MAYO — With a berth in a second consecutive state Final Four on the line, Lafayette coach Tim Hanson admitted there was reason for concern for his offense.
After all, his team was coming off a playoff victory where the lineup failed to produce a run off its bats, pulling off a one-run win thanks to a last-inning balk by the opposing pitcher from Madison County.
This time, while the top-seeded Hornets were no juggernauts at the plate, they provided more than enough offensive firepower for right-hander Garrett Taylor, who held No. 2 seed Union County to one hit in five innings of work for a 4-0 victory in Saturday's Region 3-1A championship at LHS.
The Hornets (23-2) earned their fourth victory in four games against the Tigers (15-14) this season to clinch their second straight trip to Fort Myers where they’ll face Region 1 champion Jay — a 4-3 winner against Paxton. The Class 1A state semifinal matchup is scheduled for Wednesday at 1 p.m. following the other semifinal game between Region 2 champion Bozeman and Region 4 champion Trenton at 10 a.m.
“We got the timely hits, obviously,” Hanson said. “We're not the same hitting team we were last year, but I've been telling the guys this year, I'm looking more for the timely hitting, how they do with runners in scoring position — that's what sticks out for me more. Tonight, they did a better job of putting the ball in play than in the previous game.”
While the offense stepped up with eight hits to just two for Union County, the defense actually set the tone early.
The Tigers’ best threat came in the top of the second inning when the game was scoreless.
Thanks to two walks, and Lafayette’s lone error on a botched play off a grounder at third, Union County had the bases loaded with one out.
Then came the only double play of the game. A potential sacrifice fly to center field was wiped out when center fielder Tywan Williamson caught the midrange fly ball and delivered the perfect throw to catcher Brayden Richardson, who recorded the putout of UCHS baserunner Foster Smith.
“(Williamson) has done that about three times this season,” said Brayden Richardson, who also contributed at the plate from his leadoff spot, going 2 for 3 with two singles and an RBI. “I knew he was going to catch that, and then came the perfect throw.”
Taylor, who watched the play develop from the mound, pointed to the play as a momentum builder.
“I knew the double play was coming,” Taylor said. “I had faith in our center fielder that he was going to throw him out. That play was a big deal, setting the tone for us.”
Taylor, along with his workmanlike effort on the mound (four strikeouts, three walks, one hit), went 1 for 4 from his No. 2 spot in the order. In fact, it was his single in the second inning that pushed Brayden Richardson, who singled, from first to third. Brayden Richardson then scored on Hyatt Richardson's RBI groundout to shortstop for the 1-0 lead in the third.
The Hornets added one in the fourth on a Kagan Hewitt RBI single to right, scoring Lathan Garrard, who reached on a fielder's choice, for a 2-0 lead. But the Hornets left the bases loaded in an inning where UCHS starter Devin Diggs was relieved with one out after hitting a batter with a pitch after allowing four hits and two walks with five strikeouts in 3 1/3 innings.
UCHS left-handed reliever Ayden Androlevich shut down Lafayette's threat with a strikeout and a flyout to strand three and keep Lafayette's advantage at two runs.
Hanson admitted there was concern after when his team failed to turn the opportunity into a bigger inning.
“Yes, there was concern,” Hanson said. “I walked back to the dugout (after the third out). I was talking to the other coaches and I said to them, ‘We needed a couple right there.'’
“Especially when you get in these kinds of games, every run counts. We made a couple of baserunning mistakes along the way, but my hat's off to those kids, though. They've worked hard all year. It's come out good for us.”
With Brayden Richardson, who pitched two innings and had two strikeouts while allowing one walk and one hit, moving from his catcher position to relieve Taylor, who threw 84 pitches, the Hornets were finally able to add some cushion to their lead.
In the sixth, LHS capped off the scoring when Bass, who was hit by a pitch for the second time, scored on a wild pitch. Brayden Richardson followed with an RBI single to right to score Williamson, who reached on a fielder's choice, for the final score.
Brayden Richardson then retired the Tigers in the seventh, the last out coming off a groundout to second base to earn their way to Fort Myers.
In last year's trip to Fort Myers, the Hornets defeated Holmes County 9-6 in the semifinal before losing the state championship game to Chipley 10-1.
“It's really exciting going back two times in a row,” Taylor said. “It's a great feeling, and I have to give a lot of thanks to my pitching coach.”
Added Hanson: “Last year's team is so different from this year's team. Last year, we had so much firepower, but I have a saying that I put on the board that says that there are so many ways to win. But there's only one way to play, and that's with our hearts.”