Landrum won its first round 1A state playoff matchup against Dixie in dramatic fashion on Thursday night, April 28. The game was tied 2-2 going into the seventh inning, but the Hornets scored two runs in the top of the seventh.
When the Landrum baseball team walked off the field in the middle of the seventh inning, they were met by head coach Ray McCallister. McCallister wasn’t going to see any heads down.
“I challenged them when they came off the field that champions stand up and fight and they stood up and fought,” he said. “I’m proud of them.”
The Cardinals came out in the bottom half of the final inning, scored three runs and celebrated at home plate with a 5-4 victory.

Two times on Thursday night, Cardinal centerfielder Connor Noland came up to the plate with two outs and runners in scoring position. Down 2-0 in the second inning, Noland sent a shot into the outfield, driving in two runs. He came up again in the bottom of the seventh and hit a hard line drive towards Dixie shortstop Will Hopkins. Hopkins turned and fired toward first baseman Alex Cann, but Noland was hustling down the line and Cann mishandled the ball. Two runs crossed the plate to tie the game and Noland reached base for the third time.
“It felt great to come through for my team,” Noland said.
Dixie pitcher Caleb Chandler walked Jon Humphries to score the winning run for the Cardinals. Matt Pruitt got the win for the Cardinals after retiring the last batter in the seventh for Landrum. Landrum starter Joseph Corn pitched a strong game, striking out five batters. The seventh inning was just bad luck for the senior as an error kept the inning alive long enough for Dixie’s Drew Devore to hit a two-RBI double.
Landrum’s first round continued on Saturday versus Lewisville. Those results were not available by press time.