Westmoreland, Cockrell lead offensive explosion as LaGrange hammers Troup
Published 9:56 pm Tuesday, April 16, 2024
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LaGrange got sweet revenge in The Jungle on Tuesday, beating Troup 11-2 after falling to the Tigers 1-0 last Friday to clinch a home playoff series.
After struggling on offense last Friday, the Grangers’ bats exploded on Tuesday. Grady Westmoreland was the key, going 3-for-4 with three RBIs to lead the LaGrange offense.
After playing a utility role/bullpen pitcher role last year, Westmoreland has stepped into an every-game starting role as a junior.
It was the Grangers who opened the scoring in energy territory when Gryson Cockrell hit a one-run single to make it 1-0 in the top of the first.
The Tigers had a quick response in the form of a Carson Walker one-run double in the bottom of the first.
The game was deadlocked at a run apiece until the Grangers broke the game open with three runs in the top of the third. Cockrell continued his hot start to the game by driving in the first run of the inning with a double. Cooper Stephens hit a one-run single to make it 3-1. Grady Westmoreland drove home the final run of the inning with a double.
LaGrange tacked on a run in the fifth to make it 5-1. It was Westmoreland again with a one-run double.
It looked like Davis Moncus might have had an answer in the bottom of the sixth, but his hit clattered just a foot short of being a home run and the Tigers could not find a way to bring him home.
The Grangers just kept on swinging and added to their run in the top of the seventh. Cooper Stephens blasted a triple to right field to drive home Rob Skinner and make it 6-1. Westmoreland continued his monster rivalry showdown performance by hitting a single to drive home Stephens.
LaGrange was not done there. Mason Calhoun hit a double to drive home the third run of the inning before Malik Kemp drove home another run for LaGrange to make it 9-1. It continued to get away from the Tigers as an error allowed a 10th run to score. Cockrell hit a double to drive home the final run of the game.
The Tigers did not go down without a fight. Courtney Wilson grounded out to drive home a run in the seventh inning.
Cockrell was outstanding on offense, going 3-for-5 with three RBIs and a run scored. Langley and Kemp each had two hits apiece for the Grangers. Calhoun had one hit.
Troup was led by Moncus, who was 2-for-3. Walker, Ethan Goff, Garrison Edwards and Courtney Wilson all had a hit each for Troup.
Demetrius Hardnett got the start on the mound for Troup and struggled in his 2 ⅔ innings of work. Davis Moncus came in to relieve him in the third and pitched the next 3 ⅔ innings. Kaleb Woodson got the final two outs for the Tigers.
Caden Wood got the start on the mound for LaGrange and was simply superb, pitching a complete game in which he allowed just six hits and two earned runs on four strikeouts.
Troup fell to 17-10 and finished 8-4 in region play. The Tigers will finish as the third seed and be on the road in the opening road of the 4A state playoffs. Troup will play its regular-season finale on Thursday on the road to Calvary Christian.
LaGrange finished the regular season 21-9 overall and 8-4 in region play. The Grangers finished second in Region 4-4A and will host in the opening round of the state playoffs.