Spartans beat Elks in district-opener behind Hatton's three-run bomb
Bryson Hatton caps off five-run fourth inning with three-run homerun en-route to 5-3 Spartan-victory over crosstown-rival Elks
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BURLESON – Bryson Hatton capped off a five-run fourth inning with a three-run homerun en-route to the Centennial Spartans varsity baseball team beating the crosstown-rival Burleson Elks 5-3 Tuesday at Spartan Field.
The junior infielder Hatton’s three-run bomb to left field gave the Spartans a 5-2 lead with two outs in the bottom of the fourth.
“Bryson Hatton had a really good two-strike approach,” Spartans head coach Art Senato said after the win. “He got a good pitch that he can handle, and he did with it what we know he can do for sure.”
Hatton went 2-for-4 with a single, a home run and three RBIs in the Spartans’ win.
The Spartans scored all five runs in the fourth inning with two outs after the Elks came into the inning with a 2-0 lead. Senato said scoring all those runs with two outs says a lot about the Spartans.
The Elks struck first as sophomore shortstop Landon Smith hit a solo home run to left field to give the Elks a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning.
Smith went 1-for-3 with the home run and a walk.
Senato said the Spartans’ senior starting pitcher Connor Mohan was great despite surrendering the home run early.
“I tip my hat to [Smith],” Senato said. “He got all of it, but we definitely made a good adjustment after that.”
Mohan earned the victory as he struck out six batters and surrendered three earned runs off two hits and four walks through four and 2/3 innings.
Senior pitcher Zach Applegate struck out seven batters through two and 1/3 innings of relief and earned two walks at the plate.
Elks infielder Cash Brown scored on a passed ball to give the Elks a 2-0 lead in the top of the third inning. Brown reached first-base on an error, reached second when center-fielder Aviel Webster grounded into a fielder’s choice and reached third on an errand pickoff-attempt before scoring on the passed ball.
Spartans junior infielder Max Irwin drove in the team’s first run with a single to right field to cut the Elks’ lead to 2-1 in the bottom of the fourth. Irwin went 2-4 with an RBI and a run scored.
Senior right-fielder Corbin Crump hit an RBI-single to right field to tie the game 2-2 in the bottom of the fifth. Crump went 1-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.
Senato said it was huge for the Spartans to beat their crosstown rival to win their first district game, which the Spartans treat like playoff games, Senato said.
With the win, the Spartans (1-0 in district, 3-3 overall) are tied for first-place in District 8-5A. The Elks (0-1, 1-5) are tied for ninth place.
The Spartans take on the Pflugerville-Weiss Wolves (3-3 overall) Thursday at 2:30 p.m. and the Georgetown-East View Patriots (0-2) at 5 p.m. at East View High School in the Austin ISD/Westlake Tournament. They’ll also play the Pflugerville-Connally Cougars (2-2) and the Austin-Westlake Chaparrals (2-1) Friday at Westlake High School and play the Austin-Bowie Jackrabbits (2-1-2) and the Austin Maroons (4-2) Saturday at the Toney Burger Activity Center in the tournament.
The Elks face the Colleyville-Heritage Panthers (4-1) Friday at 2:30 p.m. and the Coppell Cowboys (1-1) at 5 p.m. at Coppell High School in the HEB Classic Tournament. They’ll also face the Keller-Timber Creek Falcons (2-2) and the Arlington-Martin Warriors (2-4) Friday at L.D. Bell High School and face the Justin-Northwest Texans (1-2-1) Saturday at Trinity High School in the tournament.