LaFayette knocks off Heritage in season finale

Madison Harris belted a two-run homer in the top of the sixth and the LaFayette Lady Ramblers scored twice more in the top of the seventh to rally for an important 5-4 win at Heritage in LaFayette’s regular season finale last Tuesday.

Nicky Yancy’s RBI in the top of the second gave LaFayette (12-10, 6-6) a 1-0 lead, but the Generals would answer with a run in the bottom of the third to tie things up.

That would be all the scoring until Harris’ blast, which put the Lady Ramblers back in front, 3-1. However, Heritage would respond with a three-run bottom of the sixth to retake a 4-3 lead.

But LaFayette would get runners on base in the seventh against Heritage reliever Taelyn Bates and Jada Allmon would trot home on Heritage’s lone error of the night. Mckenzie Hogue then drove in Marquilla Howell with what turned out to the game-winning RBI.

Hannah Blevins, who came into pitch in the sixth, shut out the Generals one final inning to give her team the win. Blevins got the victory in the circle, allowing two hits in two innings pitched. Madison Pettigrew started for LaFayette and allowed 10 hits, two walks and three earned runs with three strikeouts.

Bates pitched two innings, allowing four hits and one earned run with four strikeouts. Maddie Morris started the game and threw five innings of three-hit ball, though she gave up three earned runs on three walks. She fin- ished with four strikeouts.

Kayleigh Goff had a double for LaFayette, while Allmon and Howell both added hits.

Morris and Mallory Lowe each had three hits and an RBI for Heritage. Shayla Ludy and Morgan Parris had two hits apiece, while Parris also drove in a run.

With Region 6-4A play set to end this Tuesday, LaFayette now waits to see who their opponent will be in the first round of the Region 6-4A playoffs. They will take on the winner of the regular season finale between Gilmer and Pickens in a best-of-three series, which gets underway on Thursday, Sept. 29.

The winner of that series will qualify for the state playoffs and will advance to the region semifinal series at top-seeded Ridgeland.