PREP BASEBALL: Lafayette run rules Union County to win Region 3-1A title

MAYO— With a trip to the state final four on the line, the expected dogfight never materialized between district rivals Lafayette and Union County, which split two one-run games during the season.

Instead, Lafayette's offense — which blasted three home runs — was too much for No. 2 seed Union County to overcome in Saturday's rubber game, resulting in an 14-3 run-rule win for the top-seeded Hornets in the Region 3-1A final.

“We've had two one-run games, you kind of feel like it's going to be a barnburner,” Lafayette coach Tim Hanson said. “But to be honest with you, I never got comfortable, even when it got to 8-0.”

The decisive victory punched Lafayette's ticket to the Class 1A state semifinals in Fort Myers, where LHS will face Holmes County on May 17 at 1 p.m. It's the Hornets' third Final Four appearances in 10 years under coach Tim Hanson. 

With the Hornets (21-4) already carrying a commanding 10-3 lead in the fifth over the Tigers (18-9), the game-ending shot came from Hunter Vann's grand slam with one out.

“We've been a hard-working team, with our noses to the grindstone,” said Vann, the team's senior catcher who went 2 for 3 with a walk to go with his four RBI. “It's a big relief just to get here, but the journey is not done. I know that if we keep playing our baseball game, then we got it.”

The Hornets also got a home run from senior Matthew Jenkins, a two-run shot for his fourth of the season. He finished 2 for 3 with three RBI. 

Sophomore pitcher Hyatt Richardson earned his ninth victory without a loss in four innings, allowing three runs on four walks and four hits with five strikeouts. He helped himself with a game-turning three-run home run — his first of the season — during a seven-run second inning in which the Hornets batted around, turning a 1-0 lead into an 8-0 advantage at the end of two innings.

After his shot over the left field fence, Union County starter Trevon Lee was chased off the mound. But the two relievers didn't have much luck against a Hornets lineup with a knack of getting on base, including nine hits and six walks.

"It was my first of the season, it felt really good," Richardson said of his home run that came with two outs. "I had two strikes, so I was just trying to get the ball in play. I guess my hands were extended just right. I knew we had the game after that."

Union County, nonetheless, battled back in its ensuing turn at the plate in the top of the third. The Tigers took advantage of two walks when Lee, from his cleanup spot, smacked a two-run double to left to cut Lafayette’s lead to 8-2.

In the fourth, UCHS took advantage of a Richardson leadoff walk when Tigers' leadoff hitter Jeremy Miller hit a run-scoring single to make it 8-3. But Lafayette's defense prevented further damage when Miller was gunned down at third base on a throw from center fielder J.T. Cook to Coen Severance as Miller attempted to reach third base on a single by Union County’s Ayden Elixson for the final out.

The Hornets' defense also came to the rescue after Garrett Taylor walked the first two batters he faced in the fifth, but his team came close to getting him completely out of trouble when a triple-play attempt fell short.

With runners on first and second and no outs, the next batter hit a liner that was caught by Richardson, who threw to Mock at second base for the second out of the play. Mock's throw to first for the attempted triple play hit the diving baserunner, who safely made it to first.

The runner at first was stranded when Taylor recorded a strikeout for the final out.

“I absolutely wished it was a triple play, I was calling it,” Hanson said. “You know, a big rally can start from that, having two runners on and no outs. We take pride in our defense, the hitting comes and goes. But if you can be solid defensively and with your pitching, you give yourself a chance.”

The defensive momentum carried over into what turned out to be the final inning of the game in the bottom of the fifth.

Taylor singled to lead off the inning, but his courtesy runner, Kevin Posada was picked off for the first and only out of the inning. Severance then reached base when he got hit by a pitch and Cook followed with a single. Leadoff hitter Dawson Mock then drew his third walk of the game to load the bases to set up Vann's game-ending home run.

“I had figured it would be either me or Dawson who would hit it out (to end the game),” Vann said. "When I saw Dawson walk, I said, ‘Okay, it's my turn.’

“The count got to 1-2 and I got a little nervous, then it was 2-2. I figured he has to throw something in the strike zone.”