By By Will Bardwell / staff writer
May 19, 2004
MOOREVILLE When rain threatened to postpone Game 2 of the Class 2A championship series on Tuesday, Enterprise coach Jeremy Wilkins insisted that the contest be played.
Mooreville was happy to oblige.
The Troopers pounded Enterprise for seven runs in the first two innings before running away with an 11-1 victory. With the best-of-three series now tied at one game apiece, the teams will play a decisive Game 3 on Saturday at Smith-Wills Stadium in Jackson.
The damp field never played a major factor, but the Troopers nonetheless kept the Bulldogs mired every step of the way. Mooreville scored just two runs in Game 1 on Monday, but plated more than that in the first inning alone on Tuesday.
The Troopers scored two runs on infield errors by the Bulldogs, then took a 3-0 lead when pitcher Jason Howell drew a bases-loaded walk.
Wilkins said the first-inning miscues were a symptom of bigger problems for Enterprise.
Mooreville added four more runs in the second inning after batting around for the second time in as many innings.
Enterprise got its only run of the game in the top of the third, when Lance Irby launched a two-out solo homer, trimming the Troopers' lead to 7-1. Irby's shot was one of just three hits allowed by Howell in the first four innings.
Mooreville answered the home run in its half of the inning, again loading the bases with no outs and scoring four runs to go up 11-1. The Bulldogs got out of the jam when second baseman Chris Gilbert snagged a line drive and threw to first for a double play.
The Bulldogs held the Troopers scoreless for the rest of the game, but with a 10-run lead, Mooreville had all the runs it needed.
Enterprise mounted its biggest threat of the game in the top of the fifth. After two one-out singles by the Bulldogs, Irby legged out a slow-roller down the third-base line to load the bases.
Howell struck out the next two batters to seal the run-rule victory.
Enterprise fell to 30-7 overall, and Mooreville improved its record to 32-5. Wilkins said that Wade Weathers, who led the Bulldogs to victory in Game 1, will start for Enterprise on Saturday in Game 3. Berryman said he would decide on his Game 3 starter "probably sometime Saturday."