The Mavs took on Cedar Ridge in one of the more important games of the season so far. Before the Mavs took the field, a special tribute was in honor of the 10 players who will be graduating and their parents.

“I really enjoyed my high school baseball career,” senior Tim Hunter said. “I’ve gained a lot of experience playing at such a high level and improvement to my skills.”

Senior Matt Tobolka took the mound for the Mavs and had a rough first first inning before settling down in the second.

The Mavs had trouble putting runs on the board going into the fourth inning down 2-0. The bats came alive for the Mavs in the bottom of the fourth against Cedar Ridge starter Justin Haros. Cameron Terrell got it all started for the Mavs by “taking one for the team” and getting hit by the pitch.

An eventual error by Cedar Ridge third baseman Cameron Pinchback would score three runs for the Mavs and give them their first lead of the game. The Raiders put two more up on the board in the fifth and the Mavericks matched their two runs in the sixth putting them ahead 5-4 going into the seventh.

In the top of the seventh Clayton Haag came into relieve Tobolka on the mound and walked his first two batters before a bunt single put Cedar Ridge’s Chris Chambers on first base and loaded the bases for the Raiders.

Noah Clarkson then came into relieve Haag of his pitching duties. The Raiders’ Ryan Phillips tied the game with a sacrifice fly to center field scoring Daniel Williams from third base. Ryan Klimovitz of the Raiders gave them the lead with a RBI single to center field.

Heading into the bottom of the seventh, the Mavs had runners on first and second with two outs when Austin Hinkle grounded out to second base to end the game. Haag took with loss for the Mavs and Cedar Ridge’s Haros walked away with the win.

“My favorite McNeil baseball memory is when we went far in the 2012 playoffs and the success we had,” senior Kyle Dutton said.

The Mavs will participate in the playoffs after a Saturday win against Pflugerville.