Ramblers earn braggin’ rights
Any baseball game or baseball series between Ridgeland and Lafayette is likely to produce its share of drama and the 2024 season finale was no different.
With pride and an offseason's worth of bragging rights on the line, the Ramblers upended the Panthers in south Walker County last Tuesday before outlasting Ridgeland in quite possibly the longest game ever in the rivalry two nights later in Rossville.
LAFAYETTE 9, RIDGELAND 3
The Ramblers pulled away late to take Game 1 at home on Chris Jones Field.
Lafayette broke the ice in the bottom of the third. Three walks, including one intentional pass, loaded the bases for Addison Mcguire, who came through with a big three-run double.
Lincoln Platt got one of the runs back for the Panthers in the top of the fourth on a fielder's choice and Hunter Medrano had a clutch two-out, two-run double in the fifth to tie the game, 3-3.
However, Lafayette scored six times in the bottom of the sixth. Isaiah MCKenzie, Brady Wilson and Bryson Cleghorn all had Rbi-singles, while three runs scored on a pair of errors.
A total of nine different Ramblers had a hit in the game. Austin Dearing went 3 for 4, while Wilson was 2 for 3. Kort Brown also picked up an RBI for the Ramblers.
Brennon Beavers pitched the first six innings and gave up two earned runs on six hits and a walk with seven strikeouts. Clay Moore struck out three batters in a hitless seventh.
Wyatt Blevins and Will Henderson had two hits each for Ridgeland, while Ethan Waters added a single.
Tillman Leonard got the start on the mound and went five innings. He gave up eight hits and three walks with one strikeout, while Blevins allowed four hits and a walk to go with two strikeouts in an inning of relief.
LAFAYETTE 7, RIDGELAND 3
The Ramblers and the Panthers met one final time on Thursday and it looked for a while as if the game would spill over into the 2025 season.
But after five extra scoreless innings, the Ramblers finally got back on the board with four runs in the top of the 13th inning and held off the Panthers in the bottom of the frame to post a season-ending win.
Lafayette (11-16, 4-10) got three runs in the top of the third. Mckenzie doubled before an error put runners at the corners. Hunter Jefferies was awarded second base on a defensive interference call before Brown drove in Mckenzie with a single. Wilson added a sacrifice fly moments later and, following two more walks, Brown raced home on a passed ball.
Ridgeland (12-12, 3-11) got two of the runs back in the bottom of the inning. Hayden Jaggers singled to get things started. Two outs later, Waters was hit by a pitch and both runs scored on a triple by Blevins. However, Lafayette pitcher Caden Carpenter got a strikeout to leave the tying run at third.
Ronnie Franklin scored on an error in the bottom of the fifth to knot the score and the Panthers put two on with one out in the bottom of the seventh. However, Lafayette turned a double play to escape the jam and send the game to extra innings.
After three scoreless frames, the Panthers came to bat in the bottom of the 11th and managed to load the bases with two outs. However, Rambler reliever Mason Sorsveen came up with a big strikeout to end the inning and leave the sacks full.
Then, after a scoreless 12th, Mckenzie got a one-out single and Jefferies was hit by a pitch before Brown walked to load the bases. Wilson drew a walk to bring in a run and Mcguire beat out a bunt single to bring in the second run of the inning. Austin Dearing and Cleghorn then drew back-to-back walks with the bases loaded to add to the lead and the Ramblers were able to get the final three outs in the bottom of the 13th.
Carpenter pitched seven innings, allowing three earned runs on four hits and four walks with eight strikeouts.