Burnet baseball beats Lago Vista on thrilling double play
The Burnet High School baseball team beat Lago Vista 4-3 April 26 thanks to a play at home.
The Vikings had one out and runners at the corners when pitcher Cooper Faris struck out Lago Vista senior Mason Harris. But catcher Alex Cantrell dropped the strike.
As Harris was running toward first, Cantrell checked the runner at third — Lago Vista freshman Benson Hood — who didn’t stray far from the bag. Cantrell had no choice but to throw to first baseman Will Johnson for the out and reset for the throw back to him.
That throw came in time as the catcher tagged the runner out at home, compelling Burnet fans to cheer and silencing the Lago Vista fans, who stunned by the play.
“It’s the experience of our kids,” Burnet head coach Russell Houston said of the play. “Kids listen and learn and play the game the right way. That kid at the plate and on the bump are going to be huge for us to make a run. It’s nice to see the work we do at practice, to see the fruition of it.”
Faris got the save.
The Vikings entered the top of the sixth inning trailing 4-0 when sophomore Kasey Noack hit a solo home run to trim the deficit to 4-1.
Lago Vista forced the Bulldogs to strand a runner in the bottom half of the inning and looked to tie the contest in the seventh.
Lago Vista sophomore Aaden Vasquez was hit by a pitch to start the inning, which compelled Houston to call Faris.
Lago Vista senior Connor Priddy hit a standup RBI double to the centerfield wall to make the score 4-2. Senior Niko Condon drew a walk. Hood hit into a fielder’s choice when Burnet senior shortstop Gilbert Valdez fielded the grounder, touched second base and opted to go for a double play at first. Hood beat it out, which allowed Priddy to score to make it 4-3. Senior Ricky Seda drew a walk and Hood made his way to third to set up the thrilling final play.
Houston said the Bulldogs didn’t flinch as the Vikings began making their run.
“This team believes they’re going to win,” he said. “They have full faith in each other, that it doesn’t matter who it is (who comes through). It’s going to be us.”
Houston commended the Vikings for their performances, noting they didn’t flinch when the Bulldogs scored all the runs they needed in the first inning.
“They’re a good baseball team,” he said. “I think they have a good shot at winning round one and round two (in the playoffs,” he said. “We may meet up again.”
In the bottom of the first inning, junior Noah Crawford drew a walk and moved to second. Johnson hit a line drive just over the shortstop to score Crawford. Trey Morrow hit a deep ball to left field to score Johnson. With the bases loaded, Colby Zinz drew a walk to bring Morrow home, and Valdez got the RBI on a 5-3 out.
Senior pitcher Dash Denton allowed 2 earned runs and scattered at least 7 hits, 5 free bases and struck out at least 6 batters. What makes him difficult to beat is his ability to throw first-pitch strikes and immediately get ahead in the count.
“That’s him wanting to compete on the bump,” the coach said. ” He’s a competitor trying to get ahead and trying to throw strikes. Dash pitched well. I’m super happy for him to do it on senior night. You know what you’re going to get every time he’s going to throw.”
The coach saw plenty of positives as the Bulldogs gutted out a win like that. First they had to get the lead and then protect it. It forced each player to compete at a high level and make every routine out.
Neither team committed an error during the contest.
“It bodes well for the future,” he said.
While the Bulldogs had already won the District 24-4A title two weeks earlier, the program didn’t celebrate the feat until after this game. That’s because the players and coaches wanted to finish it the right way. Houston noted winning a title takes everyone on the roster, in program, on campus and the community.
“I am so happy for the kiddos,” he said. “This hasn’t been done since 2011. This is sweet, this is nice.”
The 2024 season has been a memorable one for Houston. In addition to the Bulldogs giving him his 300th career win earlier this year — and No. 315 April 26 — they also captured his 14th district championship.
“Three hundred wins is really cool,” he said. “Each season is different. This one is special so far.”
The Bulldogs now turn their attention to the bi-district series against Waco Robinson. The Bulldogs will travel to Robinson Thursday, May 2 and welcome the Rockets to Bulldog Diamonds Friday, May 3. Both contests will begin at 7 p.m. If a third game is needed it will be played Saturday, May 4, with site and time to be determined.
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