By By Robby Atkinson / staff writer
March 16, 2004
DECATUR The Forest Bearcats scored the game winning run on a walk with the bases loaded to take an 8-7 win over Philadelphia in an opening-round game of the East Central Community College Spring Break Tournament.
The Tornadoes held a 7-4 lead heading into the sixth inning, but the Philadelphia infield committed three errors that allowed three runs to score and tie the game at seven.
Josh Hawkins led the eighth off with a double, and Philadelphia walked three straight that gave Forest the first-round win.
Jared Boler led the Tornadoes with two singles, and Jonathan Pickens added an RBI in the loss for Philadelphia.
Neshoba Central 15
Newton County 5
Newton County held a comfortable 5-1 lead heading into the bottom of the fourth inning, but the Rockets sent 13 batters to the plate to score nine runs in the run-rule shortened game.
The Cougars started the game with a run in the first off an RBI fielder's choice by Greg Pillsbury to give Newton County a 1-0 lead. The Cougars extended the lead to 3-0 in the second inning off an error by Neshoba Central and a solo home run by catcher Robert Westbrook.
Newton County continued to pile up the runs with another pair of runs in the third to take a 5-0. Both runs scored in the inning off a two-run single by Josh Pender.
Neshoba scored one run in the third on an RBI double by Taylor Petty to cut the lead to 5-1.
Neshoba Central took control of the game in the fourth inning on nine runs to take a 10-5 lead over the Cougars. The inning started with a double by Allan Sisson. The Rockets had four more hits in the fourth.
Neshoba Central scored four runs in the fifth and one in the sixth to roll to the 10-run win. Sisson had an RBI double in the fifth, and Ansley Hudson added an RBI single to pace the Rockets in the final two innings.
Neshoba Central will face Carthage in a winners' bracket game at 5:30 p.m. Newton County will play Bruce in a losers' bracket game slated for 12:30 p.m.
Carthage 9
Choctaw Central 6
Both teams combined for 15 errors in the game, but the Tigers were able to score four runs in the first inning to take the win.
Ricardo Smith led the way for Carthage with two singles and two RBIs, and Henry Towner had a triple and single in the win. Caleb Cochran pitched in with an RBI single, and Josh Denson added a single.
Justin Willis led Choctaw Central with an RBI double, and Justin Craig Willis added an RBI single.
Choctaw Central will meet Philadelphia in the 10 a.m. losers' bracket game.