May 09, 2008 09:56 am
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By Brandon Walker
assistant sports editor
Apparently, Austin Dudley and Witt Haggard know how to pick their spots.
Thursday night, they picked a great time to turn in a gem of a defensive play.
With Lamar School's Raiders clinging to an 8-5 lead in Game 2 of Lamar's first round MPSA Playoff series, visiting Oak Hill threatened to climb back into the game, loading the bases with one out.
When Haggard struck out OHA's John Morrison, Lamar was one out away from escaping with a win and tying the series at one game apiece.
On a full count, Oak Hill's speedy centerfielder Thomas Hays dribbled a grounder between first and second, setting the stage for Dudley and Haggard. Dudley ranged well to his right to snag the ball, wheeled and fired to Haggard, who sprinted over to cover first. When Dudley's throw sailed wide, Haggard adjusted in midair and lunged to touch first just ahead of Hays, completing a tremendous play and finishing off a memorable 8-5 win for Lamar.
"We've been going to (Haggard) in those situations late in the year," remarked Lamar head coach Terry King, who watched his team scratch and claw for seven innings to even the series. "He has stepped into that role nicely."
Haggard, who entered the game with the bases juiced, earned the save.
The wild seventh inning served as a microcosm of the night as a whole, with Oak Hill continuously threatening only to get turned away by clutch Lamar pitching.
Lamar's Bryce Branning drew the starting nod and earned the win, allowing four runs in three innings of work. Senior Andrew Watkins also turned in a strong performance, holding OHA at bay in 3.1 innings. Watkins took the 8-5 lead into the seventh before giving way to Haggard.
Lamar pitching caused Oak Hill to leave the bases loaded in the third, fourth and seventh innings.
"That's become the mentality of this team late in the year," King added. "They kept coming at us but we never panicked. Having five seniors on the team really helps in that way."
After Oak Hill scored a run in the top of the first, Lamar bounced back to take control of the game in the bottom of the second, erupting for five runs in the frame. Senior Andrew Harrison started the rally with a leadoff single and moved to third when a Robert Coffin bunt was misplayed by Oak Hill starter Alex Lummus. Lummus' throw to first sailed wide, allowing Harrison and Coffin to reach second and third with none out.
Neil Deen walked to load the bases and Beau Burns drove in the first Lamar run, plating Harrison with an infield single. Haggard drove in Coffin with an RBI single of his own and Deen scored when Branning struck out but reached on a passed ball. Watkins finished the rally with a 2-run single to right field to give Lamar an early 5-1 lead.
In the fourth, Oak Hill began to cut into the lead, striking for three runs to chase Branning. Hays had an RBI single and shortstop Gavin Yarbrough added an RBI groundout for the visitors. Watkins came on in relief to shut the door.
With the lead cut to one run, Harrison again delivered for Lamar, this time driving a Lummus pitch of the left-centerfield wall for a solo home run to give Lamar a 6-4 lead.
"I wouldn't trade the middle of our lineup for anybody," King said. "They've gotten it done for us all year."
Lamar would add one more in the fifth when Dudley scored on a passed ball.
Oak Hill scored one in the top of the fifth courtesy of a Brody Blaylock solo homer, but like they seemed to do all night, Lamar got the run right back in the bottom of the inning. With the bases loaded, Deen drew his third walk of the night, this time off OHA reliever Chad Mangum to push the lead to 8-5.
The sixth inning run set the stage for Haggard to seal the deal in the seventh as the Raiders held on to extend the series to a decisive Game 3.
"We knew we had to get to tomorrow," King said. "And we played like it. We knew if we lost, that was it. Our goal was to get the series back up there and fortunately, we were able to do that."
On the night, Harrison led Lamar with a single and a home run while Watkins notched a pair of singles.
For Oak Hill, Holden Coggins, Hays and Yarbrough all had a pair of singles.
With the series now tied at 1-1, the two teams will return to West Point tomorrow for Game 3, which is scheduled to start at 6 p.m.
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