OXFORD, Ala. – The 2023 season came to a sudden end for the Lee baseball team in the top of the ninth inning early on Monday afternoon when Lee shortstop Noah Hattier and centerfielder Malachi Cloud collided while chasing a fly ball resulting in serious injury to Hattier. After a long delay and a meeting between the coaches, umpires and tournament officials, the game was called and West Florida was declared an 11-2 winner over the Flames.
After suffering their first loss in the Gulf South Conference Championship late on Sunday evening, Lee was battling to stay alive in the loser's bracket in their fourth game of the tournament at Choccolocco Park.
The Argonauts banged out 13 hits against five Lee pitchers. The deciding blow came in the sixth inning when Dean Hotz ripped a grand slam homerun to put West Florida on top 8-2. On the other hand, the Flames struggled to post hits and runs the entire day, collecting just four hits against three Argonaut pitchers.
Dylan Standifer had three of Lee's four hits and collected an RBI. He singled in the third inning and came back with a one-base hit that scored Josiah Miller in the fifth. Standifer completed his day with a long double to right centerfield in the eighth. Luke Hughes singled in the third inning, went to third and Standifer's one-base hit then scored on a wild pitch.
Hotz completed his day with a double and single to go along with his grand slam. Trent Jeffcoat had two hits and reached base four times. He knocked in two runs and scored once. Jackson Grabsky had a pair of one-base hits and scored two runs. Josh Prizina followed with a two-base hit and a single. He collected an RBI and scored once. Kadon Fryman helped pick up the bottom of the Argo batting order with a pair of hits and an RBI while True Fontenot helped seal the deal with a double and two runs scored.
Parker Wakeman was the starting pitcher for West Florida. He worked four innings and allowed two earned runs, striking out five and walking four. Jacob Heath came on for the final four innings, allowing two hits and no runs. He was declared the winning pitcher.
Greyson Linderman was the first of five Lee pitchers and took the loss. He hurled two innings and gave up five hits and two earned runs. Sam Fulton did the job for the next 3.2 innings. He surrendered three hits and two earned runs. David White recorded an out but gave up two earned runs. Brycen Jewell followed for 1.2 frames. The right-hander gave up three hits and two earned runs. Seth Coffelt gave up the final hit before the collision that ended the game.
The Lee season ended at 28-25 while 8th-ranked West Florida improved to 35-15 and stayed alive in the double-elimination tournament. Delta State and unbeaten Valdosta State played in the final game on Monday afternoon.
