LaFayette back in the hunt
With just two weeks left in the Region 6-AAA schedule, the LaFayette Ramblers have played their way in a true playoff chase.
The Orange-and-Black opened last week by making it two straight victories over North Murray before taking both ends of a home-and-home with Rockmart to enter the new week at 11-9 overall and 5-5 in 6-AAA.
They will go into this week’s homeand-home with LFO just one spot out of the fourth and final state playoff berth with six games left on the region slate.
LaFayette 6, North Murray 4
Last Tuesday, the Ramblers enjoyed a victory over the Mountaineers on Senior Night at Rambler Stadium.
Davis Richardson had a big night with a two-run single in the fourth and an RBI-double in the sixth. He also pitched 4.2 innings to get the victory, giving up three hits and five walks with seven strikeouts, while none of the three runs he allowed were earned.
Skylar Cepeda was 3 for 4 with an RBI. Nick Adams was 2 for 3 with an RBI. Garrison Fults doubled and Ethan Kruger knocked in a run. Nick Radtke pitched the final two innings to record a save. He gave up one unearned run on two hits with two strikeouts.
LaFayette 4, Rockmart 3
Trailing 3-1 going into the bottom of the sixth inning on Thursday, the Ramblers pushed three runs across the plate and held on for a 4-3 home win over Rockmart on Thursday in the first of a two-game series.
The Yellow Jackets scored all three of their runs in the top of the third, but the Ramblers would get one run back in the fourth as a double steal allowed Dylan Deering to swipe home with LaFayette’s first tally of the night.
But in the bottom of the sixth, a double and a single set the table for Austin Tucker, who ripped a two-out, two-run double the tie the game, 3-3. The next LaFayette hitter, Nick Adams, battled through a nine-pitch at-bat before lining a single to right to bring in Tucker with the go-ahead run.
Cepeda would get two strikeouts in the top of the seventh, including the final out of the game after Rockmart had put a runner at second base. Cepeda recorded a one-inning save, while Blake Mann got the win with six innings of five-hit ball. He surrendered just two earned runs and walked two batters while finishing with two strikeouts.
RAMBLERS, B4