SULPHUR — Lucas Lawrence couldn’t find the strike zone quite like he could in the first two innings.
The Ole Miss signee from Catholic-Baton Rouge walked the first batter in the third. A single and a bunt put runners on second and third when Lawrence fell behind 2-0 to Brother Martin’s Bronson Leaumont and coach Brad Bass called for an intentional walk that loaded the bases.
This could have been a game-changing moment in the opening game of the Division I select championship series.
It wasn’t. The next batter grounded into a fielder’s choice, and the 6-foot-5 left-hander didn’t face many other nervous moments during Catholic’s 6-2 victory Thursday at McMurry Park.
“Not to be arrogant or cocky, I feel like I’m one of the most dominant pitchers in the country,” Lawrence said when asked about working though his brief control issue. “I put myself against anyone. I have a lot of belief in all my pitches, so that’s kind of what I think.”
Making his fifth appearance since he returned from an ACL tear in November, Lawrence struck out seven and allowed three walks with one hit batter over the span of 107 pitches.
“With the ball in his hands, with the defense that we have behind him, and the guys that we have in this dugout that could score runs for us, we love our chances,” Catholic coach Brad Bass said. “So, just for his last performance at a Bear, what a gritty, gutsy performance.”
Lawrence pitched with a lead over the final five innings, starting after Hayes Segar’s two-RBI double sparked a four-run third. The Bears added two runs in the seventh with Dekota Jones’ sacrifice fly and Mills Richardson’s RBI single, padding the lead for a team seeking its third consecutive state title.
For Brother Martin, Brody Shannon hit a two-RBI double over the outfielders in right-center to cut the Catholic lead to 5-2 in the fifth. Lawrence struck out the next batter looking.
Starting pitcher Blaise Tingstrom’s final outing for the Crusaders lasted into the seventh inning. He drew an ovation from the Brother Martin faithful when he came out with runners on first and second.
“He’s had an outstanding career for us,” Brother Martin coach Jeff Lupo said. “Love him to death.”
Brother Martin is back in the state final for the second year in a row seeking its first title since 1996. Catholic swept Brother Martin in the final last season. Game 2 is 5:30 p.m. Friday.
“The two crooked numbers both start with a leadoff walk to the nine-hole hitter, and good teams make you pay for the mistakes that you make,” Lupo said. “They made us pay for that mistake.”
