2008

Warriors hOld serve Stovall 's shutout in Game 2 c.ompletes sweep for ECCC

By Brandon Walker assistant sports edttor

DECATUR

The conditions

were daunting. Taking the mound in game two of a doubleheader Tuesday after– noon, East Central starting pitcher Gregory Stovall had to notice the circumstances. With winds gusting up to 30 mph and blowing in the direction of left field, homestanding East Central Community College and visiting Meridian had just com– bined for four home runs in a 10- 9 slugfest won by the Warriors in the first game of a doubleheader. With favorable hitting condi– tions. the deck seemed stacked against Stovall as he prepared to face potent Eagles' lineup? Stovall's response? f'fo problem. Stovall, a sophomore lefty from Neshoba Central High School, turned in a marvelous perform– ance, allowing just three hits in 6.1 innings of s hutout baseball, which proved to br just enough to stnkt: East Ct•ntral to a 2-0 win nucla sw<·cp uf rivnl Mn "lk was lrcnwnduus lud;ty," n~markcd ECCC !wad coach Neal Holliman, who watched his team improve to 16-1 1 overall and 2-0 in MACJC Central Division play. ''He is one of the guys we depend on to give us quality innings every time he goes out there. He has struggled at times, but he gave us exactly what we needed today." Stovall's shutout capped an intense pair of games between the Eagles and Warriors.