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The Troup baseball team is back in the playoffs. A year after missing their chance at a postseason berth, the Tigers trumped Trinity Christian 3-1 on Thursday to ensure that would not be happening again. 

The rain and wind did little to damper the mood in the Tigers dugout after they locked in their spot in the playoffs. 

It was a time for Troup’s young stars to make an impact and they did just that. 

Freshman Davis Moncus got the start on the mound and was superb, striking out seven and allowing just three hits.

The Tiger offense was only able to muster three hits of their own, but they got critical offensive plays in big moments. 

For long periods of the game, it looked like it would not be their night. The Tigers got a runner on third in the fourth but could not bring him home. Troup then loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth with no outs and were once again left with no runs to show for their hard work.

The levies finally broke in the sixth inning. With two outs and the bases loaded, another one of Troup’s young rising stars delivered as freshman Brady Willis hit a single right past the outreached glove of the Lions’ first baseman to break the deadlock. A batter later, Garrison Edwards took a walk with the bases loaded to double Troup’s advantage. Demetrius Hardnett slid home after a wild pitch to make it 3-0.

An error allowed a Trinity Christian run to ask questions of the Tigers, but Moncus and Kaleb Woodson, who got the final out on the mound, slammed the door on any rally attempt from the away team.

Willis, Edwards and Torrieon Delaney are the only three Tigers that got hits on Thursday, but some patience at the plate allowed the home team to take eight walks which was largely the difference between winning and having to play extra innings on Thursday.

Troup is now 15-9 overall and 7-3 in region play and can finish no lower than fourth in the region, ensuring a spot in the 4A state playoffs.  The Tigers have a monumental region clash on the road to LaGrange on Friday before hosting Calvary Christian for senior night on Saturday.