By By Tony Krausz / assistant sports editor
April 14, 2004
The Meridian Community College baseball team takes its final Region 23 Central Division trip today, as the Eagles travel to Scooba for a doubleheader against East Mississippi Community College at 3 p.m.
MCC, which is ranked ninth in the latest NJCAA poll, shares the top spot in the division with Hinds Community College, as league play begins to wind down.
The two schools, which share the Eagle mascot, have identical 8-2 records, after splitting the first meeting of the season on April 3 in Raymond.
MCC, which has a 30-5 overall record, won the first game 1-0, but Hinds, which has a 15-16 overall record, took the second game 8-7. MCC went on to sweep its next two Central Division series, defeating East Central Community College 14-3, 9-0 and Holmes Community College 10-0, 7-1.
MCC will look to keep its winning ways going, as the Eagles look to avenge their only other divisional loss today against the Lions.
EMCC, which holds an 11-23 overall record and a 3-5 divisional mark, knocked off MCC 5-4 in the opening game of a doubleheader at Scaggs Field on March 27.
MCC came back to win the second game 13-0, and the Eagles won the first meeting between the two teams 11-1 in the Rush Classic on Feb. 21. EMCC was held hitless in both losses to MCC.
Hinds will take on Holmes at 3 p.m today in another Central Division matchup. The Bulldogs hold a 21-7 overall mark and a 4-6 record in Central play.
Holmes and Hinds split a doubleheader on March 27. Holmes took the first game 3-2, and Hinds won the second game 17-1.
East Central Community College (10-24, 1-9 Central Division) will go outside of the Central to take on South Division foe Copiah-Lincoln Community College (24-10, 8-2 South Division).
The Warriors are coming off a pair of Central Division losses to Hinds last Friday, as they host Co-Lin at 1 p.m. in a doubleheader.
Pearl River, which sits on top of the South Division, hosts divisional foe Jones Junior College at 4 p.m. today.
Pearl River holds a 32-6 overall record and a 9-1 mark in the South. JCJC is 12-25 overall and is fourth in the South with a 2-8 record.
Itawamba (26-8, 8-2 North Division) will travel to Northeast (11-19, 4-6 North Division) for a 1 p.m. doubleheader.
Itawamba holds the top spot in the North Division.
Mississippi Delta, which is 15-14 overall and 6-1 in North Division play, hosts Northwest (22-25, 5-4 North Division) in a divisional doubleheader today.
The Trojans are set to open the two-game series at 1:30 p.m.
Gulf Coast (28-7, 5-3 South Division) and Southwest (11-22, 0-10 South Division) round out the Region 23 action today with a 4 p.m doubleheader at Gulf Coast.
Gulf Coast is ranked 17th in the latest NJCAA baseball poll.