2005

WEEK OF _te-=-~=-·_(__:__ ___

EAST CENTRAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE PHOTO East Central Community College pitcher John Fortenberry, left, is attempting a comeback after being struck in the eye last season during a pre-season scrimmage that broke several bones in his face. One year later East Central's john Fortenberry back on the mound after devestating eye injury By Maria Mcleod Spcnal tt> Tht Record W hat a difference a day makes. What a difference a year makes, especially if it. However, it is 2005. Inside Diamond Ayear. almost to the Warriors day, after Fortenber- ry's dreams of a base– I've always dreamed of play– ing baseball. I sttll want to see if I can make it worl~. And I ,..,,......_J'Do~

begin season ball career were this week almost shattered _ Page 38 along with his eye, he's back on the mound doing what he loves best: Pitching. So why would he attempt another shot on the mound after such a dev– astating injury? And how does losing his right eye affect his pitching? See ltiTCHER, Page 3B

you're John Fortenberry. Jan. 23, 2004 was just like any other day for the East Central Community College freshman. After classes he rushed to the baseball field preparing for another practice session with his fel– low Diamond Warriors. The day ended with Fortenberry being rushed to the hospital after a line drive during a intra-squad scrimmage crushed his right eye and shattered most of the bones around

like to prove people wrong. So many have satd that I would never play again."

John Fortenberry ECCC pttcher

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Pitcher From Page JB

game a st Central was this faL ainst Mississippi Delta (C mmunity Col– lege). It was a little scary,'' he said. Perhaps the most ner– vous spectator is his moth·.· er, Dawn Fortenberry. · "It's just God and deter– mination that has brought him this far," she said. "The doctors tried to talk him out of playing. They said he was fortunate to have survived and even compared his injuries \\ 1th those received in a head-on car collision. But he's determined and we're hop– ing for a better year than ever." will have a new prosthetic eye made. Although it IS possible he will have to undergo additional surgery, Fortenberry is in hopes he has completed his treat– ments and is looking toward a bright future on the baseball diamond. Fortenberry and the East Central Community Col· lege Diamond Warriors begin season action at 2 p.m. today in a double· header with Copiah-Lin coln Community College at Jamie Clark Memorial Field on the Decatur cam– pus

"John is doing fme. He's healthy and seems happy to be back. I expect him to have a big impact on the team this year and to have time on the mound," Yarborough said. Since that fateful Jan– uary day, Fortenberry has had siX surgeries and has three plates and 19 screws in the right side of his face. It is only natural that he would be a bit nervous each time he steps on the mound. "I threw one time this summer for a semi-pro team. That was the flrst time since my surgery and the worst so far. My flrst that bans aluminum bats. "We hope that this {bill) is passed," she said. "John hopes this never happens to anyone else and we hope that no parents ever have to go through what we went through." Whatever happens. John Fortenberry said he is just glad to be back. "I want to do real good this year and if things go well, continue on to anoth– er level," he said. After his next check up with doctors, Fortenberry said she is glad to see a bill introduced in the legislature

"I've always dreamed of playing baseball. I still want to see if I can make it work. And I like to prove people \vrong. So many have said that I would never play again. 'i\s far as my pitching, there has been no major change, except that I can't ~tch a pop-up fly (ball)," "ortenberry said. Head coach Jake Yarbor– ~h was also pleased to ·e Fortenberry back on 11ound. Although they couldn't convince him to stay away from baseball, doctors did insist that Fortenberry wear a type of facemask ~ used mostly by bull riders to protect his face. some– thing that eases his par– ents' minds. "I'm nervous," said Dawn Fortenberry, ''but the face cage does make it easier. His dad (Cookie Fortenber– ry) and I are proud of him and we're glad he has the guts to get back out there. He just has a true love for baseball.'' Da\\n Fortenberry also

APPEAF..J:o IN :

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LAKE MESSENGER-------:-– SCOTT COUNTY TIMES-----– UNION APPEAL--------- WINSTON COUNTY JOURNAL____ SPIRIT OFMORTON-------- fMPACT _____________

CARTHAGINIAN------- NESHOBA DEMOCRAT ____ NEWTON RECORD V ...::;,_ ______ MERIDIAN STAR------– CLARION-LEDGER------

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ECCC Diamond Warriors host Co-Lin Feb. 9 in season opener

After struggling through last's year 12-29 campaign - which was hampered by injuries to several key players - the outlook seems much brighter this season for the East Central Community College baseball team. The Diamond Warriors, who begin 2005 action by hosting Copiah-Lincoln Community College in a 2 p.m. doubleheader at Jamie Clark Memorial Field on Wednesday, February 9, are healthy and ready to get the season under– way, said fourth-year head coach Jake Yarborough. Although Yarborough was hesitant to predict wins and losses, he is confident that this year's squad has what it takes to be successful. "This is the best defensive team that we have had in a while. We are very solid on the infield and we've got good speed in the out– field . Our pitchers are especially excited about our defense. We also have good team spee

