By Dan Smith

Charles Henderson High claimed an important 11-1 win in five innings over Beauregard in Game 1 of the Class 5A state playoffs after a lengthy rain delay at Troy’s Riddle-Pace Field, but the second game was unable to begin due to heavy fog that rolled in at the conclusion of the first contest.

The second game will begin Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m., with the if-necessary game to follow should Beauregard win Game 2.

The visiting Hornets jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning of Game 1 against CHHS when Hunter Hillyer doubled and scored on a single by Zach Feaster.

The Trojans came alive on Senior Night in the bottom of the third inning when senior Jason Fleming doubled, Bryson Gandy laid down a bunt single, senior Reilly Fox doubled to drive in both runners, and senior Chase Smartt mashed a home run high over the left field fence at Troy University for the 4-1 lead.

CHHS starting pitcher Austin Ingram found his groove after the first inning, not allowing a hit or any Beauregard base runner to advance past second base for the remainder of the game.

Fleming singled to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning, Gandy followed with another bunt single, and Fleming later scored on a sacrifice fly by Fox for the 5-1 lead.

The Trojans tacked six runs on the board in the bottom of the fifth inning as Chase Hartley singled, DeAndre Pitts doubled, Hunter Reeves singled and Cole Wilson came in as a pinch runner, Fleming singled again, Gandy walked, Nick Lewis drove a run in with a sacrifice fly, Fox singled, Smartt was intentionally walked for the second consecutive time, and Ingram ended the game with a hard hit grounder that the shortstop threw away attempting to turn a double play, sending the final run across the plate for the 11-1 CHHS victory.

CHHS was led at the plate by Fleming with a three-for-three performance, Gandy had two bunt singles, while Fox and Hartley also had two hits for the Trojans. Smartt had a homer and two intentional walks, while Pitts and Reeves each had a hit in a 12-hit game for the Trojans.

Ingram got the win in five innings, allowing one run on two hits, walking none and striking out seven.

“We didn’t start fast, but that was somewhat anticipated as we had not played in over a week,” said CHS Head Coach Derek Irons. “Once we got the guys the second time through the lineup, the guys started seeing it and doing a great job. Jason Fleming did a great job in the eight-hole. It’s Senior Day and he’s a senior, and he got us going and did a fantastic job. And Bryson (Gandy) right behind him, those two guys got on base six times and that really sparked us.

“The strength of our team, and definitely Austin (Ingram) is to be focused, not getting rattled. They hit two balls hard in the first inning, and he did not flinch. He kept competing and throwing strikes, and did what we need our number one guy to do, to go out there an get a win for us. It’s big.”

The Class 5A playoff series continues Saturday, 1 p.m., at Troy University’s Riddle-Pace Field.