The Hicks Pirates’ quest for another state baseball title was denied last Friday in the LHSAA Division V non-select championship game by Quitman 1-0.
Hicks fans were emotionally drained as the Pirates gave up an unearned run in the top of the first and then wasted leadoff runners in the 5th, 6th and 7th innings. Baseball can be heartbreaking that way.
Quitman won their first baseball state title ever. They also won titles this year in softball, cross country, and golf. You might say it was meant to be. Hicks will settle for being state runners-up for the 7th time instead of a 16th state championship.
The Wolverines manufactured the game’s only run on no hits and two Pirate fielding errors in the top of the first. Hicks senior starter, Hayden Doyle, got a strike out with runners on second and third to end the inning. Doyle had pitched deep into the semifinal win over Weston, and there was concern over the 23 pitches he threw in the first inning. Doyle gave up a leadoff double in the second, but the runner was thrown out at third by Pirate catcher Kane Hagan. Doyle retired Quitman in order in the 3rd, 4th and 6th and allowed only a 2-out single in the third.
Quitman starter Ian Tilley, who shackled Pitkin in the semis, was tough on the mound. He gave up a leadoff single in the second to Micah Merchant and Kane Hagan reached with two outs in the third inning. Tilley sat Hicks down in order in the 1st and 4th before being taken out in the 6th.
Quitman nursed that 1-0 lead ‘til the bottom of the 5th but Hicks could not crack the Tilley code. Tilley had 12 scoreless innings in two games against Pitkin and Hicks. He was named the MVP of the Division V championship game.
Cayden Cowgill led off the bottom of the 5th with a single off Tilley. Luke Williams followed with a single, and the Pirates had runners on first and second with no outs. Cody Richardson struck out, bunting before Brody Perkins bunted them up a base. Hicks attempted a delayed double steal with two outs, only to have the pinch runner at third caught in a run down.
That was all for Tilley as Logan Ponder, the human vacuum cleaner at shortstop, came in to relieve him. Tilley went to second on the move and stayed in the game.
Hicks got an infield single by Hagan in the 6th. He stole second but was caught in a rundown on a safety squeeze bunt. A flyout ended the threat.
Quitman had a runner at second with 1 out in the 7th, but Doyle induced two pop outs to end the threat. The senior finished the game allowing just three hits and striking out five.
In the bottom of the 7th, Addison Coffman led off with a single up the middle. Cowgill bunted him to second. Luke Williams came up and a wild pitch moved Coffman to third. Williams hit a hard liner that was snared by Tilley at second. He made an alert throw to third to double up the runner and end the game.
Hicks is loaded with underclassmen who “seasoned up” this year. Coach Gary Williams will have a lot of talent back in the 2025 season.