By Staff
ON THE MOVE – Meridian's Drew Snider runs past Jefferson Parish's catcher, Brett Accardo, to score during Sunday afternoon's game at Meridian Community College. Photo by Carisa McCain/The Meridian Star
By Marty Stamper / EMG sports assistant
Aug. 5, 2002
Corey Hart threw a four-hit shutout to lead Meridian to a 5-0 win over Jefferson Parish Recreation Department East in the 14-year-old Babe Ruth Southwest Regional Sunday afternoon at Scaggs Field on the Meridian Community College campus.
Meridian advances to a 7 p.m. date with Tri-County (Texas) tonight. These are the last two unbeaten teams in the tournament.
JPRD East met North Randall (Texas) in Sunday's late game which sent the loser packing.
Hart struck out seven and walked only one to get the complete-game win. He allowed only one hit through the first five frames.
Meridian outhit the Louisiana state champions 11-4. Nathan Peden had three singles and two RBIs to lead the Meridian offense. Drew Snider and Tyler Vick both had a single and a double. Hart, Tyler McMullen, Dane Skinner, and Justin Baylor each had one single.
Meridian committed only one error.
Meridian let an early threat pass without scoring. Tyler Vick led off the top of the second with a double to right field and went to third on a single by Peden. Losing pitcher Matt Mann picked Peden off first base for the first out, then retired Hart on a fly ball behind second base and struck out Ryan Bennett to get out of the inning.
Meridian took a 1-0 lead in the third as Baylor beat out an infield hit and scored on a double to the left field corner by Snider.
Meridian made it 2-0 in the top of the fourth. Hart hit a two-out single and pinch runner Kyle Wiggins came home on when Jefferson Parish center fielder Craig Schnell's throw to third base went into the dugout following a single up the middle by Bennett.
Meridian extended its lead to 4-0 in the fifth. Snider singled with one out and scored when Cordera Eason's ground ball was booted at third base. Peden made it 4-0 with an RBI-single to right field that plated Eason.
The host team added its final run in the top of the seventh. McMullen singled and trotted home on Peden's third hit of the game.
JPRD East had four hits. Ryan Dubuc led the way with a single and a double. Mann and Brett Accardo both added a single.
Meridian takes on Tri-County tonight with the winner taking the driver's seat.