Loyd Star’s Matthew Delaughter had seen plenty of Lumbertonpitcher Thomas Royals Friday night when Royals struck out 15batters and allowed only one hit in a 2-0 Lumberton win. Saturdayafternoon on Loyd Star’s wind-swept diamond, Delaughter deliveredthe game-winning RBI in the bottom of the seventh inning, liftingLoyd Star’s Hornets to an amazing 7-6 comeback win over thePanthers.

Delaughter’s hard single up the middle plated David Cuevas withthe winning run and deadlocked the best-of-three Class 2A Southstate semifinals series. The third and decisive game will be playedMonday night at Lumberton, starting at 7 p.m.

“First I want to thank God for giving me the opportunity to getup there and hit like that,” said Delaughter, a sophomore catcher.”It was a fastball, pretty much right down the middle.”

It was a remarkable comeback for the Hornets who were staring at6-0 deficit coming to bat in the fifth inning. A 2-run homer bydesignated hitter Jody Britt tied the score at 6-6.

Britt, who underwent ACL surgery on his right knee 31 days ago,had batted once Friday night at Lumberton. He was 0-for-2 Saturdaybefore smashing the homer over the right-center field fence andigniting a loud celebration as he limped around the base paths.

“It felt good when I hit it,” said Britt. “It was my first timeto get a hit since surgery. I basically have to hit it and jog. Ican’t run fast.”

Limited to 3 hits and only 1 extra base hit before Saturday’sfifth, the Hornets were desperately looking for success at theplate. “I told our kids to be more focused at bat,” said Loyd Starcoach Sidney Wheatley. “We were getting behind in the count andswinging at bad pitches. We finally got some key hits with peopleon base.

“Our kids didn’t give up,” said Wheatley. “They fight to theend.”

Loyd Star (21-9) and Lumberton (26-11) battle tomorrow night forthe right to meet Seminary in a best-of-three series for the Southstate championship. Seminary swept St. Andrew’s in the Southsemifinals, winning 14-4 Friday and 9-4 Saturday.

The Hornets, held scoreless for 13 straight innings byLumberton, finally got their bats working in the fifth. LoganPortrey led off with a walk from Lumberton pitcher Ben Townsend.With 1 out, Justin Whatley reached first on the shortstop’s error.Seth Britt was hit by a pitch to load the bases.

Lumberton coach Jim Hartfield pulled Townsend and sent southpawRaphael Rogers to the mound. David Cuevas coaxed a walk off Rogersand the Hornets had their first run. Jared Britt slapped a 2-RBIsingle, making it 6-3. Blake Wall’s grounder to short drove in thefourth run.

That set the stage for Britt who was wearing a brace on hisright leg.

Loyd Star senior pitcher Cass Brister (8-2) went the distance.He gave up 9 hits, struck out 5 and walked 3.

Brister said he was confident the Hornets could overcome the6-run deficit. “(Comeback) showed we have a lot of character onthis team. We can play with any body in the state.”

Asked about Delaughter’s winning hit, Brister said, “I hadconfidence in Matthew. I knew he could hit.”

Brister, a senior right-hander who has signed with Co-Lin, saidhe grew stronger as the game progressed. “I settled down. I hadsome great defense behind me.”

In the top of the first inning, Brister was touched for 3 runson 3 hits. Royals, who went 3-for-3, slapped a 2-run single tocenter for a 2-0 lead. Catcher Zach Royals followed with an RBIsingle, making it 3-0.

In the third, Thomas Royals tripled over the first base bag andthe ball rolled to the fence, giving the Panthers a 4-0 lead.Townsend added an RBI grounder, making it 5-zip.

Leftfielder Wade Abercrombie, one of 8 seniors in the startinglineup, singled in the fifth and scored on a double by ThomasRoyals, making it 6-zip.

Loyd Star got a double off the right field fence from JaredBritt in the second inning. He and Cuevas each had 2 hits.

In the bottom of the seventh, Seth Britt doubled past the leftfielder to lead off. Townsend returned to the mound and Cuevas laiddown a perfect bunt between third base and the pitcher. Afterloading the bases, Seth Britt was caught in a rundown between thirdand home. Royals went to the mound and Blake Wall was safe on abunt. Jody Britt received an intentional walk to load the bases,setting the stage for Delaughter.

Hartfield was disappointed by his team’s defeat. “Our guysplayed nonchalant. We don’t play well with a good lead.

“I thought Loyd Star was a desperate team and desperate teamsdon’t go down easy.”

Lumberton 2, Loyd Star 0

In Friday night’s loss at Lumberton, a fourth-inning single bySeth Britt was Loyd Star’s only hit. He also was the losingpitcher, striking out 4, walking 1 and allowing 4 hits in 6innings.

Thomas Royals cruised with a 1-hitter. Besides fanning 15batters, he did not issue a base on balls.

The Panthers scored both of their runs in the fourth.