By By Jamey Lanier/staff writer
April 21, 2002
Union baseball coach Joey Ward faced a tough decision saturday. Going into the rubber game of the best of three series with the Weir Lions at Laird Field, Union starter Wes Henry was injured and Ward's next option was Jody Blount, who was coming off of a 58 pitch performance in a win the night before to force a third game.
Blount took the mound and turned in a performance that will be talked about for a long time. The junior right hander fanned 11 Lion hitters, including six of the last nine he faced,and gave up only one hit to propel the Yellowjackets to the next round of the Class 1-A playoffs with a 11-1 rout that was called after five and a half innings.
The Yellowjackets fell behind early when Chris Docher reached after being hit by Blount and scored two batters later on Weirs only hit of the game, an RBI double by Eric Hoskins.
Union managed only one hit in the first three innings, and it looked like Lion pitcher Robby Dossett would cruise before Jordan Robinson reached on a fielders choice and Blount was given a free pass putting runners at the corner with two out. Zach Robinson made the Weir coaches pay for walking Blount by lacing a single that scored Jordan Robinson knotting the score at 1-all after three.
Blount turned it on after that shutting Weir down using only 32 pitches the rest of the game.
The Jacket's played good fundamental baseball after that, plating three runs behind three hits, one a bunt single by Brooks Vance and another off an infield single by a hustling Blount. Union led 6-1 after four innings.
Wes Henry scored the final run on a Jeremy Hamm fielders choice that ran the score to 11-1, sending the Yellowjackets deeper into the playoffs.
Zach Robinson led Union at the plate with a 2-for-3 day, scoring once with one RBI, followed by Brooks Vance's 1-for-2 with a RBI and one score.
The Yellowjackets will continue their run for a ring Friday when the will travel to Natchez Cathedral for the first game in the best of three series. The second game will be Saturday at Union with the time to be determined later.