By Michael Lindsay
The Livingston Academy Wildcats started the postseason on the right foot Thursday as they defeated DeKalb County in the first round of the District 7/AAA tournament, 4-2.
“We played a good baseball game,” said Livingston head coach Jamie Loftis. “It was the first close one in probably a month; since we beat Macon here. We’ve been winning by big margins. We dug in and did what we had to do.”
A trio of Livingston pitchers held DeKalb County to only 3 hits in Thursday’s matchup. LA starter Carson Parrott picked up the win as he gave up only 2 hits and struck out 6 in 4 2/3 innings.
“Carson was reaching the limit on what we wanted him to throw, so we pulled him,” Loftis said. “Zach Cotterman came in and did a great job when we needed him, and Aaron Moffitt came in and shut the door at the end.”
Livingston recorded 7 hits, led by Tayshawn Hayes and Parrott with 2 each. Parrott had 2 RBIs while Hayes had a triple and an RBI.
Livingston struck first in the bottom of the first inning as Parrott drove in Moffitt to give LA a 1-0 lead.
DeKalb County threatened in the top of the third inning as the Tigers loaded the bases with no outs. Following a strikeout, DeKalb’s Brayden Carter drew a walk to score Carson Donnell before Parrott recorded back-to-back strikeouts to limit the damage to one run.
The Wildcats answered in the bottom of the third as an Aaron Goolsby bunt scored Parrott to give LA a 2-1 advantage.
DeKalb County came back and tied the game again in the top of the fourth as a Konner Young sacrifice fly scored Ean Jones to tie the game at 2.
Livingston answered once again in the bottom half of the fourth as a Hayes triple and Parrott single in consecutive at-bats scored 2 runs to put the Wildcats ahead 4-2 entering the fifth inning.
DeKalb County would threaten in the top of the seventh inning with two runners on, but Moffitt shut the door by forcing a fly out to end the game and give Livingston the 4-2 victory.
The Wildcats have won 16 consecutive games dating back to their April 3 victory over Macon County.
“You have to play just like it’s another game,” Loftis said. “You have to do the little things, and you can’t get caught up playing the team in the other dugout. You have to play the game.”
Livingston Academy advances in the winner’s bracket to face Stone Memorial Friday at 6 p.m. at Upperman High School. Stone Memorial, the #2 seed, had a first-round bye.
DeKalb County falls to the losers bracket and will play Saturday against the loser of Upperman vs. Macon County.