assistant is Dusty Hillman, who joined the coaching staff last fall after serving as a member of the Mid-Missouri Mavericks, an inde– pendent professional baseball team based in Columbia, Missouri. Hillman, a former standout at William Carey College, Delta State University and Teylorsville High School, is responsible for infielders and base runners, and has weight room responsibilities. "Coach Hillman works well with our players. He demands a lot from our guys and ma~cs them accountable. He is a great addition to the coaching staff," Yarborough said. The complete 2005 roster includes sophomores Andre Coleman (pitcher/outfielder) of Louisville, Brandon Ezell (second base/third base), Bud Loper (short stop/pitcher) Will Pearson (first base/outfield) and Joseph Cavenaugh (outfielder), all of Newton County; Josh Miller (pitch– er) of Elysian Fields, Texas; Kevin Hatch (pitcher) of Carthage, Corey Coward (catcher/first base) of Noxapater, Cody Savell (pitcher) and Lucas Poole (pitcher), both of Newton, Marcus Davis (outfielder/pitcher) of Magee and Van Wilson (outfielder) of West Lauderdale, and freshmen Jon Maxie (short stop) and Dillon Mcinnis (outfielder), both ofGreene County; Sam Thames (second base) of Newton Academy, James Harris (short stop), Ken Gordon (catcher) and John Harris (outfield– er), all of Morton; Travis Butler (outfielder) and Taylor Petty (catch– er/outfielder), both of Neshoba Central; Jon Cole (pitcher) of Brandon, Josh Hawkins (catcher) and Wes Cox (first base), both of Forest; Chris Pierce (second base) of Petal, Justin Millinax (pitcher) of Albertville, Ala.; Keith Edwards (third base) of Louisville, John Fortenberry (pitcher) of Carthage and Ross Pine (pitcher/first base) of Live Oak, La.

the team this year. I also expect him to have a good season on the mound," Yarborough said. Yarborough said top returnees on the pitching staff include Josh Miller of Elysian Fields, Texas; Cody Savell of Newton County and Kevin Hatch of Carthage, each of whom had impressive stats during fall competition. Miller, a 6-1, 193-pound southpaw from Elysian Fields, Texas, put up the most impressive numbers last fall by fanning 28 bat– ters m 22 innings of work. He allowed 15 bits. Savell, a 6-3, 2 I 6-pound right-hander, also had a successful fall campaign as he struck out 17 batters over 18 innings and also gave up I 5 hits. Hatch, a 6-5, 205-pound right-hander, posted 12 strike outs in 18 innings of work and allowed 13 hits. Yarborough said Hatch, a side– ann hurler, will be the top reliever this spring. Another top returnee on the mound is Andre Coleman (6-2, 176) of Louisville. Yarborough said top slug– gers dunng fall competition were Corey Coward of Noxapater, Van Wilson of West Lauderdale, Taylor Petty ofNeshoba Central and Marcus Davis ofMagee. Coward, a 6-2, 212-pound catcher/ first baseman, batted .422 with one home run and seven dou– bles last fall. He completed the 2004 season with a .423 average and had two home runs, four doubles and 13 RBis. Wilson (6- 1, 197), an out– fielder, posted a .360 average and slugged two home runs and five doubles during fall competition. Petty (6-1, 165), ., a catcher/outfielder, also batted .360, and Davis, a 6-3, 199-pound outfielder/pitcher, had a .306 aver– age with two home runs. Davis bat– ted .289 in 2004 and had five home runs, two triples, four doubles and 27 RBis. • Serving as Yarborough 's

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LAKE sco· UNIC WIN SPIR fMPt

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Warriors pound out 15 runs, sWeep Jones Junior Coll~ge K .a wild pitch, a hit batter, a fielder's choice By Tony rausz ~ and a sacrifice grounder. sports editor . ( h b ll) · pl In the second game, ECCC's first two DECATUR- East Central Commun~ty We put t e a m ay. runs came off of a wild pitch and a sacrifice College has enjoyed instant success on 1ts Baseball is a crazy game, grounder, as the Warriors took a 2-0 lead home field to start the 2005 baseball and when you put the ball after two innings. season. "We put (the ball) iq play," Wilson said. The Warriors (4-0) swept their second in play anything can happen. "Baseball is a crazy game, and when you home doubleheader on Saturday, defeating put the ball in play anything can happen." Jones Junior College 8-0 and 7-5. ECCC ecce ri&ht fielder ECCC started producing runs with its swept Copiah-Lincoln on Thursday to open Van Wilson bats midway through the second game, as the season. Chris Pierce drove in a run with a single "We have felt good about our defense, "We made a lot of errors, hit a lot of and Corey Coward brought home another and our pitchers are giving us a chance to batters and walked a lot of batters," said run with a double in the fourth inning for a make plays in the field," said ECCC head JCJC head coach Bobby Glaze. "I feel we 4-0 lead. coach Jake Yarborough, whose team played passive. You can't take anything JCJC's offense, which only recorded travels for one doubleheader- Gulf Coast away from East Central. They played great <::even hits in the doubleheader, also started on Feb. 17 - in its first seven playing They put the ball in play, scored runs and working in the second game. dates. "We have a lot of improvements we made all the plays." Bobcats shortstop Fernando Goldmon still have to .make, but I'm very proud by ECCC had no such fielding or pitching produced his team's first runs with a~<>: how my team is playing." . problems in getting its seco!Jd s~ecp of run homer in the fifth to cut the Warnors Warriors right fielder Van W1lson may the year. The Warriors commlttt'd JUsl one lead in half but ECCC tallied two runs in be enjoying the friendly confines of error in 14 innings of play, and both of the bottom'of the inning off an RBI triple ECCC's home field the most. EQCC's starting pitchers made it to at k•ast from Joseph Cavenaugh and a wild pitch The West Lauderdale product hit his the fifth inning. . . for a 6-4 lead. third home run of the season, a two-run Andre Coleman picked up the w1n 111 The Bobcats pulled to within one run of shot in the third inning of the first game, the first game, allowing n~ ru~s

