Credit the host Loyd Star Hornets for making a great run at theend and the Seminary Bulldogs for winning when they had to in theSouth State 2A Baseball Regional Playoffs Monday night at LoydStar.

The Bulldogs were leading the Hornets 5-2 going into the bottomof the seventh inning. A 2-run double by Loyd Star senior JaredBritt cut the deficit to one run, 5-4, with two outs.

Loyd Star’s David Cuevas rippled a hard infield grounder but wasthrown out at first base to end the game as senior MatthewDelaughter slid across home plate for what could have been thetying run.

The visiting Bulldogs force a second game with the HornetsFriday night. The championship game will be played at 7 p.m. Thewinner will advance to the next round beginning next Tuesday.

Seminary improves to 25-9 and Loyd Star falls to 16-12 with theloss.

In the conclusion of a rain-delayed game earlier Mondayafternoon, Seminary eliminated Madison St. Joe 8-4. The gameresumed in the fourth inning with one out and one runner on basewith the Bulldogs holding a 5-3 lead over the Bruins.

After Britt’s 2-run shot cut the deficit to 5-4, Loyd Starsenior catcher Matthew Delaughter advanced to third base fromfirst. Delaughter had singled.

“If we could eliminate the mistakes, it (game) wouldn’t havebeen that close,” said Seminary head baseball coach Eddie Lofton. “We showed a lot of character today. We seem to have our edgeback.”

Loyd Star opened the first inning and loaded the bases, thenfollowed with three outs, leaving all runners stranded.

“That first inning hurt us,not getting any runs.,” said LoydStar head coach Sidney Wheatley, “We didn’t hit the ball afterthat.”

Loyd Star was minus starting junior infielder Justin Whatley whois in the hospital . Whatley developed a stomach virus afterFriday’s game and then pneumonia. X-rays were to be done today tocheck on Whatley’s progress.

Seminary came back in the top of the second and scored two runswith one out, Jamie Moulds and Kyle Sullivan singled. Clay Templehit a sacrifice bunt to advance runners to third and second base.Andrew McKenzie hit a blooper just inside the right field line todrive in both players.

In the top of the fourth, Temple and McKenzie singled again andadvanced to third and second base, following back-to-back infieldthrowing errors by the Hornets. Jim Little followed with asacrifice bunt to score Temple for the 3-0 lead for theBulldogs.

Seminary catcher Derek Norris belted his first solo homer of thegame to push the visitors’ lead to 4-0.

In the bottom of the sixth, Delaughter singled for Loyd Star andScott Farmer came in as the pinch runner. Britt drilled a 2-runhome run over the left center field fence to cut the Seminary leadto 4-2.

The Bulldogs weren’t through as Norris came back to smack hissecond solo homer of the game for a big 5-2 lead. That made thedifference in the game.

“When he (Norris) is on his game, you should not pitch to him,”stated Lofton. “He is one of the best power hitters we’ve had.”

According to Lofton, Norris lost his grandmother two days agoand her funeral is scheduled for today. He was dedicating the homeruns to her.

Posting the win was pitcher Zach Lott (3-0) with 11 strikeouts,1 walk, 1 hit batter and 4 runs allowed on 7 hits.

“He (Lott) pitched two games early in the season,” said Lofton.”Then he tore his rotator cuff. This kid just wanted the ball.Sometimes, I listen to them.”

Loyd Star’s Patrick Holcomb (3-4) worked the first 4 inningswith 5 strikeouts, 1 hit batter and 3 runs allowed on 4 hits. Britttook over in the fifth inning and finished with 1 strikeout and 1run allowed on 3 hits.

Adding support at the plate for the Hornets was Delaughter with2 singles. Cody Cunningham, Josh Reed and Lee Newell singled.

“We showed a lot of character at the end,” added Wheatley. “Wehave to come back Friday. We have to hit it (ball) moreconsistently.”

Hitting safely for Seminary was Barrett Coco and BrandonHopstein.

Seminary 8, St. Joseph 4

Seminary was leading Madison St. Joe 5-3 in the fourth inningwhen the game resumed Monday afternoon. The game was stopped midwaySaturday due to heavy rains.

With one runner on base and one out, Norris connected on thesecond pitch and belted a 2-run home run in the fourth inning for a7-3 lead.

For St. Joe, Randy Geimer smashed a solo homer for the finalrun.

McKenzie was the winning pitcher. Greg Schwindaman absorbed theloss.