Hampton wins thriller in walk-off fashion against Johnson Co.
Published 12:18 am Friday, April 29, 2022
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Star Photo/Brandon Hyde
The sons of long-time Johnson Co. head baseball coach Pete Pavusek who passed away earlier this year throw out the ceremonial first pitch for Thursday's baseball game as the Longhorns visited Hampton.
Star Photo/Brandon Hyde
The Hampton High School band performed the National Anthem before the Hampton and Johnson Co. baseball game on Thursday at Hampton.
Star Photo / Brandon Hyde
Hampton's Josh Whitson got the majority of the pitching duties for the Bulldogs Thursday night at home.
Star Photo / Brandon Hyde
Bulldog Caleb Royston snags an infield grounder by the Longhorns and makes the tag out at second.
Star Photo / Brandon Hyde
Chance Point tries to beat the throw out at first after an infield grounder against the Longhorns.
Star Photo / Brandon Hyde
Bulldog's Chance Point makes the throw to first after snagging an infield grounder.
Star Photo / Brandon Hyde
Hampton's Morgan Lyons is safe at first after a hopper to the Longhorn short stop is caught, but the throw is late.
Star Photo / Brandon Hyde
Conor Jones steals home on an errant Longhorn pitch tying the game for the Bulldogs on their way to an amazing comeback.
Star Photo / Brandon Hyde
A controversial out at the plate by Hampton kept the Bulldog's in the game and was key to their eventual comeback.
It was a great night for baseball as Johnson Co. traveled to Hampton to face the Bulldogs Thursday night.
Down four runs in the seventh inning, the Bulldogs rallied to force an extra inning and took the walk-off win by a 7-6 score.
The Longhorns got things started at bat and after a quick force out at first, they quickly had runners at first and third. Caleb Royston made a nice grab and tag out at second base followed by a line drive out to outfielder Jonathan Greenwell to end the inning.
The Bulldogs found themselves with bases loaded in the bottom of the first inning, but could only manage a run on a walk putting the Bulldogs up 1-0 at the end of the inning.
Through the second inning, neither team could really get anything going with Hampton remaining on top by 1 run. Hampton had their chances with runners at second and third after Longhorn errors, but Morgan Lyons hit a pop fly to Longhorn right fielder Trey Snyder on a full count to end the inning.
The Longhorns got on the board almost midway through the game after a base hit to first saw Mackinley Kuhn collide with pitcher Josh Whitson forcing him to try and make the tag out, but come up short.
This and another hit by the Longhorns put runners on second and third which led to Payton Pavusek smacking one down the third baseline ending up deep in left field after a Hampton error.
This drove in two runs for the Longhorns making it a 2-1 ball game. Both squads later would each add runs bringing the score to 3-2, advantage Longhorns.
Late in the game, Longhorn left fielder Dakota Holt hit a long ball just left of center field and after errors would end up with a double and drive in three runs for the Longhorns making it 6-2. Things were not looking good for the Bulldogs as the game was winding down.
A controversial call came in the same inning. A throw-out attempt to a second base on a steal would garner an error sending a Longhorn runner at third toward home.
The Bulldogs got the ball to catcher Morgan Lyons who would barely make the tag for the out. This would be a key play, giving the Bulldogs one more shot.
The bottom of the seventh belonged to the comeback kid Bulldogs as Chance Point started things off with a single to center field. Lyons hit an infield hopper getting him safely to first and Point to third.
In almost ironic fashion, the Longhorns brought in Holt to the mound for a pitching change – the same player that put the Longhorns up by four earlier in the game.
Royston hit a sky-high pop fly that would be dropped by the Longhorns, driving in a run to make it 6-3. Colin Morgan then single to put runners on first and second base.
Another pop fly by Conor Jones and subsequent drop by the Longhorn outfield would load the bases for the Bulldogs. Brody Hicks came in and hit a double to center field with two out driving in two runs now making it 6-5.
One could almost hear the Longhorn fans biting their nails.
The nail-biting was justified as an errant pitch allowed Jones to steal home and tie the score.
In extra innings, the Longhorns could not muster any offense and another pitching change to Seth Condor would be Johnson Co.’s undoing as they would struggle with walks.
Royston hit a long ball to right field which was mishandled by right fielder Snyder and drove in the walked runner, sliding into home for the amazing Bulldog comeback victory.