LAKEMESSENGER ____________ ~- SCOTT COUNTY TIMES --------– UNION APPEAL--------------– WINSTON COUNTY JOURNAL------ SPIRIT OF MORTON-------------- IMPACT _____________________

CARTHAGINIAN -------- .. NESHOBADEMOCRAT ____ __ NEWTON RECORD ___________ MERIDiAN STAR _.:\L',../ ______ CLARION-LEDGER--------

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ROBBIE ROBERlSONjTHE NEWfON RECORD An East Central Community College baseball player dives into first base against Copiah-lincoln Community College in the season opener for both teams. East Central swept the doubleheader and stands at 4-0 before Tuesday's double– header with Mississippi Delta Community College. See story, Page 18.

APPEARED IN: LAKE MESSENGER '\/ --.l;..---------:-- SCOTT COUNTY TIMES------- UNION APPEAL--------– WINSTON COUNTY JOURNAL---- SPIRIT OF MORTON ----------:r IMPACT ____________

CARTHAGINIAN------- NESHOBA DEMOCRAT ____ NEWTON RECORD____ _ _ MERIDIAN STAR------– CLARION-LEDGER---------

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state office and didn't." Underwood said the request for medical hard– ship had been sent to the national office and the three players - John Fortenberry, Van Wilson and Drew Kenna - had been cleared for redshirts by the national office. But the documentation for the three players was not sent to the state office, causing an infraction and making the players ineligible for a medical hardship and third season. But after reviewing the case, the MACJC granted medical hardships from the state and allowed to play a third season in base– ball. The letter from the MACJC stated the follow- ing: See BASEBALL, Page 3B

The East Central Com– munity College baseball team is off to a hot 4-0 start and is doing so without the on-the-field duties of head coach Jake Yarborough. Yarborough has been

s u spended for the frrst 12 games of the season for a viola– tion of Mis– sissippi Association of Commu- nity and

Yarborough

Junior Col- lege rules concerning requests for medical red– shirts for three players. "It was a paperwork mis– take," ECCC Athletics Director Terry Underwood said. "We were supposed to send the requests to the

z 0 ROBBIE ROBERTSON 'THE NEWTON RECORD J–

East Central Community College's Van Wilson (33) celebrates with teammates after hil1ing 2i a home run 1n the season opener against Co-Un last Thursday. After four games,Wilson has ~ hit three home runs. u.

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run home nm in the first game against Jones and hit one in each contest against Co-Lin to start the season. Another positive note is Fortenberry, who picked up the win in game two against Jones, going five innings, giving up two runs on three hits with three strikeouts.

could bring other action against the East Central baseball program." Underwood wouldn't say if he thought the suspen– sion was harsh but said any appeal could have put the eligibility of the three play– ers at jeopardy. "We could have appealed but we \Yeren't going to take any chances at hurting those kids' eligibility,'' Underwood said. "It was an honest mistake and we're going to learn from it and move on." The Warriors. off to a 4-0 start, hosted Mississippi Delta Tuesday for their fifth

and sixth games of the sea– son. If no games are rained out, Yarborough's first game would be a Feb. 24 doubleheader at Decatur against Coahoma. "We're lucky that we only have two of our first four double-headers away from home." Underwood said. "The assistants have done a great job so far. Even Coach (Scott) Hill. our softball coach, has pitched in and helped.'' Part of East Central's good start can be attributed to Wilson, who has three home runs through the first three games. He hit a two-

"Due to Coach Yarbor– ough's failure to submit the proper . documentation within the proper time frame, Coach Yarborough will be suspended from the first 25 percent of the 2005 season's baseball games. which are scheduled and actually played. Coach Yarborough will not be allowed to travel or attend baseball games during this suspension. Failure to adhere to the..c;e regulations

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((Who would have ever thlvugl1t it?" Fortenberry gets start, ~in at ECCC 0 After losing his eye, enduring numerous earned the save in Fortenberry's first col– legiate victory as a pitcher.

When Fortenberry toed the pitching rubber on Saturday in the second game of a double-header with Jones Communi– ty College, decked out. in a caged helmet welded by his father, Roddie, hi s per– formance most likely put to rest any doubts anyone had about his ability to pitch with just one eye. Over five innings, Fortenberry allowed only three hits (one of which was a two-run homerun ), while striking out five. After Fortenberry exited the ga~e with a 6-2 lead , his former CHS team– mate Kevin Hatch took the mound and

While Fortenberry acknowledged that. many people questioned his ability to return to the mound, he said he has refused to allow himself to think any dif– ferently despite undergoing six surgeries that included placing a titamum plate and 12 screws in the cheek bone around his crushed eye socket. "It was just another day," Fortenberry said. "You can't really take it any way other than that." > See FORTENBERRY on llA

surgeries, pitcher re_turns If John Fortenberry possesses any– thing as strong as his right arm, it. is without a doubt his determination. Last Saturday in Decatur Fortenberry made his regular-season pitching debut for the East Central Community College Warriors, just over one year after being struck in the face with a batted ball and losing his right eye as a result.

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he was outfitted with his first prosthetic and the upcoming operation will ready him for another, hopefully, permanent one, Fortenberry said. Fortenberry is scheduled to pitch for his second· win on the season today (Thursday) when the Warriors travel to Gulf Coast Community College.

him.

