COLLINSVILLE — Xavier Thompson saw the pitch he wanted, and he took advantage.

 

Thompson delivered a walk-off three-run home to right field to lift West Lauderdale over Amory 6-5 in Game 1 of their MHSAA Class 4A Baseball Playoffs at Jerry Boatner Field on Thursday night.

 

Game 2 of the series is Saturday at Smithville at 3 p.m.

 

“I saw a fast ball right the middle, and I took advantage,” Thompson said. “Just coming into the last at-bat we knew had to get runners on base and the first two on and I had to do my job of getting them in.”

 

The Knights scored on the game’s first run in the bottom of the first as Jacob Wooten scored on a groundout.

 

West Lauderdale extended their lead to 2-0 in the third on a Cody Pigford RBI single to left.

 

Amory rallied for three runs in the fourth, all with two outs, as Bishop Holton drew a bases loaded walk and Dylan Kimbrough hit a two-run double down the left field line to give the Panthers a 3-2 lead.

 

West Lauderdale tied the game in the bottom half on a Wooten solo home run to left field.

 

Amory regained the lead at 5-3 with two outs in the top of seventh on a pinch hit two-run single by Jack Faulkner.

 

In the bottom of the seventh Cooper Rainer and Hunter Russell both reached base on singles and the first pitch to Thompson hit the walk-off three-run home run. Thompson finished with four hits to lead the Knights (21-3).

 

“Going down two and faced with some adversity and I’m proud of the guys for fighting. Xavier having the big hit to win it was just amazing to see,” said West Lauderdale coach Jason Smith. “Early in the game we left too many runners on base and couldn’t get the two-out hit. We played well and pitched and had the big hit we needed at the end. Amory is a really good team and had a good approach at the plate. We found a way at the end and now have a chance to close the series on Saturday.”

 

Amory fell to 15-11. The Panthers left eight men on base.

 

“We hit the ball well tonight and some base running mistakes early and times to add pressure to them and we didn’t,” said Amory coach Chris Pace. “I like our chances. We get to come back home and play a game on Saturday and try to get back here Monday.”