by Phil Gibson
It looked like Hoover might sweep Hewitt-Trussville right out of the playoffs. But after a deflating first game shutout, the Huskies pulled off another late game comeback to force a third game tomorrow.
Game 1 was really much closer than the 4-0 final would suggest. Neither team was able to get anything going offensively through the first five innings. But a costly error in the sixth turned a double play opportunity into two runners in scoring position. From there, the Bucs finally got to Hewitt pitcher Alec Talley to score the deciding runs.
The Huskies were unable to put anything together against Hoover pitcher Geoffrey Bramblett, who was laser accurate for seven innings. Bramblett, who will be playing baseball in Tuscaloosa next spring, was able to complete the game with just 68 pitches
. He had seven strikeouts and threw 76 percent of his pitches for strikes.
It looked like Game 2 would get away from the Huskies early on as well. Hewitt pitcher Grayson Jones never looked comfortable on the mound and gave up two of his three earned runs on wild pitches.
But sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good. After senior second baseman Dakota Harwell was hit by a pitch in the sixth inning, he made it to second on a passed ball. Two pitches later, he scored from second on another passed ball. The play was symbolic of the Huskies’ win.
In the seventh, with the Huskies down 3-2 with 2 outs, Demarcus Kelly made his way to first base on a walk. Down to his last strike, Harwell singled to left field to move Kelly to third. On the next at bat, another wild pitch tied the ball game. Two innings later, a fielding error on a routine fly ball scored the winning runs.
It wasn’t all luck, though. Michael Busby pitched four stellar innings of relief for the Huskies, notching four strikeouts in the process. He pitched his was out of a bases loaded situation in the eighth to seal the win.
Tomorrow we find out if the Huskies’ luck can carry them to the finals.