Prep roundup: Manny Velazquez sparks Hixson to comeback win at Wildcat Classic

Staff photo by Patrick MacCoon / Hixson's Manny Velazquez watches his home run during the Wildcat Classic on Thursday. The Wildcats beat East Hamilton 7-5.
Staff photo by Patrick MacCoon / Hixson's Manny Velazquez watches his home run during the Wildcat Classic on Thursday. The Wildcats beat East Hamilton 7-5.

Four-year starter Manny Velazquez sparked Hixson's baseball team to a dramatic 7-5 comeback win over East Hamilton on Thursday night to start the Wildcat Classic.

Velazquez hit a solo home run - his first as a high school player - over the right-field fence with the Wildcats trailing 5-1 in the third inning, and he also threw three perfect innings in relief, striking out five batters as he earned the win.

"The thing I love about Hixson the most is my teammates," said the left-handed hitting Velazquez, who doubled down the left-field line to start a two-out, three-run rally in the bottom of the fourth with his team behind 5-4. "We got down 4-0 early, but we worked as a team and did not get down. We kept pushing."

Hixson (2-0) was also aided at the plate by Jacob Tobias, who had a pair of line-drive RBI singles, and Nic Castro also drove in two runs.

East Hamilton (1-1) scored four runs in the first inning as Austin Wolcott and Chase Roberts laced RBI doubles. However, the Hurricanes added just one hit over the last five innings.

Baylor 19, Soddy-Daisy 0: Danny Corona, Jay Dill and Vito Valincius all hit home runs to lead the Red Raiders to victory.

Lookout Valley 8, Bledsoe County 3: Jacob Winchester struck out 14 batters through seven innings while also going 2-for-3 with three RBIs. Caven Gilley and Jacob Rollins also drove in a pair for the Yellow Jackets, while Jarrett Adams and Riley Collins had two hits each.

Ooltewah 12, South Pittsburg 3: The Owls unleashed 15 hits as Dominic Mackaluso went 4-for-5 with three doubles and three RBIs.

Silverdale Baptist 9, Grace Academy 3: Brett Rogers went 3-for-4 with 3 RBIs, while Connor Delashmitt homered for the Seahawks.

McCallie 6, Bradley Central 4: Carter Hewitt led the Blue Tornado with two RBIs.

Boyd Buchanan 8, Red Bank 0: Perry Griffen was the winning pitcher and drove in two runs.

Dalton 13, Douglas County 3: The Catamounts (5-7) improved to 2-0 in GHSA Region 5-AAAAAA as Kaleb Valdez went 3-for-4 with three RBIs, Brock Johnson drove in two runs and Jackson Blackwood and Brady Pendley each went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Orlando Santiago pitched six innings and allowed three runs while striking out seven to get the win.

Trion 10, Mount Zion-Carroll 6: Brandon Dover struck out 14 batters in six innings of two-run pitching to lift the Bulldogs (5-4, 2-2 Region 6-A public). Brody Brown was 2-for-3 with an RBI and three runs, with Jackson Morrison and Brantley Willbanks each driving in two runs.

SOFTBALL

Ooltewah 13, Central 0: Emma Ladd struck out seven batters, while Kaylee Wilson went 4-for-4 with three RBIs for the Lady Owls.

Compiled by Patrick MacCoon and Lindsey Young. Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com and follow him on Twitter @PMacCoon. Contact Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com and follow him on Twitter @youngsports22.

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