SEAN BOSTON
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson High School swept league-leading Maize in a doubleheader Friday evening at Hobart-Detter Field, winning both games by identical 3-1 scores behind complete-game efforts from pitchers Jack Davis and Carter Morgan.
With the sweep, the Salthawks improved to 15-10 on the season, while Maize dropped to 15-8.
Game 1 — Hutchinson 3, Maize 1
Jack Davis tossed his second consecutive complete game and improved to 5-1 on the season, leading Hutchinson to a 3-1 win over Maize in a tightly contested AVCTL-I matchup at Hobart-Detter Field.
The right-hander worked around seven walks and scattered four hits over seven innings, allowing just one run while striking out two. Davis also flashed the leather, ending a fifth-inning threat with a pickoff move to catch a Maize baserunner leaning.
Hutchinson’s defense played a pivotal role behind him, turning a pair of key double plays and making a highlight-reel stop in the top of the first. After a single to center, Landon Parks fired a strike to second baseman JuJu Lyons, who relayed home to cut down a would-be Maize run at the plate.
Offensively, the Salthawks scored all three of their runs across the second and third innings. Gabe Valadez lifted a sacrifice fly to left to plate the first run, before Caiden Beavers doubled to center and Cole Bleything followed with an RBI single to left.
Bleything and Beavers each had one hit and one RBI, while Valadez also drove in a run and led the team with nine defensive putouts. Hutchinson finished the game without committing an error for the sixth time this season.
Maize starter Gavin Short was dealt a tough-luck loss despite striking out eight in five innings. He allowed three unearned runs on just two hits. Ryder Zimmerman drove in the Eagles’ lone run and finished 1-for-3. Maize drew seven walks but left five runners stranded.
The Salthawks are now 7-1 this season against left-handed starting pitchers.
Maize - 000 100 0 - 1 4 1
Hutchinson - 012 000 x - 3 2 0
W: Davis (5-1). L: Short (4-3). Time: 1:30.
Game 2 — Hutchinson 3, Maize 1
Behind a dominant outing from Carter Morgan and a key first-inning rally, the Hutchinson Salthawks edged Maize 3-1.
Morgan tossed a complete game for the Salthawks, allowing just one unearned run on four hits over seven innings. He struck out four and walked three to improve his season record.
Hutchinson (record not listed) jumped on top early, scoring all three of its runs in the bottom of the first inning. An error brought home the opening run before Gabe Valadez laced a two-run single to left.
Valadez finished 1-for-2 with two RBIs to lead the Salthawk offense. Morgan and JuJu Lyons each added a hit as Hutchinson totaled three on the day.
Maize’s Luke Ethridge was dealt the loss despite a strong performance. He struck out eight and walked one over six innings, giving up three unearned runs on three hits.
Sam Soderstrom led Maize at the plate, going 2-for-3, while Cooper Shaw drove in the Eagles' lone run.
Maize - 010 000 0 - 1 4 3
Hutchinson - 300 000 x - 3 3 1
W: Morgan (5-1). L: Ethridge (5-2). Time: 1:26.