By By Robby Atkinson / staff writer
March 16, 2004
DECATUR The Meridian High Wildcats have had one consistent element this season and that has been solid starting pitching.
The Wildcats (9-3) got another great performance from junior Kedric Martin to take a 3-2 victory over Bruce in the opening round of the East Central Tournament on Monday.
Martin (4-1) tossed seven innings with 13 strikeouts, and the lefty allowed four hits to earn his team-leading fourth win of the season.
The Wildcats did grab a pair of runs in the top of the second inning to take a 2-0 lead over Bruce. Cordera Eason reached base to start the inning, and Rodney Warren reached first on a walk to put two on board.
Chris Harris delivered one of the biggest plays at the plate for Meridian High with a sacrifice bunt that advanced runners into scoring position to set up the first score of the afternoon for the Wildcats.
The first run crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly to left field by Clark Bullock, and the second run scored on a wild pitch.
Meridian High added another run in the top of the third to take a 3-0 lead over Bruce. Martin led off with a single and later came around to score on an RBI single by Tyler McMullen.
Bruce scored a pair of runs in the sixth, but Meridian High didn't allow another runner to cross the plate to preserve the one-run win.
Dan Fulton led the inning off with an infield single for Bruce, and he advanced to second on an error at first base. Fulton scored moments later on a double by Danyell Shaw to draw Bruce to within two runs.
The second run scored on a single by William Smith, but Martin was nothing but perfect in the final inning. Martin retired the last four outs of the game by way of strikeout.
Meridian High will face Forest at 3 p.m. today in one of the two winners' bracket games.