2A State Semifinals Hawley vs Flatonia

Hawley spread out 8 hits and benefitted from Flatonia errors to win 4-3 in 8 innings in the 2A State Semifinal game held at Disch-Falk. Hawley will now meet Collinsville Thursday at 12 PM at Dell Diamond in Round Rock for the 2A State Championship.

Both teams struggled to get runs until the top of the 4th. Pitcher Westyn Balch got things started for Hawley with a leadoff double. Brad Newton bunted and Flatonia Pitcher Titan Targac threw wildly to 1B. Courtesy runner Bryalen Williams scored on the play to give Hawley the early 1-0 lead. Jesse Nieto followed with a single to right field and advanced to 2B on the throw to the 3B. The throw back to 2B got away and both Newton and Nieto scored as the errant throw rolled almost to the fence. Hawley led 3-0.

Flatonia picked up a run in the bottom of the 4th. Targac singled to start the inning and Henri Vincik was hit by a pitch. Targac was thrown out at 3rd on a bunt attempt. Vincik advanced to 3rd on a Nathan Aguilon single and then scored on a wild pitch to cut the Hawley lead to 3-1.

Balch held Flatonia at bay for the next 2.2 innings. He struck out the side in the 6th and struck out two in the 7th before exiting on the pitch count limit. Flatonia took advantage of Balch being out. Beck Zimmerman reached on an error and Cale Janecka was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Targac came to the plate and singled home two runs to tie the game at 3-3. A strike out ended the inning and sent the game into extra innings.

Balch led off the Hawley top of the 8th with a single. A groundout advanced him to 2B. Jesse Nieto then singled to right field and Balch scored from second to give Hawley a 4-3 lead.

Creed Ernst came in to pitch for Hawley in the bottom of the 8th. He got a fly out, a ground and a strikeout to down Flatonia giving Hawley a 4-3 extra inning win.

Alec Southerland was the winning pitcher for Hawley and Ernst got the save. Balch got a no-decision but pitched 6.2 innings giving up just one run on 2 hits with 3 BB and 9 Ks. He was named the THSB Semifinal Game MVP.