By Bobby Mathews, Sports Editor
TRUSSVILLE — Tied 1-1 in the bottom of the sixth inning with Spain Park, Hewitt-Trussville exploded for eight runs to cap a 9-1 victory here on Tuesday, April 19. That win secured a playoff spot for the Huskies, who are the No. 1-ranked team in 7A.
Hewitt-Trussville’s Riley Quick threw 10 strikeouts in the Huskies’ 9-1 victory over Spain Park. (Photo by Bobby Mathews)
Talk about a rally. The Huskies plated all eight of those runs with with two outs gone in the inning, salvaging another strong pitching performance from senior hurler Riley Quick, who struck out 10, allowed three hits and one run.
Jack Ollis drove in a run in the bottom of the fifth to get things started for Hewitt-Trussville, singling to tie it up 1-1. The next inning, however, is when the wheels started to come off for the Jaguars. With two on and two out, the Spain Park shortstop booted a grounder near second base and the Huskies pounced with two runs scoring to make it 3-1.
“I think our hitters with a man on first and two outs, they showed great discipline at the plate to foul off some balls, get some walks,” Hewitt-Trussville head coach Jeff Mauldin said. “We load the bases, and to me it’s the three seniors — Matt Miller, Brooks McRae and and Jackson Kendrick — working to get us in that spot. And then (Carson) Wideman comes and hits a hard ball up the middle that we score two runs on.”
The Huskies weren’t done, either. Ethan Duhon hit a tw0-RBI double to make it 5-1 and the Kurt Kizer hit a high, deep drive to left-center that fell just between the streaking Spain Park outfielders for another double that plated two runs. Kizer then stole third and advanced home on a wild pitch to make it 9-1.
“I think the kids showed great discipline at the plate to work the counts, fight with two strikes to get more pitches,” Mauldin said. “And then Duhon and Kizer had the two big doubles to knock in five of the eight runs.”
Quick gave way in the top of the seventh with two Jags on base and two outs, having pitched 6 2/3 innings, and Logan Phillips took the mound to close things out, getting an easy grounder to third base for the force out.
“Riley showed a warrior’s mentality,” Mauldin said. “I don’t think he had his best stuff, but I thought he was really good. He had double-digit strikeouts again. He had a walk and mis-located a pitch, but again: He made two mistakes the entire night, and gives us a chance to win. I thought he was outstanding.”
The Huskies are 24-2-1 overall on the season and 4-1 in area play. They’ll travel to Spain Park for a rematch on Thursday, April 21.
