The Hornets are expecting a big season from Chi Chi Purcell, who will hit second in the order and be the leader of the pitching staff. 

MAYO, Fla. — Lafayette, which won the Class 1A state championship in 2016 and advanced to a regional final last season, is counting on its four seniors as well as some varsity newcomers to make an impact this season. The Hornets won’t be as deep as previous years, but they could make some noise in the playoffs if they play to their potential. 

Lafayette baseball schedule

Feb. 20	at Suwannee	7 p.m.
Feb. 22	Taylor County	7 p.m.
Feb. 26	at Hamilton County	7 p.m.
March 2	at Branford	7 p.m.
March 6	Chiefland	7 p.m.
March 8	Suwannee	7 p.m.
March 12	at Chiefland	7 p.m.
March 13	Wakulla Christian School	5 p.m.
March 20	at Jefferson County	6 p.m.
March 22	Madison County	7 p.m.
March 23	Dixie County	7 p.m.
March 27	Bell	7 p.m.
March 29	Hamilton County	7 p.m.
April 3	Jefferson County	6 p.m.
April 5	Fort White	7 p.m.
April 13	at Madison County	7 p.m.
April 17	at Bell	7 p.m.
April 19	at Taylor County	6 p.m.
April 23	at Fort White	6 p.m.
April 26	Branford	6:30 p.m.
April 27	at Dixie County	7 p.m.
May 1-4	District tournament at Hamilton County	TBD

2017 record: 12-14 

Lost 3-2 in a regional final to Madison County    

Key returners: Dylan Mock SS/P, Caleb Land 3B/1B/P, Chi Chi Purcell 3B/P,    

Outlook: Lafayette returns four seniors in Land, Purcell, Kerby Hanson and Holden Richardson. Land (.298 career hitter, 29 RBIs in 46 games) and Purcell (.339, 12 RBIs in 25 games) will hit in the middle of the order and also key the Hornets’ pitching staff. 

Purcell had a 2.31 ERA last season with 27 strikeouts in 33 1-3 innings pitched. In two varsity seasons, Land has gone 4-0 with a 2.94 ERA. 

Mock pitched well last year and proved himself at the plate as a freshman. He will play a new position this season, making the move from second base to shortstop.

He’ll be very important on offense, trying to help the Hornets improve from last season when they hit .284 as a team with just 27 extra base hits.  

“Last year we went down in average,” said LHS coach Tim Hanson. “We might have to find ways to manufacture runs. It just depends on how everyone is going.

“But this is a group that works they’re butts off. And they get plenty of reps at practice.”

Jarrett Pearson (First base), Jaxson Beach (second base), and Austin Severance (catcher) are three newcomers who will start for the first time on varsity. Hanson said that Pearson, Severance, Richardson and Parker Crow will get some innings on the mound.   

Lafayette won its preseason opener 5-0 against Branford on Monday behind strong pitching performances from Land, Purcell and Pearson. The Hornets begin the regular season on Tuesday, Feb. 20 at Suwannee.