By By Marty Stamper / EMG sports assistant
April 29, 2002
Three area baseball teams have some unfinished business to take care of tonight if they are to keep their seasons alive.
Meridian, Philadelphia, and Union are all facing must-win situations after splitting the two first games of their respective best-of-three second round playoff series.
Meridian, 32-6, travels to Moss Point, 16-15, with tonight's winner to get Oak Grove in the third round of play which is set to begin on Thursday. Oak Grove, 24-4, swept Pascagoula 6-3, 2-1 and has the opportunity to scout tonight's game in full force.
Moss Point won the first game with Meridian 4-3 on the coast with the Wildcats bouncing back to take a 6-4 victory Saturday at John Moss Field. Tonight's game is set for 6.
Philadelphia, 19-10, heads to Leakesville to take on Greene County, 30-5, in a 7 p.m. contest. The Tornadoes won Game 1 7-5 at Leakesville with the Wildcats posting a 14-4 victory Saturday at Philadelphia's Burnside Park.
The Philadelphia-Greene County winner will play Purvis, 27-6, in third round action. Purvis swept Morton handily, taking 12-2 and 19-8 wins.
Union, 20-13, returns to Natchez to take on Cathedral, 16-10. The Yellowjackets lost the series opener 3-2 at Natchez on a bases loaded walk in the bottom of the seventh before run-ruling the Green Wave 15-5 in five innings Saturday at Union.
St. Aloysius, 21-3, awaits the Union-Cathedral winner after beating Greenville St. Joseph 2-1 and 14-3.
Meanwhile, Newton County and Clarkdale are already secure in knowing they've advanced to their respective fast-pitch state championship series Saturday in Jackson at the V.A. Fields.
Newton County, 34-5, will play Amory, 28-3, for the 3A state crown, while Clarkdale, 29-9-1, will meet the Mooreville-Hamilton winner for the 2A state championship. Hamilton and Mooreville are slated to settle the 2A North championship tonight at 6 p.m. at Mooreville. Mooreville won the first game Saturday 3-1 with Hamilton pulling even with a 5-4 win in Game 2.
In Mississippi Private School Association baseball action, defending Academy Class A state champion Heidelberg Academy, 15-5, squares off with University Christian, 20-6-1, in second-round play. Both teams swept first-round series. Heidelberg spanked Tri-County, while UCS knocked off Newton County Academy.
Game 1 is set for Tuesday at Heidelberg with Game 2 and 3, if needed, Thursday at Flowood.