West Lauderdale’s Tyler Lantz heads toward third base as he looks to score from second during the Knights’ opening-round playoff game against Columbia Friday night.

West Lauderdale has gotten used to wining by this point. The team suffered just one loss in 24 tries, and only trailed three times during the year.  

But the Knights’ mettle was tested as they trailed No. 4-seeded Columbia by three runs early Friday night.

 The No.1-seeded Knights responded in resounding fashion.

West Lauderdale (24-1) rattled off three consecutive four-run innings before adding two more runs for good measure in the bottom of the fifth, as it defeated Columbia 14-4 in Game 1 of a best-of-three series that was called early due to the run rule. 

“They’re a No. 4 team, but the way they came out swinging the bats, I got a little uptight,” West Lauderdale coach Jerry Boatner said. “But like we tell our kids, ‘It’s a seven-inning game.’ It’s not two or three innings, thank the Lord.”

Cole Hurst continued his stellar year at the plate, as the senior went 4-for-4 from the batter’s box with one RBI and a stolen base, raising his season’s batting average above .490. 

“He hasn’t struck out but twice (this season) — that’s what I like about him,” Boatner said. “He puts the ball in play. He’s not going to hit for power, but he gets on base, and he can steal. He’s a great bunter, a great kid, and we’re tickled to death to have him.”

John Ross Briggs tallied a game-high 3 RBIs and went 2-for-3 at the plate. Jake Mason and Tyler Lantz recorded two hits a piece.

Chance Denson started on the mound and went four innings to earn the win. He allowed eight hits and gave up four earned runs. He also struck out five and went 3-for-4 offensively with two RBIs. 

Columbia tagged Denson with an early run, and Trey Hobgood pushed the visitors ahead 3-0 in the top of the first after a two-RBI triple.

The Wildcats’ lead was short-lived.

The Knights surged back in the bottom of the second inning when Briggs singled to score Austin Davidson and Eli Bryan, courtesy runner for Denson and catcher Chase Tilghman. Jeremy Davis was sent home after Mason was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to knot the score at three. Hunter Eldridge broke the stalemate after flying into a double play that sent Briggs home. However, the inning ended when Mason was caught advancing to second base. 

Hobgood came up with yet another opportune play for the Warriors when he the tied the score at four following an RBI double in the top of the third. 

The Knights added four more runs in the home half of the third. Tyler Lantz scored on a Columbia fielding error, and Davidson added another run on a passed ball to give the Knights a 6-4 lead. Briggs doubled to score Jordan Herrington, and Hurst plated Briggs to push West Lauderdale’s lead to 8-4 at the end of the inning. 

Mason, Brandon Andreacchio, Lantz and Davison scored runs in the bottom of the fourth, and Hurst and Mason added runs in the bottom of the fifth to seal the win.

“In years past, we’ve played for one run,” Boatner said. “This year, we have the capability to have big innings. This is probably the best team we’ve had in several years as far as having big innings. I’m really pleased with the way we played, especially the way we hit — that’s very exciting.”