By Staff
TOP OF THE HEAP Members of the 8-year-old state champion baseball team are, from left (bottom row) Eli Wilkinson, Mikey Meyers, Andrew White, Ben Smith, Devin Richardson, Lee Martin, (middle row) Baylie Etheridge, Rob Bible, Garrett Glenn, Will Stokes, Will Whitehead, Jonathan Young, Danny Weisner, (back row) coaches Mike Meyers, Johnny Young, Kary Whitehead and Roger White. submitted photo
By Ryan Satcher / staff writer
July 7, 2004
The East Mississippi All-Stars battled through the Dixie Youth 8-year-old State Baseball Tournament this past weekend and came home with the championship.
The squad knocked off McComb 3-2 in the state championship game on Sunday to bring home the title.
According to Whitehead, wanting to see their names on a state championship sign was motivation enough for the squad.
East Mississippi defeated Petal 7-4, Columbus 6-5 and Carthage 10-9 in its first three games. After losing to McComb, East Mississippi received a bye with a win in a coin toss to move into the state championship game.
In the championship game, McComb scored a run in the first inning and threatened to score more in the second, but a terrific leaping catch by Eli Wilkinson doubled off a runner to get East Mississippi out of the inning.
East Mississippi scored two runs in the bottom of the second to take the lead.
Jonathan Young singled to start the inning. After a fly out by Ben Smith, Danny Weisner reached on an error.
Andrew White singled to load the bases and Rob Bible brought in a run with a ground out. An error on a ground ball by Garrett Glenn brought in Weisner from third to make the score 2-1.
East Mississippi scored another run in the third inning. Bailey Ethridge singled and moved to third on fielder's choices by Devin Richardson and Lee Martin.
Will Whitehead delivered a clutch two-out single to make the score 3-1.
East Mississippi's Mikey Meyers singled in the fourth inning but they were unable to pick up any insurance runs in the final innings.
McComb scored a run in the fourth to make the score 3-2 and threatened to score in the fifth but a 5-4-3 double play by Whitehead, Martin and Will Stokes ended the threat and helped give East Mississippi the state championship.