Hawthorne Baseball Dominates Countryside Christian for 4th Straight Win

HAWTHORNE — Hornets baseball stung Countryside Christian with a 10-0 win Thursday to sweep the season series in run-rule fashion.

Coming off three-straight wins, Hawthorne (8-6) carried that momentum into another fast start, while the Minutemen (6-5) struggled to find their footing (seven errors) in extending their losing streak to four games. 

“We came in with energy,” said Hawthorne junior Branson Byrd, who had three of the Hornets’ 10 hits. “Whenever we come in with energy and execute, we play well the rest of the game and it carries on throughout.”

Hawthorne wasted no time setting the tone by putting up three runs in the first inning before breaking things open in the second. The Hornets capitalized on defensive miscues and timely hitting to add five more runs for an 8-0 lead into the third. 

“We’re going to be tough to beat if we can just stay within ourselves and work ahead, as far as pitchers, and limit our mistakes on defense,” Hawthorne coach Matt Surrency said.

In the second inning, Wyatt Jacobs drove in Caleb Jacobs and advanced to second after the catcher mishandled the ball. Jackson Broome continued the offensive push, hitting a single to bring Jacobs home after he had reached third on another catcher error.

Hunter Thomas pitched three of the five innings and kept control throughout with the help of relievers Nathanael Carver and Tison Thomas. The pitchers combined for a three-hitter and the Hornets held down Countryside at every threat.

In the top of the third, Dayton Hulst hit a single for Countryside Christian and advanced to third by stealing bases, but the Minutemen were unable to bring him home.

In the fifth, Countryside Christian managed a few baserunners, including on a single by Landon Law and a hit-by-pitch to Hulst, but an interference call ended its time at the plate. 

“We still have a lot of room to improve, but we’re seeing the ball better, putting the ball in play, making things happen and making the other team make errors by putting pressure on them,” Surrency said.

Hawthorne settled the game in the fifth when Byrd launched a two-run home run that also scored Broome for the 10-0 margin. Hawthorne defeated CC 14-4 in Gainesville on Feb. 23.

Byrd kept his eye on the ball and said when he saw the third-base coach signaling, he knew it was time to round the bases and bring it home.

“I try to keep the guys pumped up as much as I can,” Byrd said. “When the energy is up, we play up.” 

The Hornets will look to keep the momentum going when they host Interlachen (4-9) at 7 p.m. Friday.

Category: Hawthorne High School, High School Sports