The Tivy Antlers baseball team opened District 26-5A play with an emphatic 8-2 victory over Fredericksburg on Tuesday night at Antler Field, setting an early tone in what promises to be a competitive district race.

Senior pitcher Jake Morales was dominant on the mound, striking out nine batters over six innings while allowing just four hits. At the plate, the Antlers offense came alive in the third inning with a five-run rally highlighted by a two-run double from junior outfielder Cole Patterson.

“The boys came out ready to play tonight,” said head coach Robert Garza. “Jake set the tone on the mound, and the lineup backed him up. That’s the kind of team effort that wins district championships.”

The Antlers, now 12-4 overall and 1-0 in district, will travel to Boerne next Tuesday for their second district matchup. First pitch is set for 7:00 p.m.