Shortly, after he suffered the life and career-threatening injury last January in an intra-squad game Fortenberry vowed to return to baseball and has never admitted to hav– ing any doubts that he would. But, even though he never doubted he would pitch again, Fortenberry -

"He's a starling pitcher now. Who would have ever thought it? I think he did bet– ter than most people thought he would." Major League Baseball scout and Walnut Grove resi– dent Art Gardner, who was in

attendance on Saturday, for one, thought ''A ~ter the first Fortenberry's return was unlikely. two or three pitches it all kind of fell into

said he didn't expect things to go as well as they did on Saturday. ly," he said, "I am very sur- prised I did as "Truthful-

Gardner said he called the MLB

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--John Fortenberry

office

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well as I did, but after the first two or three pitches it all kind of fell into place." Up until about two weeks before the season, ECCC coach Jake Yarborough had told Fortenberry he would be us~d as a relief pitcher this season, at least in the beginning. But, about two weeks ago, Fortenberry said Yarborough told him he was going to be in the starting rotation. "That made me feel good," Fortenberry said. "It was about the third or fourth inning before I realized how lucky I was to be pitching again." Fortenberry's mother, Dawn, hid her emotions well, hoping not to put any more pressure on her son than she figured he was already feeling. '"'John has just been going with the flow," she said. "We were really, really proud of

returned to pitch after losing an eye and a subsequent search of the records produced no similar occurrences where sight was involved. Fortenberry said he will have another operation at the end of the season and then he will have a new prosthetic eye made. He currently does not have a prosthetic and he wears a patch at all times. Additional surgery became a necessity last summer after

ECCC Di8morid WarriorS

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Members of the 2005 Diamond Warrior baseball team at East Central CommunityCollege lnc:lucle (front row, from left) Andre Coleman, Brandon Ezell, Jon Maxie, Sam 1'hlmel, shortstop James Harris, Morton; Dillon Mcinnis, catcher Ken Gordon, Morton;Travis Butler, Chris Pierce, Kevin Gregory. (second row, from left) Josh Miler, ftrst t.seman Wes Cox, Forest; DIMd Frey, Taylor Petty, Kevin Hatch, Jon Cole, Joseph CIYenuagh, catcher Josh Hawkins, Forest; Corey Coward, Cody Savell, Josh Yeager. (back row, from left) Bud Loper, Lucas Poole, WHJ Pearson, Marcus Davis, Justin Mullnax, Keith Edwards, outfielder John Hents, Morton; John Fortenbeny, Ross Pine and Van Wilson. Jake Yarborough serves as head coach. Dusty Hillman Is assistant coach. .... __, w _, ;> en =

I

Future Looks,Brighter·For Diamond ~arriors SPECIAL TOTHE TIMES s uffered a .-. .

career-ending m)ury. Fortenberry lost an eye after being struck by a hard-liner during a preseason scrim– mage. Despite the handicap, FOrtenberry said he is optimistic about returning tO' themound "I always dreamed of playing college baseball, and I still want to see if I can make it work. I guess I also like to prove' people wrong. So many have told me that I would not play again," FOrtenberrysaid Yarborough said FOrtenberry is adjust– ing well to his return to the team. "John is doing fine. He's healthy and happy to be back. I expect him to have a big impact on the team this year: I also expect him to have a good season on the mound," Yarborough said Yarborough said top returnees on the pitching staff include Josh Miller, Cody Savell and Kevin Hatch, each of whom had impressive stats during fall competi– tion. Miller put up the most impressive num– bers last fall by fanning 28 batters in 22 innings of work. He allowed 15 hits. SavelL a right-hander, also had a suc– cessful fall campaign as he struck out 17 batters over 18 innings and also gave up 15 hits. Hatch, a right-hander, posted 12 strike outs in 18 inni~ of worlt and allowed 13 hits. Yarborough said Hatdl, a side-ann hurlel; will be the top relieYer this spring.

DECATUR-After struggling through last's year 12-29 campaign, which was hampered by injuries to several key play– ers, the outlook seems much brighter this season for the East Central Community College baseball team. The Diamond Warriors, who began :ro5 action by hosting Copiah-Lincoln Community College, are healthy and were ready to get the season underway, said fourth-year head coach Jake Yarborough. Although Yarborough was hesitant to predict wins and losses, he is confident that this year's squad has what it takes to be successful "This is the bestdefensive team that we have had in a while. We are very solid on the infield and we've gotgood speed in the outfield Our pitchers are especially excit– ed about our defense. We also have good team speed, and I expect us to be success– ful running the bases," YarbOrough said Scott County native players on the ros– ter include James Harris, shortstop; Ken Gordon, catcher; and John Harris, out– fielder, all of Morton. The roster also includes Josh Hawkins, catcher, and Wes Cox, first base, both of Forest. Among p~rs who experienced a sea– SOl'HDiing injury was freshman pitdler Jolm~whomanytmugbthad

ECCCPHOTO Scott County members of the 2005DiamondWarrior baseballteam at EastCentral Comllllllllty Col.._ In Decatur and their respective high schools Include (seated, from left) outfleldef John Harris and short– stoP James Hants, both of Morton; and (standing, from left) c:atdler Josh Hawkins and ftnt b••....,. Wes Cox, both of Forest; lnl catcher Ken Gordon, Molton. Jake Yarborough seMIS as held COIICh. Dusty ......... lsaslstant coach. Another top returnee on the mound is Andre Coleman.

runs, four doubles and 13 RBis. Wilson, an outfielder, posted a .300 aver– age and slugged two home runs and five doubles during fall competition. ~ a catcher/ outfielder, also batted .360, and Davis, an outfielder/ pitcher, had a .ro> average with two home runs. Davisbatted .289 in D>4 and had five home nms, two triples. fbur doublll!s and 'Z1 RBis.

