Landrum took its first step in defending its Region II-1A championship on Wednesday night.  The Lady Cardinals wasted no time in making a statement in a blowout of Greenville Tech Charter.
The Cardinals (1-1, 1-0) beat the Warriors 23-0 in their Region II-1A opener. Landrum lost a tough game to Woodruff earlier in the week 10-4 and this game was just what the doctor ordered, head coach Tucker Hamrick said.
“It was a good confidence booster for my girls,” he said. “It was great to come back out and play solid defense and offense.”
The Warriors were in trouble early.
The Cardinals waited patiently in the batter’s box and Warrior pitcher Annie Cloonan pitched herself into a box. Taylor Wahler, Lauren Pitts and Jordan Farmer all drew walks to start the game. Cloonan retired Bre Cuff, but then walked Taylor Jenkins. Some of the damage had already been done, however. Wahler stole two bases and scored on a ball that got passed Warrior catcher Allison Corn. Pitts and Farmer both scored on pass balls.
Shelby Morris followed with a double down the left field line driving in Jenkins from first base. Morris scored on a pass ball. Third baseman Savanna Lachica followed with a single and scored after Skylar Henderson advanced to second on a Warrior fielding error. Landrum scored three more runs as Wahler singled and Pitts doubled to drive her in. Pitts scored on a pass ball. Farmer walked and Cuff drove her in with a double to centerfield.
The Cardinals scored ten runs in the first inning. They added ten more runs in the third inning, led by a two-run homer by Farmer. They added three more in the fourth inning before winning by the mercy rule in the fifth. Farmer struck out five batters. Sydney Davis entered the game in the fourth inning to close out the game. Davis struck out the side in the fifth inning to seal the game for the Cardinals.
Pitts finished the game 2-for-2 with two walks and two RBIs for Landrum. Farmer was 1-for-1 with three walks and two RBIs. Cuff went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Wahler was 3-for-3 with a walk and two steals. Wahler, a freshman, has solidified herself atop the Cardinals order and felt pretty comfortable there on Wednesday night.
“I feel like I did pretty good,” Wahler said. “I’m pretty used to (batting leadoff). I play travel ball (and leadoff).”
The Cardinals return all but one player from last year’s team and are the frontrunners to repeat as Region II-1A champions.  Wednesday night’s victory was a good start, Hamrick said.
“I feel pretty good building on what we did last year,” he said.