BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Union County High School’s baseball team had just three hits off Lafayette pitchers Garrett Taylor and Brayden Richardson in a 4-0 loss to the top seed in the Region 3-1A championship game on May 11 in Mayo.
Second seed Union (15-14) has now lost five in a row to Lafayette, including twice in the Region 3 title game as well as twice in the District 6 championship game.
Lafayette (23-2) threatened to score in the bottom of the first. Richardson hit a leadoff walk, but Jordan Murphy, who entered to run for Richardson, was caught stealing second on a throw from catcher Kacen Thomassen to shortstop Riggs Davis. Hyatt Richardson hit a two-out double for the Hornets, but pitcher Devin Diggs then recorded his second strikeout to end the inning.
The Tigers, who were playing for a regional title for the third time in four years, squandered a bases-loaded opportunity with just one out in the second. Foster Smith beat out an infield grounder for a leadoff single. Erick Lasseter walked, while Diggs singled. Ayden Androlevich hit a fly ball for the second out. Smith attempted to score on the play, but was put out on a throw from center fielder Tywan Williamson.
Lafayette’s Noah Lamb was hit by a pitch to lead off the bottom of the second, but was put out at second when Lathan Garrard hit into a fielder’s choice. Garrard, who put himself into scoring position when he advanced to second on a wild pitch, was left stranded when Diggs recorded two straight strikeouts.
Preston Bonsall hit a leadoff single in the Tigers’ half of the third. With two outs, he stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch, but a ground out ended the inning.
Diggs struck out the leadoff batter in the bottom of the third, but Brayden Richardson and Taylor hit back-to-back singles, with Richardson advancing to third on Taylor’s hit. Hyatt Richardson was put out at first after hitting a ground ball to Davis, but Brayden Richardson scored on the play to put the Hornets up 1-0.
Lamb led off the bottom of the fourth with a single, but was put out at second when Garrard hit a ground ball to Diggs. Garrard stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a Kagan Hewett single. Pearson Bass was hit by a pitch. He and Hewett then advanced on a wild pitch, which led to Androlevich relieving Diggs on the mound. Androlevich walked Williamson to load the bases with just one out, but got out of the jam when Brayden Richardson struck out and Taylor hit a fly ball to center fielder Bonsall.
Diggs allowed five hits and two walks before leaving the mound. He had five strikeouts.
Androlevich drew a one-out walk in the top of the fifth. Davis followed with a bunt. The Hornets tried to put out Androlevich at second, but the throw was too late, giving the Tigers two on with one out. Bonsall hit a deep fly ball to center field that was caught at the fence for the second out. Another fly ball to center ended the inning.
Smith walked with one out in the top of the sixth. After a fly out, he advanced to second on a passed ball, but was left stranded when a ground ball resulted in the third out.
Lafayette’s Garrard and Hewett hit back-to-back singles to start the bottom of the sixth, but Hewett was put out trying to stretch the play into a double. After J.T. Cook was hit by a pitch, Williamson hit a ground ball to Davis, who threw home to put out Garrard. Cook, who advanced to third on the play, scored on a wild pitch, which allowed Williamson to advance all the way to third. Williamson scored on a Brayden Richardson single to put the Hornets up 4-0.
Union’s first two batters in the seventh were put out on a ground ball and a fly ball. Davis then hit a single, but a ground ball to second baseman Hyatt Richardson ended the game.
Androlevich gave up three hits and no walks in his 2.2 innings of relief.