Yarborough said top sluggers during fall competition were Corey Coward, Van Wilson, Taylor Pettyand Marcus Davis. Coward, a catdler/first baseman, bat– ted .422 with one home nmandseven dou– bJeslast fall. He oompleted theD>4 season with a .4?3 average am had two home

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WEEK OF ....J-F---l>-t...:.......!h~.j_-+\----

ECCC PHOTO

ECCC DIAMOND GIRLS Members of the East Central Community College Diamond Girls for ttte 2005 season Include (front row, from left) Tasha Boswell, Kenya Boyd, Morton; Amy Kennedy, Forest; Ronda Stroud, Shana Smith. (second row, from left) Daphanle Hatcher, Shay Moncrief, Anna Price, Lee Anne Rawson. (third row, from left) Undsey Clark, Krist! Keene, Mary Catherine Hunt, Meagan Mills. (fourth row, from left) Kelll Evans, Tracy McMahan, Megan Slay, Forest; Amanda McMillan. (fifth row, from left) Sherrell Brown, FOfest; Aty Burton, Jessica Fairchild, Forest (sixth row, from left) Ashley Nlc:hols, Morton; Keeley Morgan, Walnut Grove; HaH Rainer, Jennifer Key. (back row, from left) Jess Davis,

APPEARED Jennifer Moore, Angela Momon, Carmeltta Naylor. LAKE MESSENGER ___ V____ SCOTT COUNTY TIMES J ~------- UNION APPEAL--------– WINSTON COUNTY JOURNAL---- SPtRIT OF MORTON-------- IMPACT ________________________

..t CARTHAGINIAN------- NESHOBA DEMOCRAT ____ NEWTONRECORD_~v/ ____ MERIDiAN STAR ---.,..----- CLARION-LEDGER------

WEEK OF ....!...F~t t.L:.) )~).1,__ ___

East Central CommunitvCollege DiamondWarrior Baseball

Newton

10 Decatur Bl'andon Ezell man sam Thames, ewtxln baseman/outfielderWill Pearson, Loper, Newton County.

Remaining 2005 Diamond Warrior Baseball Games: February 24 Thursday Coahoma. Decatur 1:30 P.M. 26 Saturday MS Delta: Moorhead 1:00 P.M. 28 Monday Jones ' Ellisville 2:00P.M. March 1 Tuesday 5 Saturday 8 Tuesday 11 Frrday 17 Thursday 19 Saturday 22 Tuesday 25 Friday 30 Wednesday Pearl River Southwest Coahoma Itawamba Northeast Southwest Co-Un *Holmes >tEast MS Decatur Decatur Clarksdale Fulton Booneville Summit Wesson Decatur Decatur

1:00 P.M. 1:00 P.M. 1:30 P.M. 2:30P.M. 1:00 P.M. 1:00 P.M. 1:00 P.M. 1:00 P.M. 1:00 P.M. 1:00 P.M. 2:00P.M. 2:00P.M. 3:00P.M. 2:00P.M. 1:00 P.M. 1:00 P.M.

April 2

*Mendlan *H1nds *Holmes "'East MS *Mend1an *Hmds Southwest TN

Saturday Tuesday Monday Wednesday Saturday

Meridian Raymond Goodman Scooba Decatur

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11 13 16 19 23

Delta State Um.

Tuesday Saturday

Decatur ~II Games Are Double-Headers Unless Noted As ~ngle. * Denotes OMsion Games

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From Page 81 ~ three of which came in the sev– ~ enth inning. He struck out five ,.... \ and walked one. He faced only ~ batter over the minimum ~ through four innings. ~ • went 2-for-3 for the Warriors. EMCC had four hits - all ~ Wilson and Coward both "Four hits won't win that many games," EMCC head 00 coach Bill Baldner said. "And I think I made a mistake C?aching. I should have had a dtfferent bunt defense on (in the seventh inning) and I didn't singles. ~

right now, one extra ou because anything can happer and we proved that by swingin~ the bat and getting some bi~ hits with two outs," Baldnet said. "I felt bad for therr because I know coach Yarbor ough works on that, but I fel goq'd that we could capitalizE on it." ECCC kept the game goin8 for another inning by scorin8 four runs in the bottom of th~ fifth. Ken Gordon had a two-run s ingle, Pierce drew a bases1 loaded walk, and Marcus Davis had a sacrifice fly. Burnham, Neal, and Rich• mond Alexander all had RBI singles for EMCC in the top ol the sixth. Neal fin ished 3-for-4 while Burnham was 2-for-4 with three RBis. Jonathan Russe!J (5-2) got the win, aiJowing six hits and striking out six. Wilson went 2-for-2 fo r ECCC. "We had our opportunities to do some things that second game and we just didn't do it," Yarborough said. 'There were some routine plays that should have been made. We could have hit the ball better in some situ· ations. Pitching, we hit too many and walked too many. Wben you do that, you leave yourself in a bad situation. "Russell did a good job on the mound and they played pretty good baseball, so give them a lot of credit. They hit the ball pretty good. We just didn't execute that second game." Warrior starter John Forten– berry (3-4) took the loss, giving up only two hits, but walking three and hitting four batters in 4 2 3 innings. He struck out three.

