By By Jeff Byrd/staff writer
Feb. 20, 2002
The Meridian Wildcats mounted a late comeback but the hole was too big to beat Clinton here at the Mid-Mississippi Basetball Classic at Northwest Rankin.
Clinton held on for the 8-5 victory. The loss drops the Wildcats to 2-1 on the season. They will play Madison Central on Thursday in their second game of the Classic at Northwest Rankin.
Clinton got to Meridian starter John Iverson early tagging him for seven run in just 2 .1 innings. Iverson allowed six runs. Jason Spinks came in and went the remaining 4-plus innings, striking out seven.
Down 7-0, Meridian scored four runs in the sixth to cut the deficit to 7-4. They got it to 8-5 following a single run in the seventh.
Torry Bates had a two-run double to highlight the four-run sixth. John Stevens went 2-for-3 with a double.
Clarkdale 9
Union 4
Clarkdale moved to 2-1 on the season by beating Union 9-4 on Tuesday.
Clarkdale took a 4-1 lead early and then added two runs each in the fourth and fifth to put the Yellow Jackets away.
Justin Brewer picked up the win in relief going five innings and allowing just one run. Zack Robinson took the loss for Union.
The Bulldog offense was led by Randall Mabry with two hits and three runs scored. Brewer had two hits, including a double and three RBIs.
Union was led by Joseph Graham with two singles.
Newton County 8
Heidelberg 3
Newton County won its Division 5-3A opener against Heidelberg on Tuesday.
Brandon Ezell tossed a complete game striking out 12 and allowed no earned runs and no walks.
The Oilers went up 2-1 on a pair of unearned runs. The Cougars tied it with a two runs in the third. They added a single run in the fourth to go up 4-3. Newton County scored three in the fifth to a 7-3 lead. Both teams scored a run in the sixth.
The Cougars, now 3-0 and 1-0 in the division, had 10 hits. Ezell, Mylan Anderson and Josh Avant each had two hits. Avant had a double and a triple to lead the way. Ezell, Anderson and Ryan Loper all had doubles. Heidelberg was led by Raphael Jones with four hits. Michael Johnson had two.
Newton County returns to dvision action at Carthage on Thursday.