By By Steve Swogetinsky/The Meridian Star
March 27, 2001
QUITMAN The Northeast Lauderdale Trojans bounced back from a disappointing weekend to down the Quitman High Panthers 6-1 here Monday night and claim a big Division 5-4A victory.
The Trojans upped their record to 7-6 overall and 4-2 in the division. Going into tonight's game at the division-leading West Jones Mustangs, Northeast Lauderdale was tied for second with the winner of Monday night's South Jones-Northeast Jones game. A win at West Jones would put the Trojans in a tie for first.
It would have been easy for the Northeast Lauderdale players to have had their heads down after losing to Morton on Friday and dropping a big division game against Northeast Jones on Saturday.
The Trojans got on the scoreboard in the top of the third when senior catcher Chase Spencer doubled to bring in a run. Starting pitcher Will Matlock followed up with a two-run homer to make it 3-0.
That's how it stood until the top of the seventh. The Trojans loaded the bases up, and picked up a run on a squeeze play. Two more runs then scored while the Panthers were occupied with a rundown at first.
Justin Doggett singled and scored Quitman's only run in the bottom half of the seventh.
The Panthers now stand at 7-7 overall and 1-5 in the division. Quitman, which has gone to the State 4A playoffs for the past two season, has dropped six of its last eight games.
Matlock was the winning pitcher as he allowed three hits and fanned five Quitman batters. Creighton took the loss despite hurling 13 strikeouts and only allowing four hits.
Quitman hosts Demopolis, Ala., tonight, then visits division rival Northeast Jones Friday. The Panthers will be on the road against Petal on Saturday.
Steve Swogetinsky is regional editor for The Meridian Star. E-mail him at sswogetinsky@themeridianstar.com.