In the home first round of state AA playoffs Tuesday, April 25, Landrum scored three first inning runs on the way to a 4-0 win over Saluda.

The Cardinals got much of their momentum on this play in the visitors’ first, when, with a runner on first, a Saluda batter smashed a gapper to left center, apparently scoring a run. However, the Saluda Tigers didn’t count on laser throws from center fielder Drew Black to shortstop Zander Steele, and from Steele to Cardinal catcher Jacob Murphy. Murphy took the throw from Steele, and stood his ground, tagging out the Saluda runner in this collision well in front of the plate.

In the home first, the Cards scored three runs on an infield grounder by Zander Steele, when the throw to first soared over the baseman.

“We were going to be aggressive on the bases,” said Cardinal head coach Daniel Little, who waved runners around third, even as the infielder’s throw appeared to sail over first base.

Pitcher Christian Melick started for the Cardinals, and got the win, fanning seven batters in four and two-thirds innings.

“We had to pull him (Melick) with the pitch count,” Little noted.

Trey Smith, then Coleman Walker finished the game, preserving Melick’s win. In addition to his fine throw, Black smacked two laser doubles into the left center gap. Murphy also lined a double.

Next opponent for the Cardinals is the winner of Tuesday evening’s game between Abbeville and Andrew Jackson (no results were listed at press time). If the Cardinals play Abbeville, it will be at Abbeville. If they meet Andrew Jackson, it will be at Landrum.