Hueston Morrill was locked in on Tuesday, pitching a complete-game four hitter to get Suwannee into the playoffs. 

LIVE OAK, Fla. — The knot on Hueston Morrill’s left shin looked gruesome, swollen up almost to the size of a baseball. The contusion, which formed two weeks ago when Morrill fouled a ball off his leg, kept the Suwannee senior from playing the last four games of the regular season.

But the ultra-competitive Morrill wasn’t going to miss Tuesday’s district semifinal against Baker County with a playoff spot on the line.  

The Oklahoma State signee took the mound and willed Suwannee into the playoffs. Morrill struck out 12 in a masterful complete-game performance, leading the Bulldogs to a 2-1 win and a spot in Thursday’s district championship against Bolles. 

“What a great feeling to put those guys away,” said Morrill, whose team had missed the playoffs the last two years, getting knocked out by Baker County both times. 

“I got the official news when I got to the field that I was going to be mound. My adrenaline was going since dadgum 3:30. This game was crazy. It feels phenomenal.” 

Like so many times this season, Morrill carried Suwannee (14-11) to victory with his pitching performance.  He went right after hitters and threw 63 strikes out of 86 pitches. The only run he gave up came in the sixth inning after SHS lost a fly ball in the lights, resulting in a leadoff double that came around to score. 

It was Morrill’s (6-2, 0.99 ERA) fourth complete game in six starts this season.   

“We didn’t know if Hueston was going to pitch because of the injury. It was a late-minute decision to go with him,” said Bulldogs coach Justin Bruce. “But seniors come up big. You let them will you to win. He (Morrill) is going to play baseball for a long time.”

Morrill also provided the offense, scoring Marquis Jones and Ronnie Layton with a double in the second inning. He lifted a high fly ball to center field that a charging Jordan VanVactor couldn’t corral. 

It was the break the Bulldogs needed in a tight game. Suwannee also got some help from the Wildcats, who made two baserunning mistakes that cost them outs in the first inning and then again in the sixth. 

“The dropped fly ball in center field — that’s the game,” Bruce said. “So many times in a big game this year, we’ve had one home run the other team hit or one base hit we didn’t make a catch on. Not to discredit anything from them (Baker County), but you’re happy it finally goes your way.”

Box Score

								R	H	E
Baker County	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	4	1
Suwannee	0	2	0	0	0	0	–	2	5	2

H Morrill — 1-4, double, 2 RBIs — 7 innings pitched, 4 hits, 1 run, 12 strikeouts 

Bonds — 1-2, BB

Jones — 1-2, BB, 1 run, stolen base

W Morrill — 2-3