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~ call it. I take some credit for ~ ~ • that loss . because our guys ~ ~ played thetr hearts out. We just didn't get any hits." ,.... \ EMCC turned a pair of ~ double plays.

The Lions went up 1-0 in the top of the fourth as Mabry walked with two outs, stole second, and scored on a single by Joe Nickels. ECCC lied the game in the fifth as Wilson led off with a double to the wall in left field and scored on Coward's line drive single over shortstop. In the second game the Lions were leading 3-0 and had the bases l.oaded with two outs in the top of the fifth. Cave– naugh dropped an inning– ending throw at second base from shortstop Chris Pierce and EMCC picked up eight runs before the third out was finally recorded. In the big inning, Lance Burnham had a two-run single, Adam Neal had an RBI single, and Tyler Maxwell launched a grand slam to left field to put the Lions up 11-0. "You can't give an average team, and that's what we ar e

CARTHAGINIAN------ NESHOBADEMOCRAT _______ NEWTONRECORD~--------- MERIDiAN STAR ...;.V__........,.____

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SPIRIT OF MORTON-------- IMPACT _______________________

Meridian Mississippi News • The Meridian Star

Page 1 of2

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Our Swif Sub crihc

LOCAL & P REP

Saturday, March 26, 2005

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Holmes takes two from Warriors By Marty Stamper I staff writer f1o "£::J, .... c CST

·' DECATUR· The Holmes Community College Bulldogs took over first place in the MACJC Central Division baseball standings with a 3-2, 9-6 sweep of East Central Community College Friday afternoon at Jamie Clark Memoria l Stadium.

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Holmes improved to 4-0 in the division and 22-11 overall , while ECCC fell to 0-2 and 15-13.

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The Warriors had their chances in both games, but were unable to capitalize.

In the opener, ECCC's Josh Miller and Holmes' Brent Telano both turned in sqlid performances on the mound. Miller (5· 1) tossed a five-hitter with no wa lks and four strikeouts. Telano (2-2) gave up five hits and one walk while striking out seven. Ironically, both ran into the little trouble they faced in the same inning. Holmes got four of its five hits in the top of the fifth to take a 3-0 lead. Jared Elmore had a two-out, two· run triple to right-center field and scored on a single by Mario Thomas . The Warriors managed three of their five hits in the bottom of the fifth with Van Wilson getting a leadoff single and scoring on a two– run homer to left field by David Frey.

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Holmes' Tolliver McMullen was the game's only batter with more than one hit as he had a pair of singles .

In the second game, the Warriors scored twice in the bottom of the second inning and once in both the third and fourth frames to take a 4-2 lead. · A defensive collapse by the Warriors, along with some solid Bulldog hits, enabled Holmes to rack up seven runs in the top of the fifth. ECCC committed th ree errors in the rally with the Bulldogs also getting th ree doubles. Telano, Marcus Spann and Thomas each had

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a two-bagger in the frame.

"We just didn 't get the hits when we needed them in the first game, " said ECCC head coach Jake Yarborough. "We played good defense. Their pitcher did a good job and kept us down. We couldn't ever get anything going against him. You 've got to hit the ball to score runs. Especially if they are throwing strikes, you've got to put it in play. "In the second game, they had some hits, but we made errors and should have been out of the (fifth) inning. When you make that .· many errors, you give those guys extra at-bats, it makes our · pitchers pitch more pitches, and it puts them on base and eventually they're going to score. You can't do that to your pitcher. You've got to make plays behind him and give him some support. We definitely shot ourselves in the foot." Wilson had two doubles and a single for ECCC in the second game. Marcus Davis had three singles. Ross Pine added a pair of doubles. Holmes got two doubles from Spann and a pair of singles from Matt Buchanan . Cody Savell (3-3) took the loss, and Kelby Green recorded the win with relief from Caleb Cain. ECCC returns to action on Wednesday when East Mississippi Community College comes to Decatur for a 1 p.m. division doubleheader. .Arch1ves I Email thiS story I Prmt this story

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WEEK OF _!.AJJ~o..;~rc~h--=Q____!;t~-

East Central drops pair of The IIolmes Community College Bulldogs took O\'N first place in the MACJC Central Division baseball standings with a by 3-2, 9 6 sweep of East Central five hits in the top of the fifth to take a 3-0 lead. Jared Elmore had a two-our. two·run triple to right-center and scored on a single by Mario Thomas.

Community College Friday after- Marty noon at Jamie Clark Memorial Stamper Stadium in Decatur. Holmes improved to 4-0 in the division and 22 J 1 overall. while EC fell to 0-2 and 15-13. lhf' Warriors had their chances in both games, but were unable to capitalize. In tht' opener, EC's Josh Miller and Holmes' Brent Telano both turned in solid performances on the mound. Miller (5-I) tossed a five-hitter with no walks and four strikeouts. Telano (2-2) gave up five hits and one walk while striking out $e\'en. Ironically. both ran into the little trouble they faced in the same inning. Holmes got four of its Bulldogs also getting three doubles. Tclano. Marcus Spann, and Thomas Pach had a t\\ o bag ge1 iu the frame "vV(• just didn't get the hits \\hPJl wt• needed tlll'm in tlw first g,mw. ~ EC lu

The Warriors managed three of their five ~its in the bottom of the fifth with Van Wilson getting a leadoff single and scoring on a two-run homer to left field by David Frey. Holmes' Tolliver McMullen was the game's only bauer with more t11an one hit as he had a pair of singles. fn the second game, the Warriors scored twiae in the bottom of th(' second inning and once in both the third and fourth frames to take a 4-2 lead.

