Dixon Baseball Falls to Hillmar, Still Alive in Playoffs

The Dixon High School varsity baseball team lost to Hilmar High School 6-0 on Saturday, bringing their San Joaquin Section playoff record to 1-1, and making their next game on Tuesday a do-or-die situation. Dixon was shut out the game, and no-hit for four innings. They now need to win two games against Hillmar next Tuesday to avoid elimination and advance to the Section Championship game for a winner-takes-all one game series.

“We only had a handful of hits,” said Dixon coach Scott Winslow. “The opposing pitcher was really good. He kept all of our best hitters off balance. When the game is close with good pitching, there are certain small plays that wind up being big.”

Dixon started freshman Jojo Quintanilla who gave up three runs early, but had a decent outing. Hilmar would tack on three more runs late in the seventh inning to end the game 6-0. Nate Karber pitched two innings for Dixon, and Alex Goumas finished out the game.

“I told the kids today that we’re in the same situation now that we were in to even get in the playoffs,” said Winslow. “When we went to Lindhurst, we lost the first game and did not swing the bat well, but then we came back and swept a double-header to get ourselves here. It’s not like we haven’t been here before. We just need to take it one game at a time.”

Dixon will play again Tuesday at 4 p.m., at Hillmar.

“Christopher Roth will pitch the next game,” said Winslow. “We have to win that first game to force that second game. Everything is committed to winning that first game, because if we don’t there is no tomorrow. We’re going to let it all hang out and go for it.”