Bennett and Foster combine for no-hitter, Kemp homers to lift LaGrange to region win

Published 7:58 pm Tuesday, April 9, 2024

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LaGrange was in cruise control on Tuesday, beating Fayette County 17-1 for a region victory.

It took no time for the Grangers to break the deadlock, scoring four in the top of the first to take a commanding early lead.

Rob Skinner got the scoring started with a one-run single. Tanner Langley hit a sacrifice fly to make it 2-0. Cooler Stephens and Mason Calhoun brought in the third and fourth run with a single and double, respectively.

LaGrange did not slow down from there, scoring two more runs in the second. Gryson Cockrell stole home and Robbie Parker scored on a passed ball to make it 6-0.

The Grangers blew the game open in the third with seven runs. Calhoun hit a sacrifice fly to drive in the first run in the inning. Malik Kemp hit a solo home run to make it 8-0.

Cockrell, Parker, Skinner and Stephens all hit one-run singles later in the inning to make it 13-0.

LaGrange was not done there, tacking on four more runs in the fourth. Parker singled to drive home the first followed by a double from Grady Westmoreland that drove home the second. Langley singled to drive home the 16th run of the game before Skinner scored on an error for the final run of the game for the Grangers.

The Tigers got one back in the bottom of the fourth, but it served as little more than a consolation run.

Brandon Bennett and Jase Foster combined to pitch a no-hitter. Bennett dominated the first three innings, striking out six Tigers. Foster pitched the final inning, striking out one batter.

Parker had a monster day from the plate, going 3-for-3 with three RBIs and three runs scored. Cockrell also had a big offensive showing, going 2-for-2 with four runs scored and four stolen bases.

Stephens and Westmoreland had two hits apiece while Skinner, Langley, Calhoun, Kemp and Jackson Bozeman all had one each to round out the offense for the Grangers.

The win improved LaGrange’s overall record to 19-8 and region record to 6-3. The Grangers will host Fayette County on Thursday for a region rematch.