The host Loyd Star Hornets battled the Taylorsville Tartarstooth and nail to the very end Saturday afternoon. Taylorsville ledLoyd Star 4-2 going into the bottom of the seventh inning and thehost team had one last chance for a comeback.

With one out and two Loyd Star runners on base, Hornet PatrickHolcomb ripped a hard line drive to Taylorsville first baseman AdamEvans who made the catch then tagged first base to turn agame-ending double play and send the Tartars to the next round ofthe Class 2A state baseball playoffs.

Friday night at Taylorsville, the Tartars won 10-0 over LoydStar in the five-inning opener of the best-of-three series.

Loyd Star finished the season 20-10.

“Loyd Star has a great team,” said Taylorsville head coach ChrisMcCardle after the win. “Loyd Star never quit. They had themomentum going at the end. We got a tough doubleplay to end it.They have a great ball team.”

Taylorsville (25-4) advances to the semifinals of the 2Aplayoffs. The Tartars expect to see Enterprise Clarke in the nextseries.

“Taylorsville is very good,” said Loyd Star coach JonathanBreakfield. “They have the best 2A team in the state.”

Kody James was the winning pitcher with 2 runs allowed on 7hits, 2 strikeouts and 1 walk. Reed McDaniel, who got the win thenight before, pitched to Holcomb for the final out.

On the mound, Holcomb (6-3) struck out 6 batters, walked 3 andallowed 4 runs on 7 hits.

Breakfield complimented Holcomb on holding the best hitting teamin the state to 4 runs.

James launched a home run in the first inning over the leftfield fence that hit the top of the visitors dugout on the softballfield for a 1-0 lead.

In the second inning, Loyd Star catcher Tyler Williford smashedhis own homer over center field to tie the game at 1-all.

In the top of the second, the Tartars picked up another run fora brief 2-1 lead. The Hornets came back and scored on a John Floydsteal from third base to tie the game again at 2-all.

After a scoreless inning, Taylorsville picked up a big run inthe top of the fourth to take a 3-2 lead. Deran Hamilton led offwith a single to right field and McDaniel followed with a single tothe right field fence which sent Hamilton to third. Justin Wilsonhit a sacrifice fly to center field to send in Hamilton for thego-ahead run.

The Tartars got an insurance run in the top of the fifth to pushtheir lead to 4-2. Mason Grissom and James were walked. Adam Evansdrilled a double to score Grissom for the fourth run.

“I stress pitching and defense at Taylorsville,” said McCardle.”The hits are an added bonus. Our guys played hard. I was veryproud of our guys.”

Evan Smith doubled and singled twice for Loyd Star. CayceFalvey, Josh McCaffrey and Floyd singled.

For the Tartars, Landon White singled twice. Tanner Ford hitsafely.

“I can’t say enough about our seniors,” added Breakfield. “Iwill miss them. Give all the glory to God. If not for Him, we wouldnot have gotten here.”

Taylorsville 10, Loyd Star 0

Friday night, the game was scoreless for two innings before theTartars recorded 4 runs for a 4-0 lead. The hosts added 2 more inthe fourth and 4 in the fifth to evoke the 10-run rule after 5innings.

Williford (4-4) took the loss. Smith and Williford had the twohits for Loyd Star.

Powering Taylorsville with a home run was Benton Holder.Tripling were Justin Wilson and White. James doubled and singledthree times. Doubling was Evans.