Opportunistic Hornets top Trojans

Published 12:14 pm Friday, March 22, 2019

JASPER, Fla. — The Lafayette Hornets capitalized on late mistakes from Hamilton County to earn an 8-1 victory on Thursday at HCHS. 

Clinging to a one-run lead and in the middle of a pitchers’ duel, LHS scored four runs in the sixth inning to break things open. The Hornets were aided by two walks, two errors and hits from Dylan Mock and Jarrett Pearson during their big inning.

“We hung around and got some things to happen. They made a couple of errors and we took advantage,” said Lafayette coach Tim Hanson. 

There have been some common themes early in the season for both teams that played out again Thursday. Lafayette (7-1, 1-0 district) has found different ways to score runs and generate offense. The Hornets have scored 82 runs on just 68 hits. 

On the other side, Hamilton County (2-9, 0-2) has struggled at the plate and defensively in the late innings.  

“We got sloppy and didn’t finish,” said HCHS coach Chris Howard. “We’ve got to get our bats going and we didn’t.”

Mock started on the mound and allowed one run on two hits in four innings. He struck out eight, including the last six hitters he faced. Junior Darius Jones, who will play a key role for Lafayette’s pitching staff this season, threw three hitless innings. 

It was Jones’ first time pitching in district play. 

“When Dylan keeps the ball down, he can be effective because he’s got pretty good stuff,” said Hanson. “Darius did really well. That’s what we’ve got to have — guys like (Darius) that can do it.”

Brent Howard kept Hamilton County in the game with his pitching performance. The freshman came on in relief in the top of the first inning, facing a difficult situation with the bases loaded and one out.

He retired two straight hitters to get out of the inning. Howard went on to pitch 4 2-3 innings, striking out six while allowing one earned run. A good breaking ball and a deceiving side-arm delivery helped Howard in his first varsity pitching appearance.    

“Couldn’t ask for more from Brent,” said Chris Howard. “He was hot and keeping them off balance.”  

The Trojans took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning when Jarel Tolle drove a full-count changeup up the middle for a single that brought home Blake Howard. 

LHS evened the score at 1-1 in the third when Jaxson Beach (2-3, HBP, two runs) scored on a passed ball. The Hornets took their first lead of the game (2-1) in the fifth inning as Adam Perry singled to left field to score Pearson.   

After the big sixth inning, Lafayette scored its final two runs in the seventh. 

Beach, Pearson and Jones had multiple hits. Mock had the Hornets’ only extra-base hit, a double.