Titans return to state finals
Carl Albert baseball players celebrate Thursday during a first-round win over Collinsville. Photo by Stephen Pingry, Tulsa World
Hawkins hits pair homers in 4-2 win over Pryor in state semifinals
Special To The Beacon
OWASSO – Jordan Hawkins and Lucas Perrymore pushed The Carl Albert Titans past the Pryor Tigers 4-2 in the Class 5A baseball semifinals Friday morning at Stigall Field.
The Titans (32-10) play Bishop Kelley in the state championship game Saturday morning at 10:00 at ONE OK Field in Tulsa. The Comets (32-11) shut out the Newcastle Racers 3-0 in Friday’s other semifinal.
Hawkins did his damage with the bat as he hit a pair of homers, his 11th and 12th of the season, and drove in all four runs.
“Jordan has been right there for us,” said Carl Albert head coach Ryan Whiteley. “He put two good swings on the ball today. He’s a competitor and a big time player.”
Perrymore got the job on the mound as he allowed four hits, two runs, one earned run, walked one and struck out five in a complete game.
“I could not be more proud of Lucas,” said Whiteley. “He’s not going to throw it by anyone but he can throw three or four different pitches for strikes. He just competes and he did an outstanding job today.”
Carl Albert trailed 1-0 and had two outs and none on in the bottom of the third inning. Hawkins had an 0-2 count but cracked the ball to the opposite field over the wall in left to knot things up.
The Tigers (32-8) went back in front with a run in the top half of the fifth inning. The Titans answered though in the bottom half of the frame.
Mason Avery got things started with a leadoff single to right field. Pryor got the next two out on strikeouts, but Peyton Lockridge countered with a single up the middle.
That set the stage for Hawkins and he delivered with a towering shot over the wall in right field that proved to be the eventual game-winner.
The Tigers got a 1-out single in the top of the sixth, but Perrymore got out of that with a pair of pops up on the infield.
Perrymore opened the seventh inning with consecutive strikeouts and then got a ground out to third base to complete his masterpiece and send Carl Albert into the title tilt Saturday.
“Coach (Gerald) Osborne and Pryor are a first class organization,” said Whiteley. “We have a ton of respect for what they do. At the same time, I’m happy for our guys. When you’re at Carl Albert there’s an expectation. I’m relieved and excited for our kids to be able to play in (the championship game).”
