By Johnny Sanders, Sports Editor
TRUSSVILLE – On Friday night, the Hewitt Trussville Huskies hosted the top-ranked Spain Park Jaguars in a really big game with playoff implications. A true matchup between two of the best teams in 7A baseball ended with the visiting Jaguars taking a 7-5 win over the Huskies despite a late push from Hewitt to come back.
Spain Park struck first blood with a 1-run first inning but Hewitt would put 3 runs on the board in response. Brett Moseley would get on base first, bunting it perfectly down the third-base line and Jack Ollis would later bring him home on a hard ground ball single to center field. Carson Wideman would hit a ball to third where the player would bobble the ball and let it get past him to get runners on first and second. Drew Ollis would double to left bringing Jack Ollis and Wideman home to make it 3-1 Huskies after the opening inning.
The second and third would be scoreless for both teams before Spain Park would put up 3 runs on the Huskies with a 3-run home run after the first two batters got on base, one being walked and the other getting hit by a pitch. The fourth would end with a 4-3 score in Spain Park’s favor.
After another scoreless inning in the fifth, Spain Park would hit another home run, this time a solo shot, in the sixth inning to make it 5-3 Jaguars. Hewitt would be unable to answer in the inning.
In the final inning, Spain Park attempted to slam the door shut on Hewitt by putting up 2 more runs on the Huskies, making it 7-3 as they came to the plate for their final at-bat. Rob Wright would get on base after a grounder to third would be mishandled followed by a Grayson Pope single to the same spot, putting 2 men on base for the Huskies. The next batter would be struck out, giving Hewitt just one more out for the game. Kurt Kizer would come to the plate next and single to center field, scoring Wright and putting Pope on second with a 7-4 deficit. Jack Ollis would then hit a line drive to center field as well, scoring Pope and getting the crowd and the home dugout into a frenzy, with the winning run at the plate. Wideman would be hit by a pitch to load the bases for Drew Ollis who would strike out swinging to end the game. Hewitt would lose 7-5 despite an impressive rally at the end.
On the mound for the Huskies, Ryan Davis took the loss, pitching 6 innings and allowing 7 runs on 9 hits and striking out 5 batters. Will Argo would come in to finish the game, pitching 1 inning and allowing no hits, no runs and striking out 3 batters.
At the plate, Jack Ollis and Drew Ollis each had 2 RBI to lead the Huskies.
“First thing I will say is Spain Park’s starting pitcher gave up 3 runs in the first and then go basically all the way to the seventh putting up zero’s, you have got to tip your hat to that kid,” said Hewitt Trussville coach Jeff Mauldin. “To be able to do that is impressive. I was impressed. Their lineup is hard to navigate. They have a ton of experience, a ton of seniors over there. They are probably one of the top 2 or 3 teams in the state. Coach Smith does a good job. They don’t flinch in big games and are a solid team.”
Coach Mauldin continued, “As far as our guys go, we came out of the gate really good, giving up a run in the first and then coming back with 3 of our own. Then the middle innings we went through a lull and couldn’t get hits or guys on base. I’m proud of the way we fought. Down by 4 in the seventh inning and we got some guys on base and make some things happen. We got some clutch hits and cut it to 2. We are one hit from tying or a hit to the gap from winning. We are proud of our kids for battling the whole game with one of the best teams in our state. I’m proud of our guys’ fight. We have to move past it and get ready to play Oak Mountain. Our playoffs begin now. Ryan Davis has been one of our main guys. I took him out of the game on pitch count. I told him I felt like he pitched well enough for us to win the game. He had some mislocated mistakes during that lull in the middle innings. A good team capitalized. The two homers wound up being the difference. Overall he battled and pitched well enough to win. He battles and fights for his team. That’s what we need when we put a guy on the mound. Guys who compete and fight. Our team loves when he pitches and that’s why. He goes out and fights and competes for them.”
Hewitt falls to 19-10 on the season heading into a critical game against Oak Mountain on Tuesday night back at Phil English Field. With a win, Mauldin gets his 300th win at Hewitt and the Huskies stay alive in the playoff race.