After fourth-ranked Delta Charter School had already defeated their district rival Beekman Charter twice this season, each time by just one run, the Storm wouldn’t let the No. 12 Tigers come back for revenge the third occasion — although, they almost did.

Beekman Charter scored six runs in the sixth inning to tie the game late, but DCS (15-11) rallied to score five more of their own in the bottom of the inning, ultimately winning its LHSAA Class 1A second round matchup Friday, 13-8.

“They could have folded the tent, but they came back,” Storm coach Jarrett Hoffpauir said. “That’s probably the first time we’ve done that this year, and I’m super proud of our guys for responding to that.”

After Beekman’s sixth-inning rally, senior DCS catcher Carson Curtis was hit by a pitch and walked in his team’s ninth run of the night to put the Storm back in front.

With the bases loaded once more, Jacob Sprinks then launched a three-RBI double down the left field line to score Curtis, Freddie Mango and Drake Smith to seal the win.

“I knew (the pitch) was a curveball and so I saw it coming behind me and didn’t move. I knew the bases were loaded, so if I got hit we were going to score,” Curtis said. “We all came together and had the right hits at the right time.”

The Storm’s late response wasn’t the only time it shined on offense, totaling 14 hits in the win, with seven batters collecting at least one hit.

Senior pitcher Lee Lancaster got things started on Delta Charter’s in the first with a two-run homer over the left-field fence.

Lancaster ended the night  3-for-4 with four RBIs and two runs scored. He also earned the win for the Storm, striking out five batters in 5.2 innings.

“(Lee) was our jump-start. Anytime you can go up 2-0 after two batters, that’s what you ask for,” Hoffpauir said. “When it’s tough to make a lineup as a coach, that’s a good thing. It’s difficult to put the nine in there that I want, but that’s why you play. You put you best guys out there to put you in the best position to win.”

Trenton Miller and Trey Poole also ended with three hits for the Storm, Sprinks with two and Curtis, Mango and Smith each with one.

Friday night’s win earned Delta Charter its first postseason victory in program history, and to make it even more special Hoffpauir’s dad, Johnny, who coached at Vidalia High for more than 30 years, helped assist the Storm to the win. Johnny coached for the first time in seven years since his retirement and was filling in for DCS assistant coach Mason Osborne, who is getting married today.

“Anytime you have someone with that much experience, it’s comforting,” Hoffpauir said. “It was awesome. I think he was excited, and I was excited too.”

Delta Charter will face the winner of Monday’s matchup between No. 4 LaSalle and No. 13 East Iberville, location and date to be determined.

 

LHSAA Class 1A Playoffs

Second Round

DELTA CHARTER 13, BEEKMAN CHARTER 8

BC 000 206 0 — 8 6 4

DC 330 025 X — 13 14 4

WP — Lee Lancaster (5.2 IP, 6 H, 8 R, 5 ER, 5 K, 3 BB)

LP — Jacob Farrar ( 4.0 IP, 7 H, 7 R, 5 ER, 3 K, 1 BB)

HITTERS — DCS: Lee Lancaster (3-4, 4 RBI, 2 R), Trenton Miller (3-4, 1 RBI, 2 R), Trey Poole (3-5, 2 R), Jacob Spinks (2-4, 3 RBI), Freddie Mango (1-3, 2 RBI, 2 R).

RECORD — DCS: 15-11

NEXT — LHSAA Class 1A quarterfinals against winner of LaSalle and East Iberville.