A defensive collapse by the Warriors. along with some solid Bulldog hits. enabled Holmes to rack up seven runs in the top of the fifth. EC committed three errors in the rally with the division games to Holmes

(fifth) mnlng When }OU make that man) errors, you give those guys extra tit bats. it makes our pitchers pitch mow pitches, and it put~ them on hasP and e\ entually they're going to score. You cant do that to yolll pile hr1. You've got to make plays h<>hmd him and give him some support. We drfinitr.ly shot ourst>lvcs in the foot. · . Wilson lwei two douhlt>s and 1 single for EC m tlw st•rond game. Marcus Davis had three singles. Ross PinP addNI a pair of doubles llolnws got two doubles from Spann and a pair or singles hom Matt Buchanan. Cody Sa\ ell (3 3) look the loss with Kolby Green getting the win with relief from Caleb Cain. EC n•turn~ to action today when East Mississippi comes to Decatur for a I p.m. divi– sion doubleht"ader Ihe Lions a1 e 1-3 in the divi– sion and 13-17 merall.

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Davis Leads ECCC Sluggers; Miller Top Hurler

mark with a .42 ERA· right-hander Cody Saveli ofNewton, 3-2 with a 1.87 ERA; and right-hander Keith Edwards of Louis– ville, 2-0 with a 4.24 ERA. The DiamondWarriors are 15-13 overall and 0-2 in division competitionpriorto Wednesday's home doubleheader with East Mississippi Community College, which gets under– way at I p.m. at Jamie Clark Memorial Field on the Decatur campus.

(one homer; 12 RBis); out– fielder Joseph Cavenaugh of Newton County, .250 (10 RBis); catcher/out– fielder Taylor Petty of Neshoba Central, .245; first baseman/outfielder Will Pearson of Newton County, .245; shortstop James Harris of Morton .237 (16 RBis); and out~ fielder VanWilson ofWest Lauderdale, .232 (three homers; 11 RBls). Other top hurlers are right_ bander Kevin Hatch of C~rthage, who has a 3-1

DECATUR--Sopho– mores Marcus Davis of Magee and Josh Miller of ElysianFields. Texas. are East Central Community College·stop slugger and hurler. respectively. fol– lowing 26 games of the 2005 campaign. Davis has posted a .329 batting average. which in– cludes s!::. ~orne runs, a triple. two doubles and 19 RBls. Miller. a southpaw, has a 5-0 mark with a 2.43 ERA. He has fanned 38 batters and walked 20. In addition to Davis, other ECCC players having suc– cess at the plate and their respective averages in– clude pitcher/ first baseman Ross Pine a product ofLh·e Oak (La.) High School. .308 (one homer; six RBis); catcher/ first baseman Corey Cow– ard of Noxapater, 253

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RIPPING FOR AHIT Former Morton Pllnttlef ,.._ Harris takes a cut at a pitch for the East Central Community Collele'• Wlntor ....... Fl'ldlly In I cloubleheldef acalnst Holmes. Harris and the Wlnlon .......... bolh .......

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GETTING THE SIGNALS Former Morton Panther Kt~n Gordon walts for the signal from the East Central Comrnunlty College's Warrior~ c:oaches for a.,._ for the nut pltdt Ft1day 1n a doubleheader against Holmes. Gordon and the Wanton dlopped both gam..

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SC DIAMOND WARRIORS Several Scott County baseball players are on the roster for the East Central Community College's Warrior baseball proCJam. They Include, left, former Forest ae.cat Wes Cox and above: former Bearcat Josh Hawtdns. James Harris, above left, is a former Morton Panther. His twin brother, John qualified for amed- • leal redshlrt and Is not playing.

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Eagles out slug Warriors

By Tony Krausz sports editor

Meridian Community College showed no signs of panic in the second game of a Central Division doubleheader against East Central Community College on Saturday at Scaggs Field. Despite falling behind 4-0 after the first haJf

inning and the Eagles' pitcher showing control problems, MCC just went to work at the plate. The Eagles evened the game at four in the bottom of the first inning en route to a 14-4, six-inning win in the

second part of the double dip. MCC (26-4) won the first game 11-0 in five innings over ECCC (16-17). "They shoved it right in our face in the second game, 4-0 is a tough mountain to climb," said Eagles shortstop Michael Murray. "Putting four runs back up there clogged them down a little bit, and it gave us the confidence to go right in." Murray started MCC's early-game rally leading off the bottom of the first with a single and scoring the Eagles' first run of game two off a balk by ECCC pitcher Cody Savell. MCC third baseman Brian Frichter followed the balk with a two-run home run over the right-field wall to bring tht• Warriors' lead down to one. and catcher Tommy Lott tied the game with an RBI single. "ft helped a lot," Frichter said of the home run. "(Center fielder Toddrick Johnson) said · we needed to scratch two runs. Mike (Murray) came up with the first hit, Todd got the next hit, Joey (Lieberman) moved them over, and I got a slider away and just hit it out." The Eagles took the lead for good in the second inning of game two. getting back-to– hack RBI singles from Frichtcr and Dillon Sud– duth for a 6-4 lead. Murray. who tt•rrori7.-ed ECCC at the plate throughout the . u.ond game going 5-for-5,

