By By Robby Atkinson/staff writer
May 15, 2004
The quest for a Class 2A State Baseball Championship will officially begin for the Enterprise Bulldogs today at Bulldog Field in Game 1 of the best-of-three game series with the Mooreville Troopers.
Enterprise (25-7) clinched the spot in the state championship series with a 9-3 win over North Forrest Monday night, thanks to a 15-strikeout performance from junior left-hander Wade Weathers.
Mooreville (30-4) punched its ticket for the title series with a 14-3 win over Hamilton in the third game of the three-game series for the North State championship. The Troopers scored seven runs in the fifth inning of the contest against Hamilton to take the 11-run win.
Enterprise's journey to the title series began nearly a month ago on its home field. The Bulldogs opened the postseason three straight wins in the Class 2A regional tournament at Bulldog Field.
The Bulldogs tallied a 9-5 win over St. Andrew's in the opening game of the regional, thanks to a 3-for-4 performance from third baseman Zeb Swain. Swain collected a home run and double in the game for the Bulldogs.
Enterprise went on to notch a 10-0 win over Wesson, and a win over Taylorsville in the final game of the regional.
The biggest test of the playoffs game in the second round against the Mercy Cross Crusaders.
The Bulldogs were forced to win two straight games after dropping Game 1 5-4 on the road to Mercy Cross.
Enterprise closed in on the state championship appearance with a 5-2 win in Game 1 against North Forrest and swept the series at home Monday night with a 9-3 victory over the Eagles.
Weathers (14-2) is expected to draw the start tonight against the Troopers.
Senior Adam Simpson will likely start Game 2 for Enterprise, and Weathers will pitch Game 3, if necessary.
The three-game series between Enterprise and Mooreville is scheduled for a 7 p.m. first pitch tonight at Bulldog Field. Game two of series will shift to Mooreville Tuesday at 6 p.m. If a third game of the series is necessary, the game will be played either Friday or Satuday at Smith-Wills Stadium in Jackson.