The Landrum softball team is one step away from a district championship. On Saturday, the Lady Cardinals beat McBee 4-1 in the second game of the state playoffs.
Landrum got it done on the mound and in the batter’s box. Taylor Jenkins stepped out of the batter’s box in the fifth inning against McBee on Saturday, April 30. She walked over to Jordan Farmer in the on-deck circle, Farmer whispered in her ear and Jenkins was back in the box.
The next pitch she saw from McBee pitcher Callie Wayne was a fast ball. Jenkins sent a towering shot over the center field wall, and the Cardinals didn’t look back.
“Jordan told me to be confident, stop doubting,” Jenkins said. “I found it and there it went.”
Landrum head coach Tucker Hamrick saw two positive things in that moment. He saw his pitcher be a leader and he saw his leadoff hitter get her swagger back.
“(Taylor) gets a little down on herself, but that shows she has the confidence to come back,” Hamrick said. “Jordan’s just a leader. She knows the team feeds off her.”
Farmer dominated from the mound again after striking out ten in the first game of the state playoffs. On Saturday, she struck out five more to lead her team.
The first two runs came in the first inning. Farmer and Lauren Pitts singled. Three batters later, Allyson Moore sent a shot at McBee shortstop Whitney Hemby and Hemby mishandled it, allowing Farmer and Pitts to score.
A big factor in the Lady Cardinals’ win was staunch defense. Moore threw out four batters from third base and Jenkins ended the game by tagging out Hemby and firing the ball to first to get Alex Rogers out for the double play.
Hamrick is fired up about the groove his team has found.
“We’re focusing on what we need to do,” Hamrick said. “We’re focusing on defense. If we can strive on defense, we can win a championship.”
Landrum will host the district championship on Wednesday, May 4 at 5 p.m.