2005

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By Tony Krausz sports editor PERKINSTON -Josh Miller got even better after two days of rest. The East Central Community College pitcher went eight strong innings in an 11-1

~ I'm very proud about the way ourguys responded.

Warriors hea,d coach Jake va;borou&h

win over Mississippi Delta Community College in the Region XXIII Baseball I Tournament championship game on Sunday. Miller threw a complete

day, and the odds were in our favor. We let the defense play, and we let out bats do the talking." ECCC, which hasn't lost since the opening game of a doubleheader against Meridian Community College on Apri119, didn'tJose a game at Ken Curly Farris Field in capturing its first region Litle. MDCC needed to win two games on Sunday to win the regional tourney. '"I'm very proud about the way our guys

game in the Warriors' tour– nament opening victory against host-team Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College on Thursday. "Il doesn't get any better than this," said Miller, who gave up one run on three hits with six strikeouts on Sunday. "It was a pretty

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first region crown responded," said ECCC head coach Jake Yarborough, whose team improved to 29-21. "Toward the end of the year, we talked about the only way to get into the playoff is to play well. As soon as we got in the playoffs, they took off." College) twice, and Meridian was projected as the No.1 seed in the tournament." Corey Coward, who produced the game– winning hit against MDCC on Saturday in the semis, opened the scoring with a two-run double in the first inning.

ECCC took advantage of a tired MDCC squad early in Sunday's title game. The War– riors scored two runs in the first inning, two in the second and one ln the third to take a 5-0 lead. The Trojans (27-24) advanced to the title game by winning an 11-inning contest against Meridian Community College that ended at 12:13 a.m. Sunday. "Delta has a great program, and they have a good coach (fony Hancock) running their program." Yarborough said. "They had to be a little tired. They beat Meridian (Community

The shot to left-center field brought home Van Wilson and Marcus Davis for a 2-0 lead after the first inning of play. "It is always important to get out ahead in every game," Coward said. "It takes pressure off the defense and hitters." The Warriors added two more runs to their lead in the bottom of the second inning. Wilson hit a sacrifice fly to bring home a run, and Chris Pierce scored on a passed ball for a 4-0 lead. ... See Warriors Page 83