What in the wide, wide world of sports was going on at Laurens Academy’s baseball field?

The Crusaders edged Berea, 19-18, on Monday night.

The teams didn’t just combine for 37 runs. They compiled 30 hits (15 apiece) and 19 errors (LA made 10). Laurens Academy (5-10) is SCISA Class A. Berea (4-20) is SCHSL Class 4A. The Crusaders beat the Bulldogs twice. The 1^st game, on March 7, was 15-0.

Caleb Hardy was 4-6 with two doubles and six RBI. He broke a 17-17 tie with a two-run double in the bottom of the 6^th, and Berea could only manage one run in the top of the 17^th.

Over seven innings, only half of one, the Berea 2^nd, was scoreless. The Crusaders scored eight runs in the 1^st, followed by frames of two, one, one, five and two.

Berea’s Willie Morton had four hits in six at-bats, with five batted in. Andru Ruiz was also 4-6 with a double.

Laurens Academy once led 10-2. Berea finally tied the score after scoring four runs in the 5^th inning and five in the 6^th.

Jared Willard, Ethan Collins and Clarence Bertoli each had two hits. Bertoli’s were a double and a triple. Collins scored four runs.

Berea’s Cadion Carter was 3-4 with a double yet did not drive in a run.

The starting pitchers combined to allow 19 runs (12 by Berea’s Morton) in 6-1/3 innings. The winning pitcher was LA’s 5^th, Caleb Hardy. The loser was Berea’s 3^rd, Caleb Stiles. Buddy Baker pitched the final 2/3 inning, earning a save.

Laurens Academy stole five bases. Berea stole four. The Bulldogs’ Kyle Parker, who was 1-6, reached via errors three times.

What do the Crusaders do for an encore? King Academy visits on Thursday.