 8 K, 3 BB) and later scored on a passed ball.

The Trojans would tie the game at 2-2 in the top of the third when Nanez started the frame with a single before eventually plating on a wild pitch.

Plano third baseman Sean Earwood waits for a pitch to be delivered during Monday's game with Mendota in Plano.

Plano third baseman Sean Earwood waits for a pitch to be delivered during Monday's game with Mendota in Plano. (Photo provided by Mark D. Parris)

But the Reapers broke things open with five runs in the bottom of the fourth as Marin stroked a bases loaded two-run double to the left field fence followed by an Accidentale sacrifice fly and Earwood’s run-scoring single that gave Plano a 7-2 lead after four frames.

“Things were close for awhile and I came up with the bases loaded and I knew I had to step up for my team,” Marin said. “I hit the first pitch knowing that I need to lead by example and I’m always hunting for a great ball I can drive. I just cranked it and it got us going.”

Mendota added an unearned run in the top of the fifth to cut Plano’s lead to 7-3 before plating three more unearned runs in the top of the sixth sinking the gap to 7-6.

But the Reapers would finish things off with three runs before darkness ensued in the bottom of the final frame after Marin’s third double and run scoring at bats from Aguirre and Earwood.