Photo: Josh Pena comes home with Hernando’s first run of the game in Friday’s 5-4 victory over Lewisburg. (Bob Bakken/desotocountynews.com)
Apr 11, 2025- Last season, the Hernando baseball Tigers ran through the MHSAA 7A playoffs to appear in the state baseball championship series. It all started by claiming the Region 1-7A championship and the top seed from the region in those playoffs.
Friday night, the Tigers retook the first step in what they hope will be a repeat run to Trustmark Park in Pearl for the state finals by again claiming the region title. But to do it, Hernando had to fend off the Lewisburg Patriots 5-4 in a tense game before a boisterous crowd for each of the county rivals at Tiger Field in Hernando.
Brennan Overstreet started on the mound for Hernando.
It was another one-run result that second-year Hernando coach Taylor Karr was happy to be on the good side this time.
“We’ve lost every close game this year and 10 days ago we lost a one-run game 4-3 (to Oxford April 1) right here,” Karr said. “Tonight we found a way to do it. We left too many runners on base, but no one is going to remember that now.”
It was a back-and-forth battle with Hernando taking a 1-0 lead in the first on a bases-loaded walk that scored Josh Pena. Lewisburg answered with a pair of runs in the third inning on a Grant Walendzik sacrifice fly and a base hit by Garrett Latham for a 2-1 Patriot lead.
However, the tide turned back to the Tigers in their half of the inning as they answered with two runs of their own for a 3-2 advantage. A passed ball scored Connor Young, followed by a sacrifice fly that plated Jase Jordan.
Hernando added to the lead in the fifth with two more runs and a 5-2 lead when Luke Romine was hit by a pitch to score Jonathan Phillips, followed by a bases-loaded walk to score Preston Johnson for a 5-2 lead.
Lewisburg’s Talon Haley connects on a pitch against Hernando.
The comfortable feeling did not last long as the Patriots rallied for two runs in the top of the sixth to get within 5-4 Hernando. Andrew Hendrichovsky doubled to left to score Bradley Barbee and Colson Alexander scored on a sacrifice fly. In the seventh, the Patriots appeared to have something about to happen again, but went down in order, spurred by a diving play by Young at shortstop to throw out Walendzik for the second out of the inning.
“Across the board, our infield is rock solid,” Karr said. “A team effort across the board. I can’t say enough good about that infield.”
Latham was called out on strikes as the next batter to end the game.
Preston Johnson led the offense for Hernando with three hits on the night, all singles. Brennan Overstreet, one of three pitchers Hernando used in the game, allowed two unearned runs and struck out four in four innings on the mound.
Caden Nelson also had three hits for the Patriots, including a double, and Latham added three singles of his own. Carson Sharp took the loss for Lewisburg with three earned runs allowed in 2.1 innings of work. Sharp walked four and struck out two.
“This was just a program defining moment,” Karr said about the victory and the division title for his senior-laden ball club. “Now, obviously we want to do bigger things to get to where we are trying to get to, but we’re going to enjoy this one for a day or two.”
Isabella Conaway of Lake CormorantSeated from left, Michael, Isabella, and Lacey Conaway. Standing is Williams Baptist University assistant basketball coach Kala Tyus.
LADY GATORS’ CONAWAY SIGNS FOR WILLIAMS BAPTIST UNIVERSITY
Lake Cormorant girls’ basketball guard Isabella Conaway Friday signed to play next season at Williams Baptist University. Under first-year head coach Angela Allen-Harris, Conaway triggered the Lady Gators offense to a first-round appearance in the 6A playoffs.
Williams Baptist University is an NAIA school located in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas. This past season, the Lady Eagles were 28-5 playing in the American Midwest Conference under head coach John Mayberry.
Conaway said she had an early connection with Williams Baptist because her father went to school there and she had previously visited the campus.
“My dad wanted me to go there and I wanted to play college basketball,” Conaway said.
Conaway signing her letter of intent. Lake Cormorant coaches Angela Allen-Harris and Yvonna Macon join the Conaways and WBU assistant coach Kala Tyus.
Assistant coach Kala Tyus was on hand Friday to witness Conaway’s signing, saying the Eagles were impressed with her basketball intelligence and her knack to score the ball.
“Isabella really knows the game and has a high IQ,” Tyus said. “What I love about her is that she can shoot the ball and is very good on the offensive end. She can help us on both ends of the floor.”
Harris also complimented Conaway’s smarts on the court.
“Isabella is very smart and I’m sure she could get an academic scholarship but she wanted to play basketball,” Harris said. “When she’s on the floor she’s assisting other players and letting them know, and sometimes she even knows what I am thinking before I even do it or say it.”
