By Mike Considine

FOR A FULL STORY ON THE BURBANK-HAYS BASEBALL PLAYOFF SERIES (May 3-4, 2013), click here:

http://www.mysanantonio.com/default/article/Burbank-boys-fall-to-Hays-in-playoffs-4492369.php

Senior center fielder Nick Canas had his best game of the season, but the Bulldogs (13-16) couldn’t quite catch Hays (19-9) Friday in Buda.

The Rebels scored three runs in the first inning and swept the best-of-three Class 4A bi-district series against Burbank. The Bulldogs were eliminated with a 9-7 loss.

“I think, if we could have gotten to a third game,” Burbank coach Romeo Barrera said, “I would have liked our chances. They ended up bringing in their ace in the seventh inning, after he had pitched the night before. So, obviously, they had a sense of urgency.”

Canas had three hits in his final game, all for extra bases. The senior hit a solo home run in the second inning that brought Burbank within 3-1. He also belted a double and a triple to drive in three runs.

The Bulldogs scored in the fifth inning and manufactured a five-run rally in the sixth. Unfortunately for Burbank, the combustible Rebels had produced another big rally by then.

Hays increased its lead to 8-1 in the fourth inning. Burbank cut it to 8-7 in the top of the sixth, but Hays added an insurance run in the bottom of the inning.

The Bulldogs weren’t able to score in their last at-bat against Hays reliever Tyler Woodmansee, who had limited the Bulldogs to five hits while striking out 10 in Game 1.

Burbank starting pitcher Andy Morales drove in two runs. Fellow senior Eduardo Salas also collected an RBI.

Bulldogs sophomore catcher Conrad Perez drew three walks and senior Matt Ramirez walked twice.

Hays took the lead early in both games of the series. The Rebels pulled away to a 10-1 victory in the series opener at SAISD Field No. 1 Thursday.

“They’ve got a pretty good mix of kids,” Barrera said of Hays’ offense. “They have some little guys and some power hitters. They’re a pretty solid team. Their ace is pretty ‘lights out.’ ”

The Rebels scored in the first inning on a sacrifice fly from Dalton Niles, which followed a double from Texas State signee Granger Studdard (2-for-2). Hays tacked on two more runs in the third, on an RBI triple from J.C. Cerda and a second sacrifice fly from Niles.

A grand slam home run by Studdard helped Hays build an 8-0 lead in the sixth. Hays outhit Burbank 8-5.

Back-to-back triples by Adrian Acosta and Justin Montana in the top of the seventh led to two more Hays runs.

Burbank got on the board in its half of the last inning. Junior Jonathan Alanis drove in the run. Sophomore Arturo Martinez led the Bulldogs with two hits. Morales stole two bases.

The Bulldogs had won their previous three games.