Hawkins lifts Solon over Washington

SOLON - Nate Hawkins shouldered the load for the Solon baseball team.

The senior right-hander's 6-foot-2, 175-pound frame was more than strong enough to handle it.

Hawkins threw a complete game and added a two-run double to drive in the game-winning runs, helping the Spartans to a 7-5 win over Washington, Iowa, last night for the Iowa High School Athletic Association Class 3A district 10 championship. Solon (21-15) will host Clear Creek Amana in a substate final.

Hawkins said he expected to rest a little easier after pitching out of a bases-loaded jam with the go-ahead run on first in the last inning.

'It was a nerve-racking game,” Hawkins said. 'I'm glad we came out on top.”

Solon Coach Keith McSweeney said options were available, but remained with his starter after a discussion and Hawkins' determination to finish.

'This was Hawkins' game to close,” McSweeney said. 'It worked out.”

Hawkins admitted he battled nerves when the Demons mounted the late rally. He notched his eighth strikeout to end the game. He allowed six hits to just three Washington batters, giving up runs in two of his seven innings.

'Whenever I pitch I want to go the entire game,” Hawkins said. 'I like to compete and wanted to do my best. I felt like I was close to my best today.”

He showed flashes of the potential Solon coaches have recognized. He showed his toughness and grit, getting outs when needed and setting up his defense that was errorless.

'He's just tough as nails,” McSweeney said. 'These are the expectations we've had for Nathan his entire career. For all of us coaches, it was very special to watch him fulfill it on the big stage when it counted. I'm very proud of Nathan.”

Solon scored in each of the first four innings. Hawkins capped a three-run fourth with a two-run double to right center, capping the Spartans' scoring. It drove in Brandon Kramer and Elijah Kane, who finished 3-for-3 with two runs.

Coaches have told him all season to stay behind the ball and he did that with his swing. He was equally satisfied with his work at the plate and on the mound.

'Baseball is a two-way game,” Hawkins said. 'There are two aspects to it. I thought it well both ways.”

The start was rough for Solon and Hawkins. Washington (17-15) took a 2-0 lead in the opening inning on Walker Breard's first of two two-run home runs. Solon bounced back to tie it with two in the bottom of the inning behind Lucas Kane's RBI single and Logan Linderbaum's sacrifice fly.

'At the end talking to guys, one of the things I'm most proud of is that they bounced back,” McSweeney said. 'We kept the pressure on them virtually the whole game.”

The loss spoiled a spectacular game by Breard, who was intentionally walked when he came to the plate as the tying run in the seventh. His second blast came in the fifth, highlighting a three-run inning and pulling the Demons within two. Jacob Green and Blake Weidman also had two hits apiece for Washington.

Solon swept the Clippers (20-17) earlier this month in Tiffin. The Spartans have been trying to peak for the postseason. A state tournament berth will be up for grabs.

'We're looking forward to whoever they put in front of us on Wednesday,” McSweeney said. 'We're hoping to play a great game then, too.”

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