By By Richard Dark/The Meridian Star
March 24, 2001
The Meridian Wildcats were one strike away from defeating the West Lauderdale Knights in Collinsville late Friday night. But that strike never came, as the Knights turned it around in the blink of an eye, rallying dramatically to win, 8-7.
With two outs and two strikes, Bo Davis grounded to third and reached on a throwing error by Sanduan Dubose that plated Ike Munn, who had earlier reached on an infield error, to knot the game at seven.
West catcher Miles Joiner looped a single into shallow right field and Davis beat the throw home to set off a wild celebration by the home team and leave the Cats (11-7) visibly stunned.
It didn't look as if the third-ranked Knights (14-1) would have much to be excited about as Meridian got runs in the fourth and sixth to take the lead, only to see the Knights come back.
But in the top of the seventh, area fans had the pleasure of witnessing one of the best matchups they will see as West hurler Todd Doolittle, who struck out 11 and walked two, faced off against Dubose.
Dubose, who entered the game batting an insane .470, fought off several Doolittle curve balls before finally connecting for a monster solo home run that gave MHS the 7-6 lead that sent Doolittle to the showers.
Ryan Clay, who earlier smacked a two-run shot in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game at six, came on to retire the Cats, who left a pair of runners stranded in the frame.
John Hays Compton went the distance, striking out six, but the Cats, committed a half dozen errors behind him.
MHS coach Vince McLemore denied the Cats should have ever been in position.