Burnet adds area title, prepares for China Spring

CAPTION: Burnet senior pitcher Kade Shaw threw a complete game in helping the Bulldogs earn another series sweep. Photo by Stennis Shotts

The Burnet High School baseball team swept Giddings in the area round of the Class 4A playoffs May 10-11.

The Bulldogs won game one 8-0 and game two 6-0.

It’s the Bulldogs’ (30-4, 13-2 District 24-4A champions) first win in the second round of the playoffs since 2010.

“I’m super excited for the kiddos to make it to the third round,” Burnet head coach Russell Houston said. “It’s something they’ve been looking forward to for a long time. Our next opponent was ranked No. 1 in the state for a long time.”

The Bulldogs will face defending state champion China Spring in the regional quarterfinals in a best-of-three series.

Game one is at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 16, at Bulldog Diamonds. Game two is at 5 p.m. at China Spring. Game three, if necessary, will follow the second contest.

Against Giddings, the Bulldogs used their biggest weapon — seasoned experienced — to put the Buffaloes away early and quickly.

“We pitched really well and hit the ball,” Houston said. “We jumped out early in both games.”

Burnet leaned on senior starters Kade Shaw and Dash Denton to lead the defensive efforts on the mound. Both pitched complete games because they threw pitches that were effective in getting the outcomes they wanted. That allowed them to stay at or near the maximum of 100 pitches.

“There are different types of pitches,” Houston said. “With runners all over the place, that can cause more stress to the body. They never got that (because Giddings couldn’t string together hits). When Giddings put the ball in play, they only had two or three hard hit baseballs for the most part. It was off balance.”

Most of the hits were ground balls that resulted in routine outs. Outfielder Trenton Park had a good catch. Burnet didn’t record an error.

Shaw got the Bulldogs started in game one where he allowed only 1 hit and issued 6 walks with 7 strikeouts.

Denton followed by not allowing a hit, striking out 9 and issuing 4 walks.

The most important stat for both is that they didn’t allow a run.

“Kade just pitched consistently,” the coach said. “He kept hitters off balance. He stayed in control of everything.”

As the visiting team in game two, the Bulldogs gave Denton what every pitcher wants from the start – run support. Burnet plated 4 runs in the first inning.

“That set the tone,” Houston said. “There was one walk in the first inning. For four or five innings, it was really simple and efficient. I don’t know that he threw his best. He had a couple more walks than the wanted to. He was in command and confident. I never got worried.”

The offensive production started in game one where the Bulldogs recorded 15 hits, an obscene number considering it’s the playoffs.

“When you can do that, it’s demoralizing,” the coach said.

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