CATCH IT: Hutto's Andrew Carson makes an exceptional catch in the outfield during Hutto's sweep over Gatesville in the bi-district round of the Class 3A state baseball playoffs. Carson made a number of great alley catches, including a diving catch during the first win. photos by Rene Carey

Hippos advance to area in 2

By Clint Coffee

Hutto continued their hot streak against Gatesville in the first round of the Class 3A state baseball playoffs with consecutive victories Friday and Saturday.

In game one in Gatesville Friday, the Hippos greeted the Hornets with a ten-run rule in six innings, taking an 11-0 shut out victory. Senior Chris Thomison pitched all six innings, allowing two hits, striking out eight and stranding five runners on base. The Hippo offense had 11 hits and also left five men stranded. Both teams committed three errors.

Drew Carson had three hits, two RBIs and scored twice. Thomison had two hits, two RBIs and two runs scored, while Garrett Carey batted in two and scored twice.

At home in game two Saturday, the Hippos never faltered, winning 8-1 in less than two hours. Junior Brett Higginbotham struck out ten batters in six innings with precise control and a sharp curveball. He gave up one run and four hits. Senior Garrett Carey closed the game with three straight outs in the seventh inning.

“We threw strikes today, which makes our defense make plays,” Hutto coach Pete Schmidt said after the Hippos final win.

The Hippo defense was not outdone. In the third inning, with one out and a runner on first, third baseman Eythan Lenz fielded a hard grounder and turned a double play without hesitation, ending the inning. Thomison, playing center field, made a tough shoestring catch with no outs in the fifth to hold a runner at first base and left fielder Andrew Carson halted Gatesville’s sixth inning rally with a diving catch for the third out.

Gatesville pitcher C.L. Riddle struggled with control all game. The Hippos took advantage, drawing seven walks and leaving three men on base to scrap out eight runs on five hits.

Leading 1-0, Thomison started off the pivotal fourth inning with an infield single and promptly stole second base. Junior John Cannon walked to put runners at first and second. Carey hit a single to right field, knocking in two runs, and advanced to third on an error. He then scored when sophomore Shaun Simmons hit a sacrifice fly to right. After recording their second out, the Hippos drew three straight walks, scoring one runner on a wild pitch before they ended the inning with four runs.

With one run in the fifth and two in the sixth, the Hippos ended their scoring.

“When we keep hitting the ball and the pitchers throw like they have, we give ourselves an opportunity to win the game,” Schmidt said.

They now wait to face Groesbeck in the regional quarterfinals. They will play a best-of-three series, with game one Thursday in Lorena at 7:30 p.m., game two Friday in Lorena at 7:30 p.m. and game three, if necessary, at 2 p.m. Saturday in Lorena.