Mineral Wells Area News

‘Horns rally to sweep Hamlin in state semifinals

By DAVID MAY | Special to Mineral Wells Area News

ABILENE – Gordon rallied from behind Saturday to beat the Hamlin Pied Pipers, 9-6, sweeping their way to a state semifinal title. For the first time in school history, the ‘Horns will play for a state baseball championship.

The ‘Horns (23-5) will face Fayetteville (18-12-2) after the Lions downed Brookeland, 3-1, on Saturday to win their series, 2-1. Gordon and Fayetteville will play 9 a.m. Saturday, June 7, at Dell Diamond in Round Rock for the Class 1A crown.

Gordon’s top three batters carried the team offensively, collecting seven of the team’s 11 hits. Maddox Stewart and Stryker Reed had two hits a piece and Aiden Shank led the lineup with three, including a double. The trio also scored seven of the team’s nine runs, with Stewart and Shank touching home three times each and Reed crossing the plate twice. Shank and Reed each recorded two RBIs.

After winning Thursday’s series opener in Graham, 14-1, the teams met Saturday afternoon at Abilene Christian University with Gordon needing one win to punch their title game ticket.

They got off to a fast start against Hamlin starter Isaiah Hutchings as the Pipers pitcher gave up three consecutive singles, the third one an RBI hit by Reed scoring Stewart. Shank reached third on a wild pitch, and scored when Evan Jackson hit into a double play for a 2-0 lead. Gordon loaded the bases but Hutchings escaped further damage with a groundout to close the frame.

Hamlin quickly turned the game around in the top of the second on the strength of three walks and three singles, scoring five times to go up 5-2.

The ‘Horns got one of those runs back in their half of the second. Stewart singled with one out and stole second. Reed singled to put runners on the corners with two outs. Hutchings was called for a balk, sending Stewart home to cut into Hamlin’s lead.

A pair of errors and a passed ball in the fourth allowed the Pied Pipers to go up 6-3 and thoughts of forcing a third game.

But Gordon responded with two runs in the bottom of the frame. Shank drew a leadoff walk, stole second and reached third base on a passed ball. J Dixon drew a two-out walk. Hutchings was called for another balk that again scored a run. Dixon scored on a groundball played into an error by Hamlin’s third baseman to make it 6-5 still in the Pipers’ favor.

In the bottom of the fifth, Kostiha’s leadoff hit was followed by a Stewart walk. They would be the last two batters Hutchings faced. 

Both runners moved up on a passed ball, setting up a Shank two-RBI double into left field to give Gordon a 7-6 lead. Shank stole third ahead of an infield grounder by Reed. Shank scored and Reed reached third base on another Pipers error. He scored on a passed ball for the final 9-6 margin.

Stewart started on the hill for Gordon and almost went the distance, throwing 6.2 innings before Shank relieved to get the final out. Stewart allowed six runs (five earned). He struck out six Piper hitters and walked four. Stewart threw 113 pitches, 67 for strikes.

Piper pitchers walked seven ‘Horns hitters. Shank had three of Gordon’s six stolen bases.