Holmes County Walks Off 2025 As Rural Class State Champions

Lyndan Flanary connects for a walk-off RBI single in the 2025 Rural Class State Championship.

For the second time in school history, the Holmes County Blue Devils are state champions.

With two outs and the deciding runner on third base in the bottom of the seventh inning, Lyndan Flanary lived out the dream every athlete has in coming through in the clutch to win the game for his team. The junior jumped on the first pitch offered and he sent it rolling into left field for an RBI single, as Colby Powell raced home to walk off the 2-1 victory in the Rural Class State Final, at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers.

The Blue Devils finish the season 26-4 overall, while also winning the first Rural Title in the new classification’s first year of competition. Holmes County also won the 2022 Class 1A State Championship.

The Holmes County Blue Devils dogpile to celebrate winning the 2025 Rural Class State Championship.

With the action tied at 1-1, Powell led off the bottom of the seventh with a walk, and then successfully stole second base to get into scoring position. Egan Segers then bunted back to the pitcher and reached for a base hit that put runners on the corners and no outs.

Twice the Blue Devils attempted to squeeze bunt to bring the runner in from third, but both were unsuccessful. After the first batter fouled it off on an 0-2 count and subsequently struck out, Hornets catcher Brayden Richardson dove along the backstop wall to snare a bunt foul for an incredible catch that recorded the second out and had Lafayette an out away from forcing extra innings.

The players celebrate the championship victory.

The Holmes County coaches get in on the celebration fun.

Holmes County grabbed the lead with its first swings in the bottom of the first. Flanary led off with a double to left, and then moved into scoring position when Bradley Garrett flew out deep to right field. Flanary then came home thanks to a sacrifice bunt from Rayce Griffin.

After trailing from the opening frame, Lafayette (25-3) evened things up in the fourth. Garrett Taylor started things off with a walk, and Ethan Tuten followed with a double to right. Trevor Byrd then got the job done by getting the ball on the ground for an infield RBI ground out to the shortstop, allowing Taylor to score and tie the game at a run apiece.

Bradley Garrett earned the win with a complete-game outing. He allowed one earned run on four hits and three walks, while striking out five.

Hyatt Richardson also went the distance for the Hornets, allowing two earned runs on five hits and two walks. He struck out three.

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