From The Trussville Tribune staff reports
HOOVER –The Huskies downed Hoover 7-3 with a good start and a great finish in Game 3 to advance to the next round of the playoffs.
Hewitt-Trussville got off to a strong start, scoring two runs in the top of the 1st inning. The runs came on an RBI triple by Carson Skipper and an RBI by Tyler Mauldin.
Mauldin would go on to gather 3 RBI on the day to lead the Huskies.
Ed Johnson took the mound for the Huskies and gave up a single, but came right back and coaxed Peyton Wilson into a double play. Johnson then K’d the next batter to hold Hoover scoreless in the bottom of the 1st inning.
Johnson went to distance, pitching three scoreless innings before getting roughed up for 3 runs in the 4th. But the Auburn signee gutted it out to finish the game with three more scoreless innings and delivered the big win. He gave up seven hits and struck out seven while only walking two.
It was a defensive standoff until the bottom of the 4th inning when the Bucs’ Preston Moore hit an RBI single scoring Wilson to cut the Huskies’ lead to 2-1.
After a single by Evan Veal, Hoover’s Daniel Swatek hit into a double play, scoring Sonny DiChiara and tying the game 2-2.
An RBI single by Nolan Hammonds gave the Bucs a 3-2 lead.
The Huskies got two men on base in the top of the 5th, but left them there. Both teams were soreless in the 5th and 6th innings.
Hewitt-Trussville then matched their strong start with a even stronger finish. In the top of the 7th, the Huskies started rolling.
Preston Jones singled on a pop fly and Michael Fowler doubled on a line drive to center field putting runners on second and third with no outs.
Keith Lanum grounded to second, scoring a run and tying the game 3-3. He was safe at first on an error.
That brought the top of the Hewitt-Trussville order to the plate in lead off man Johnson and brought a pitching change for Hoover with DiChiara replacing Griffin Lape.
Johnson banged an RBI double, giving the Huskies a 4-3 lead, bringing Skipper to the plate with runners on 2nd and 3rd with no outs.
An intentional walk to Skipper loaded the bases.
Mauldin then delivered an RBI singe, scoring 2 and stretching the Hewitt-Trussville lead to 6-3.
A bases loaded walk to Jones sent Skipper home for the 7-3 final.
The Bucs went down in order and the Huskies advanced to the next round. The process continues.