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IN BEFORE THE TAG Meridian Comrrjnity College's Josh McBride beats the tag of East Central Community

College's Chris /ierce with a steal of second. boosted MCC'!advantage to 7-4 with a solo homer in the tltd. The shortstop finished the second game Wh four singles and the homer, after hitting on single in the first game. "The kid is1benomenal," said MCC head coach Chad Calet of Murray. "It is going to be a sad day whe I have to let him go. He is every thingyowant to coach.'' The Eagles ut the finishing touch on their run-rule win it:he second game in the bottom of the sixth, scring seven runs off five hits and a balk. Liebermargot things roOing in the game– ending inning.vith a three-run homer over the left-fitld wall nto al-itiff wind that was blowing out!o right fi1ld f01a 10-4 lead. ·· frichter. '!lho f&_owed the homer with a

double, scored on a balk, and Trey Jones upped MCC's lead to 12-4 by drawing a bases-loaded walk that scored Sudduth. Murray ended the game with his fourth single of the contest. this one a two-run shot to left field for the 10-run victory. "That's just luck," Murray said of his per– formance at the plate. "I put some good ~wings on it and found holes. That is the name of the game. It just happened to be my day today." Frichter went 3-for-4 with a single, doublt> and homer in the second game, and Johnson, Sudduth and Lott each had two singles. ECCC's Ken Gordon hit two doubles in the loss.

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a single and three-run home ..l run, and Frichter recorded a double. The Eagles had seven hits in the win. "Everybody is just seeing the ball real well right now, and we are all just hitting it on the nose," Frichter said. MCC continues the season with another Central Division doubleheader on Tuesday, a the Eagles host Holmes. The first game is set to start at 2 p.m.

MCC pitcher David Clark struggled through the first two innings of the second game to pick up the win and improve to 6-1 for the season. The right-handed freshman allowed four runs off five hits, hit one batter and committed an error at the start of the game. Clark settled down late in the third inning- striking out the last three batters he faced in the third - and fin– ished the day giving up five hits. striking out four and : walking one in five innings. MCC's Dusty Davis had no such troubles on the mound in the game-one victory. The left– handed sophomore gave up just one hit and struck out five in five innings to improve to 6- 0 for the year. "(Clark) made some adjust– ments, but he is ~till not where we want him to be. In my opinion, he is too good to be that inconsistent.·· Caillet said. "(Davis) threw it welL He gave us a chance to win. He filled up the strike zone and got some ground balls that we needed.'' The Eagles took a 3-0 lead in the first inning of the opening game, and they put the game away in the fourth, scoring eight runs to invoke the 10-run rule. Tommy Lott led MCC's '.lffense in the first game with

WEEK OF --..l.,..Ofu~~' 1 ---'-\ -+-\ _ _

Silent \Varriors ground Eagles By Tony Krausz sports editor DECATUR-Jake Yarborough didn't say a word. · East Central Community College's head ., We had a chance to wrap up conference on our own, and we didn't rise to the occasion.

baseball coach refrained from delivering a between– game speech to his team following a tough 4-3 loss to Meridian Community College in the opening game of a Central Division

MCC head coach Chad Caillet

"Every game we play now is very impor– tant." Yarborough -:aid. "I'm just proud of the way our guys jumped on tlwm early and did a • good job of swinging the sticks." l\lCC. which would have clinched the Cen– tral Division titlt' with tv.o win:. over ECCC, couldn't stop the chargin~ Warriors from the start in the second game of the doubleheader. ECCC swung through three l\1CC pitchers. as the Warriors slapJWd the Eagles around for 11 runs on five hits. MCC also committed two errors in the doubl<'·diJ.dt run first inning. ·nlC Warriors sent 15 batters to the plate in thl opening inning. ECCC's Chris Pierce and Taylor Petty Pach hit two-run singles, and Van Wilson hit an Iml double. Tht• Warriors also scored one run on a fielder's choin· and two runs off two seperate Eagles' errors. ECCC's Corey Coward capped the first– inning scoring with a three-run home run over the l<'ft·field wall. "It's very, very, very di-;appointing," said Eaglt's head coach Chad Cailkt, whose team is 33-7 overall and J:~-1 in tht• Central and fini:-;h the season with a doubleheader against

doubleheader on Tuesday. The silent treatment worked. as the War– rior· scorched the Eagles for 11 runs in the fir::.t inning of the nightcap en route to a 16-3 victory to earn a split at Chris Gay IV ~lema­ rial Field. "We didn't talk. Nobody said a word." Yarborough said of the time between games one and two. "Our guys knew w~at the had to do. I didn't need to give a speech. They knew what to do, and that was basically it." The split put ECCC's overall record at 23- 21, and the Warriors are 4-10 in Central Divi– sion play. The game-two win kept ECCC on pace in the playoff hunt, as the Warriors' entered Tuesday a game behind East Missis– sippi Community College. If EMCC swept Holmes Commw1ity Col– lege on Tuesday, ECCC will need to win its final two games of the c;eason on Saturday against Hinds Community College to tie EMCC for the final playoff spot. If EMCC split with Holmes, ECCC can clinch a post– season berth with a sweep of Hinds or a share of the final spot with a split on Saturday.

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