SAN ANTONIO – The Hutto Lady Hippos varsity softball team’s season came to an end after it was swept by San Antonio Clark over the weekend in the area round of the playoffs.
Game 1
The Lady Hippos were forced into a weather delay in Game 1 while trailing 14-11, with play resuming the following day. Hutto ultimately fell 16-13 on Friday, April 30.
Clark had the bases loaded with no outs in the sixth inning and added two more runs on a double to take a 16-11 lead.
The Lady Hippos attempted to rally, scoring two runs in the bottom half of the inning on a fielder’s choice and a sacrifice fly, but Clark held on for the seriesopening win.
Hutto had one of its weakest pitching performances of the season. Starter Bailey Kelley lasted just 3.1 innings, allowing nine runs on nine hits with two strikeouts. Molly Kreig came on in relief but also struggled, pitching 1.2 innings and giving up six runs while recording three strikeouts.
However, the bats stayed hot for Hutto, as seven players recorded at least one RBI. Kenna Spence and M’Kayla Hicks led the way with two RBIs each.
Game 2
Hutto settled down in the circle in Game 2 but came up just short in a 6-5 loss just 30 minutes after Game 1 on Friday.
Despite outhitting Clark 11-6, the Lady Hippos were unable to capitalize with runners in scoring position as their season came to a close.
Hutto got on the board first with an RBI single from Makenna Castillo to take a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Both teams were scoreless in the second before Clark scored four runs in the bottom of the third to go ahead 4-1.
Clark added two more runs in the fourth to extend its lead to 6-1, but the Lady Hippos responded in the top of the sixth. Castillo delivered a two-RBI double, followed by a sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to 6-4.
Hutto nearly completed the comeback in the seventh inning, scoring on a sacrifice fly to make it 6-5. However, with a runner on third and two outs, a groundout from Hicks ended the game and the Lady Hippos’ season.
Jenna May took the loss, pitching 2.1 innings and allowing four runs with one strikeout.
The Lady Hippos finished the year with a 15-1 district record, securing first place. Hutto looks ahead to a bright future, with most of its key players expected to return next season.
