|
Hutto tops Taylor in Game 1 
CRACK: Taylor High School’s Tyler Volek smashes a single to right field during the Ducks Region III finals game against Hutto Thursday at the Dell Diamond. Game 2 will be played Saturday at Nelson Field in Austin at 2 p.m.
staff photo by NANCY ROYDEN |
By Emily Grobe Hitting vital in series opener Round Rock — Hutto pitchers John Cannon and Garrett Carey combined to allow Taylor seven hits — four in the fifth inning — in Game 1 of the Class 3A Region III finals series Thursday, but the Ducks couldn’t translate those timely hits into runs. Hutto knocked out eight hits in a 5-1 win over Taylor for a 1-0 series lead. “They hit the ball really well and their middle defense is solid,” Taylor coach Doug Kuhl said after the loss. “We had a chance to score and we didn’t. We’ve just got to take advantage of everything.” Eric Brooks allowed five Hutto runs — three in the first inning — for the loss. Cannon gave up five hits and Taylor’s sole run in 4 2/3 innings of work, while Carey allowed three hits and no runs in relief. Cannon got down to business early, retiring the side in the top of the first before hitting a RBI triple during the Hippos at bat. Carey sacrificed to center, scoring Cannon, before the Hippos strung together a trio of singles to take a 3-0 lead after the first. “Our hitting is a lot about confidence,” Hutto coach Peter Schmidt said. Taylor designated hitter Samuel Jirasek knocked a one-out single to right field in the second, but was left standing to end the inning. Both teams went down in order in the fourth before Taylor loaded the bases with one out in the fifth. Third baseman Eric Camacho reached base on balls and crossed the plate after the Ducks smacked three singles — to short, left and the pitcher. The Ducks were unable to get a run across, though, as Carey came on in relief to get out of the inning. Taylor left three runners stranded. Brooks struck out two Hippos and turned a quick out at first to get out of the fifth, but the Ducks again failed to translate hits into runs in the sixth and left one runner on. Hutto added two runs in the sixth on an Andrew Carson double and an error to cap their scoring and take a 5-1 victory. “Obviously, someone had to win and lose and I’m just tickled we won,” Schmidt said. Brooks was 2-4 at the plate with one RBI for Taylor. Dillon Pfluger went 2-3 with a double in the seventh and was hit by a pitch, while Jirasek was 2-3 and Tyler Volek and Heath O’Banon were 1-3 each. Carson was 2-3 with a double and two RBIs for the Hippos. Cannon was 1-3 with a triple and a RBI. Carey and Jody McCoy each had a RBI. The best-of-three series continues Saturday at Nelson Field in Austin. Game 2 will be played at 2 p.m. If necessary, Game 3 will follow 30 minutes after.
|
