Burnet baseball scorches Lampasas in 5 innings

CAPTION: Burnet senior pitcher Kade Shaw and the Bulldogs continue to roll through the line-up and games thanks to playing tough defense and hot bats. Photo by Jacob Atkinson/Luedecke Photography

The Burnet High School baseball team seared Lampasas 15-2 March 12 in the second game of District 24-4A play that ended in five innings.

“We’re seeing the ball really well,” head coach Russell Houston said. “The kicker is to put pressure on them and to answer right back, which takes pressure off your pitcher.”

The Bulldogs trailed 2-0 when the Badgers (1-1) scored both runs in the first inning on sacrifice flyballs.

Burnet, however, didn’t sweat the deficit.

Noah Crawford led off with an infield single, the first of four for the contest. He also scored the Bulldogs’ first run on a pass ball. Trey Morrow reached on a single, while Dash Denton was hit by a pitch and Kade Shaw reached base on a throwing error. Khris Kassner had an RBI for the 3-2 lead.

“That answer right afterwards allows you to do more,” Houston said. “Bunts, steals and running the bases, which lets you be aggressive. You bring the aggression, which allows your kids to play free. It changes the mentality.”

From there, the advantage grew. After the Badgers stranded a runner who reached on a walk in the top of the second inning, Gilbert Valdez and Trenton Park each were hit by pitches to get on first and second, while Crawford singled to center-right field to load the bases. Will Johnson took a base on balls and scored Valdez to give Burnet a 4-2 lead.

Then Morrow stepped to the plate.

On a 3-1 count, Morrow took the fastball over the center-right field wall for a grand slam that brought the Lampasas coaches to the mound. And though the Badgers went 3 up, 3 down the rest of the inning, there’s no question one team was empowered and the other was looking for a spark.

“That ball was hit 400 feet,” Houston said. “On those you can tell (they were going over the wall). I didn’t know if it was hit up the middle.”

Pitcher Shaw returned to the mound for the Bulldogs. Again the Badgers got on base because of a hit by pitch, and Shaw retired the other three batters he faced to protect the 8-2 advantage.

Unsatisfied, the Bulldogs went back to work. Colton Stanford drew a base on balls, while Valdez was hit by a pitch to get on base. Park hit a double to left field to bring Stanford home and Crawford added a 2 RBI triple to center field. Once he rose to his feet on third, he looked at his teammates in the dugout, kicked a leg out and shimmied in celebration. Morrow hit a RBI double to center field for the 12-2 lead.

In the top of the fourth inning, Shaw struck out two and forced the third to hit into a 6-3 out started by shortstop Crawford.

Meanwhile, back-to-back throwing errors let Valdez and Park go to first and second base. Crawford hit a RBI single, while Morrow added a 2 RBI double for the 15-2 lead.

Before the Bulldogs took the field for the final inning, they met with Houston, who emphasized completing the task. Lampasas went 3 up, 3 down with Crawford getting the first out on a 6-3 ball and catching a line drive for the second out. Shaw struck out the final batter he faced.

“We’re not making errors, and we’re playing baseball,” Houston said. “That allows your pitcher not to worry about things. They can trust the guys behind them.”

Crawford had 4 hits, a RBI and scored 4 runs, while Morrow had 7 RBI off 4 hits and had 2 runs scored. Valdez and Park each had 3 runs scored.

Shaw (1-0 in district play) picked up the win, while Lampasas junior pitcher Jonas Andersen was credited with the loss. Andersen struck out 4, hit 4 with a pitch, and walked 2. Burnet had 9 hits for the contest.

Burnet welcomes Georgetown Gateway Thursday, March 14, at 7 p.m.

“Every game is a big game because it’s the next game,” Houston said. “Being 2-0 in district is a good thing. Road wins are big and if you take care of your home games, you’re in a good spot.”

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