Loyd Star vanquishes Velma Jackson, on to second round
Published 11:22 am Wednesday, April 26, 2023
There’s a scene in the hit musical Hamilton, where the song “Right Hand Man” is used to introduce General George Washington and the dire odds the Continental Army faced at the start of the American Revolution.
“We are outgunned, outmanned, outnumbered, outplanned,” goes the refrain of the song.
Those lyrics just about sum up the MHSAA 2A baseball opening round paring of Loyd Star (24-5) and Velma Jackson.
The visiting Falcons from Camden knew that the Hornets would be the heavy favorites, just like the British were to start the revolution.
Unlike 1776 though, there would be no upset as VJ agreed to save Loyd Star a trip to Madison County by playing two games on Tuesday on Smith Field.
The Hornets took game one 17-2 and then completed the sweep with a 16-0 victory in the finale.
Coach Jared Britt’s team now awaits the winner of the Sacred Heart (10-10) and Lake (13-10) series. Sacred Heart won game one 5-0 on Tuesday.
Velma Jackson actually led 1-0 after the top half of the first inning.
Loyd Star responded by scoring 10 runs in the bottom half of the frame. The Hornets then added three runs in the second and four in the third to end the game with a run-ruled limit in the third inning.
LS drew 12 walks in the opener and did not have a batter to strike out.
Starting pitcher Blake Thornton threw two innings and gave up one hit and one unearned run while striking out five. Relief pitcher Eli Thornton struck out three in his one inning of work and gave up a single hit.
Connor Cunningham led Loyd Star at the plate with two hits, one a double, and three RBIs. Casen DeHart, Carter Holcomb and Blake Thornton all also hit safely in the win.
Game two went even quicker as Loyd Star got all 16 runs across the plate in the first inning. Nathan Mills pitched one inning for LS and struck out three. Holcomb relieved him and struck out six in two innings. Neither pitcher gave up a hit.
Colby Terrell had the lone Loyd Star extra base hit in the finale with a double. Terrell finished with two hits and dorve in four runs. Mills, Cunningham, Blake Thornton and Caden White all hit safely for Loyd Star in the nightcap.