Burnet baseball earns convincing win against Comal Pieper

CAPTION: The Burnet Bulldogs gather in a postgame huddle to from head coach Russell Houston (center). Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro

The Burnet High School baseball team defeated Comal Pieper 6-3 March 9 to begin its own tournament.

The Bulldogs host Navarro at 3 p.m. Friday, March 10, on their home field.

“I thought our kids played really well,” head coach Russell Houston said. “We competed, we threw strikes, we made plays and played great defense.”

Pieper struck first by plating a run in the first inning. The Bulldogs responded to tie it in their half of the inning thanks to a RBI double by sophomore Noah Crawford

Pieper regained the lead when it scored in the third for a 2-1 advantage.

Burnet took the lead for good in the fourth when it plated two runs highlighted by a two-out, 2 RBI double by senior Jackson Crawford for a 5-2 advantage.

Meanwhile the Warriors threatened in the fifth with runners at first and second and an out. Junior pitcher Kade Shaw forced the next batter to hit into a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning.

Senior Tanner O’Hair led off the Bulldogs’ portion of the inning by reaching base on an error when the third baseman fielded a ground ball he thought went foul. The umpire ruled it fair. Senior Kurt Kassner reached on a single, and classmate Jesse Bachmayer drew a walk. Junior Trenton Park hit a sacrifice flyball for the RBI.

Senior pitcher Braden Ellett-Clark entered the game in the seventh inning with bases loaded and no outs. After the Warriors scored on a wild pitch, the pitcher struck out the next batter and fielded a ground ball hit to him for a 1-3 out. The game ended on 6-3 out.

Shaw picked up the win and Ellett-Clark was awarded the save.

Russell noted his players made every routine defensive play and enjoyed seeing the double plays as much as the fans.

“I thought we did a great job of that,” he said.

And he commended them for their offensive prowess, too.

“We made adjustments well at the plate, too,” he said. “Their guy was great early. Our kids mentally and physically made the adjustments at the plate.”

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