By Staff
From staff reports
April 20, 2001
The Southeast Lauderdale Tigers had no trouble getting baserunners in their first-round matchup against the Greene County Wildcats in Leakesville Thursday.
It was getting them home that turned out to be the problem for Larry Etheridge's bunch.
Southeast, 9-9, stranded 10 runners on the evening and committed three errors in a 3-1 loss that put the Tigers in a must-win situation.
The Tigers will face off against the Wildcats tonight at SEL Middle School Field needing to win to avoid elimination in the best-of-three series.
Wildcat sophomore Luke Mills ran his record to 4-1 by fanning eight Tiger batters and walking only two.
The Tigers' lone score, which came in the fifth, was an unearned run, as SEL made it home on a passed ball.
Andrew Lilly took the loss for the Tigers. He struck out three, walked two and beaned two Wildcat batters.
Each team rapped out five hits.
Greene County, 24-10, was led at the plate by Michael James' 2-for-3 effort, while Gary Dixon had a double.
Lilly went 2-for-4, while John Coker, Andy Landrum and Jay Butler each had a hit for the Tigers, who loaded up the sacks with only one out in the second inning, but were unable to get anyone home.
Lake 5, Bogue Chitto 2: Eric Watkins tossed a three-hitter as Lake took the Class 1A series opener at Bogue Chitto.
Lake got two runs in the top of the first inning and added three in the top of the fifth to go up 5-1.
The Hornets, 22-6, got a single and a double from Jake Nester and a double from Craig Martin.
Martin will be on the mound tonight when Lake hosts Bogue Chitto at 7 p.m.
Union 9, Mize 3: Union rallied from a 2-0 deficit to take its Class 1A series opener with Mize at Union.
The Bulldogs picked up single runs in the first and second frames.
The Yellow Jackets got one run back in the bottom of the fourth, then took the lead with a five-run fifth. The key hit in the inning was a two-run double by Jeremy Hamm.
Jordan Robinson had an RBI-single in the sixth as Union tacked on three more runs.
Justin Darby (8-1) got the win, striking out seven and allowing seven hits in seven innings.
At the plate, Darby went 2-for-3 with a pair of singles.
Mize, 10-14, got a homer from Nathaniel Johnson, a double apiece from Curtis Keys and Joey Sullivan, and a pair of infield hits from Justin Sullivan.
Jeffery Sullivan took the loss as Union, 20-11, also had seven hits. Both teams committed two errors.
Mercy Cross 4, Noxapater 1: Noxapater ran into a tough Mercy Cross squad in the Class 1A series opener at Biloxi.
Corey Coward and Rayford Manning both had two singles for Zack Sanders' Tigers. Noxapater finished with five hits, while Mercy Cross had seven.
Buddy Pellegrino had a single and a double for the Crusaders, 19-5, while Mark Howard added a triple.
Howard was the winning pitcher, striking out eight.
Nijel Young took the loss despite striking out 10.
Noxapater, 13-8, will host Mercy Cross today at 5 p.m. in Game 2.
Philadelphia 7, St. John 4: The Tornadoes took the Class 2A series opener at Burnside Park by scoring four runs in the second inning and adding three more in the third.
Caleb Breland (6-1) got the win, while Zack Butler took the loss.
Philadelphia had six hits, while St. John had five.
Hunter Holley had two singles, while Breland added a double for Philadelphia, 21-7.
St. John fell to 13-12.
Game 2 is set for today at 6 p.m. at Gulfport.
Cleveland 6, Louisville 0: Tucker Jennings (6-2) tossed a two-hitter as the Wildcats took the series opener at Cleveland.
Cleveland, 20-9, got a single and a double apiece from Josh Mosley and Richie Coleman, a pair of singles each from Jennings and Wesley Radicioni, and a triple from Greg White.
Louisville, 17-11, got a double from Gabe Snow.
Tyler Rogers (4-1) took the loss.
Game 2 is slated for today at 6 p.m. at Louisville.
Regular-season baseball
Central Academy 11, Newton County Academy 10: The Vikings took the Academy 3-A eight-inning win at Decatur to improve to 16-9 overall and 4-6 in conference play.
The two-time defending district champions will not make the playoffs this year, however.
Von Gomel (5-3) got the win with Nathan Stamper taking the loss.
Central got a single, a double, and a home run from Drew Powell. Gomel added a single and a double, while Justin Marro had two singles and a double. Tyler Huerkamp and Ken Hailey both had a pair of singles.
NCA got two doubles from Kyle Chaney and two singles from Chase Nicholson.
Central returns to action Monday at Hebron Christian School.
Fast-pitch softball
Patrician Academy 7, South Choctaw Academy 2: Patrician scored twice in the first, third, and sixth frames in beating South Choctaw to clinch a tie for the AISA 2A West Region championship.
Kirby Baxter had a home run and was the winning pitcher. In upping her record to 11-0, Baxter struck out six and walked four while allowing three hits.
Patrician improved to 13-0.
Slow-pitch softball
Central Academy 17, Newton County Academy 2: The Lady Vikings padded a 1-0 lead with 11 runs in the top of the second inning.
Central, 22-8, was led by Meagan Stokes who had a double, a triple, and a grand slam. Paula Hummer had a double and a homer. Mallary Boykin added a home run. Leslie Hancock had a single and a triple, while Margaret McClure chipped in a pair of singles.
Heidelberg Academy 16, Wayne Academy 0: The Lady Rebels scored five runs in the first inning and added nine in the second in trouncing Wayne.
Danielle Martin had three singles for Heidelberg. Courtney Harrington, Margaret Fleming, Ramey McCarra, and Emily Beddingfield each had a pair of singles. Leslie Higdon and Falon Deas had a single and a double apiece, while Suzanne Lightsey added a single and a triple to drive in three runs. Shana Thornton hit a double.
Lightsey was the winning pitcher.
Heidelberg Academy 11, University Christian 0: Heidelberg scored four runs in the first and third frames and added three in the fourth in taking the win at Flowood.
Danielle Martin had two singles, a double, and three RBIs for Heidelberg. Courtney Harrington had three singles. Falon Deas had a single and a triple. Shana Thornton had a single and a double. Ramey McCarra had two singles, while Emily Thornton added a double.
Suzanne Lightsey was the winning pitcher.