By By Jeff Byrd and Josh Taylor/staff writers
April 21, 2002
BOSSIER CITY, La., The Meridian Community College Eagles got great pitching from Todd Doolittle and Justin Rayborn to sweep Bossier Parish CC 6-2 and 5-0 on Saturday afternoon and in the process clinch a berth in the Region 23 Tournament.
The Eagles had entered the weekend needing to win the three-game series with Bossier in order to make the Region 23 Tournament which will be hosted by MCC on May 9-12 at Scaggs Field.
The wins gives MCC a 5-6 record in Miss-Lou Conference play. Bossier Parish falls to 3-8. The two teams will play the series final game today at 1 p.m.
Eagles head coach Mike Federico was elated to see his team step up and earn a right to play on its homefield in the Region 23.
The Eagles got a complete game from ace starter Todd Doolittle out of West Lauderdale. Doolittle struck out six in seven innings.
The key offensive blow for MCC was a two-run homer by Nate Sanders in the fifth inning that made it 6-2. Tyler Scarbrough slugged his ninth home run and drove in two runs.
Wes Shows went 2-for-2 and knocked in the team's other two runs.
In game two, Justin Rayborn and closer Michael Goodson combined on a shutout. Rayborn, the normal Sunday starter but was moved up to start game two, went six innings. Goodson closed out for the save.
Scarbrough again provided the offense belting a two-run homer in the first, his 10th of the season. Walt Bounds got in the act with a solo shot in the second inning.
Chad Bradley went 2-for-3 with a double.
The Region 23 Tournament will be a six-team double-elimination tournament. Meridian CC will join Delgado, Jones, and Mississippi Delta in the field. The final two berths will be decided in the final two weeks of the regular season.