ROUND ROCK — The Hutto Lady Hippos varsity softball team claimed an 8-1 victory over Round Rock in a district seeding game to secure third place in District 25-6A. Freshman Bailey Kelley and junior Kenna Spence each hit home runs in the win.
Both teams were scoreless in the first inning before Spence launched a two-run homer in the top of the second to give Hutto a 2-0 lead.
Round Rock answered with an RBI single in the bottom half to cut the deficit to 2-1.
Neither team scored over the next three innings until the Lady Hippos broke it open in the sixth.
After a walk and a single from senior Makenzie Klos, Kelley delivered a three-run homer to extend the lead to 5-1. Kelley also earned the win in the circle, tossing a complete game while allowing just three hits and one run with three strikeouts.
Hutto added insurance in the seventh inning with a basesclearing single by junior M’Kayla Hicks to seal the 8-1 victory.
With the win, Hutto locks in the No. 3 seed in the Class 6A Region IV playoffs and will face Del Valle in a best-of-three bidistrict series starting Thursday, April 24.
Game 2 is scheduled for Friday, and if necessary, Game 3 will be played Saturday.
All games will be held at Lehman High School, with first pitch set for 7 p.m. each day.
The Lady Hippos enter the postseason as one of the hottest teams in the state.
After starting the season 0-8, Hutto has won 12 of its final 15 games. Del Valle has also gained momentum, winning six of its last eight to clinch a playoff berth.
Kelley is expected to start in the circle for Hutto, while Hicks, Spence, Klos and senior Mia Sanchez headline an offense averaging seven runs per game. Del Valle counters with Isa Morris leading the pitching staff, and a potent lineup featuring Bella Rivera, Lacey Magallanez and Isy Navarro, which averages 7.4 runs per game.
