By By Richard Dark/The Meridian Star
April 18, 2001
The East Mississippi Community College Lions keep managing to shoot themselves in the foot at every turn.
Tuesday, a team that always manages to be on the cusp of victory, watched it slip away again as the Mississippi Delta Community College Trojans got a solo home run in the top of the seventh from Edwin Maysonet to get past the Lions 1-0 in the first game of a North Division doubleheader.
If the loss put EMCC's postseason hopes on life support, then the 9-5 setback in the second game all but mathematically eliminated the Lions (9-24, 5-10 in North Division).
Baldner pointed to a key point in the pivotal first game where offense was extremely scarce for both teams and with EMCC having runners in scoring position, his squad was unable to execute a bunt to get a run.
As far as the Trojans (17-15, 10-8) were concerned, it was the effort of Zach Quinonez that rendered the Lions helpless. He only gave up two hits while striking out four and issuing no walks on the day.
Quinonez stayed ahead in the count for a good portion of the day.
Kevin Long (2-3) took the loss, despite hurling five strikeouts and issuing four walks. He also scattered five hits, including the homer in the seventh that hit the foul pole.
MDCC 9, EMCC 5: The Trojans again set the tone with a pair of runs in the top of the first and kept gradually building enough of a lead to complete the sweep.
The Lions did rally with a five-spot in the sixth inning, but were trailing 7-0 at that point. Jay Blackburn (1-6) absorbed the loss.
EMCC hurt itself with five errors. Jaron Andrews had a home run, while Chris Ball went 2-for-3 with an RBI. Josh Buckley added a 3-for-4 performance with an RBI and former West Lauderdale Knight J.D. Harbour came through by driving in a run, as well.
Richard Dark is a sports writer for The Meridian Star. E-mail him at rdark@themeridianstar.com.