2011

WEEK OF ________________

SPORTS THE MERIDIAN STAR Saturday, May 7. 2011 ECCC advances to championship from school reports AREA ROUNDUP

Cowart. the fourth-seeded Bob– cats plated four runs on five h1ts in the bottom of the first inning off EMCC starting pitcherAmy Johnson. Out-hrttJngJones County 11- 10 on the afternoon, EMCC pushed across solo runs in the second,th1rd and fifth fnnings. A two-out bunt Single by all-state centerftelder DeShuni Sanders plated Cory Robelson (Ciar1«!ale) in the second lnnmg.A frame later, the lions tallied another two-out score v.'tlen a -region third baseman Lairoe Simcox (Southeast Lauderdale) Singled home le gh Blen Barefield (Neshoba Central), who led off the inning witn asmgle.AfterJCJC went ahead 5-2 v.'!th arun 1n the fourth, EMCC aga n art mto the deficit with aootner solo run 10 the fifth on Roberson's RBI bloop single. Despite tanmg belund 9-3 fol– lowing afour-run t:m mmng by Jones County. the lions contmued to battle back by chasmg JCJC starting pitcher Ginger Lonergan with three straight hits to open the sixth innmg. includmg a two– run single by sophomore second baseman Cayla Coleman (Clark– dale). Freshman catcherJesSie Clark (Clarkdale) provided the final margin later in the frame by knocking in a run on an infield groundout

JUCO BASEBALL Jones County East Mississippi 0 ELUSVILLE- The 14th-ranked Bobcats made quick work ofvis– iting EMCC, cruising to a run-ruled home decision over the Uons In Friday's opening game of a best– of-three MACJCbaseball playoff series at Commumty Bank Park. Making their first postseason baseball appearance since 2004, the Uons had achance to strike first in the opening frame, but TylerAldridge's leadoff smgle was negated when he was caught stealing on Alex Chick's stiikeout. Following the double play, sopho· more first baseman Mitch Bohon smacked a double to centerfield, but he was left stranded after a subsequent stiikeout to end the inning. The Lions agam put a runner in scoring position during the second mning. Freshman short– stop lsmael Reyes (Northeast Lauderdale) singled and stole second base but was also left stranded. After scoring one run in the first, the Bobcats chased EMCC starting pitcher Cole Vaughan with three more scores on three hits in the second inning. With the lions • using four different pitchers mthe abbreviated contest, JCJC's offen– sive assault contJnued wrth five 13

runs on five hits in the third and four more tallies on four addi– tional hits in the fourth frame. The Bobcats, now 34-13 on the year and wmners of 19 of their last 23 decisions, pounded out 15 hits on the night, Including five extra-base hits. JCJC sopho– more catcher Ryan Roberts, who doubled and homered, was 3-for- 3 with three runs scored and two runs batted in. while designated hitter Vito Perna knocked in four runs w1th three singles. Meanwhile, JCJC sophomore right-handerAndrew Pierce set– tled down to retire the last nine batters he faced followmg a leadoff walk to Jake Upton mthe third inning. Pierce, afirst-team NJCAA All-American last year as a freshman, limited EMCC to just three hits over five innings.The Southern Miss signee improved his season record to 9-1 with eight stiikeouts and only one walk. The 16-28Uons must win today's Game 2 against JCJC at 2 p.m. in order to force a third and deciding playoff contest to take place 30 minutes following the preceding game. The winner ofthe best-of– three senes between EMCC and JCJCwill advance to participate in the four-team, double-elimination MACJC State Baseball Tourna– ment on May 12-14.

CUNTON - East Central Com– munity College scored a run in the bottom of the seventh inning to defeat top-ranked LSU-Eunice 2-1 to remain the only unbeaten team in the Region 23 tourna– ment atTraceway Park. LSU– Eunice then defeated Mississippi Gulf Coast 3-1 to eliminate the Bulldogs. ECCC, ranked No. 19, meets LSU-Eunice for the tournament title at noon today with the Ben– gals having to beat ECCC twice for the title. Both teams,however, automatically qualify for the NJCAA DiviSion II NationaiTouma– ment May 19-21 in Normal,lll. Gulf Coast earlier beatJones County Jun1or College 6-2 to elim– inate the Bobcats, who ousted East Mississippi Community Col– lege with a9-6wm.Gulf Coast also eliminated Pearl River 9·1 in five inmngs. EMCC,which was maklng its first regional appearance smce 2002, concluded the campa1gn with a 23·23 overall record. Aday after having a 12-run fourth inning by the opposition send them to a 16-2 open.ng– game setback atthe handsof top-ranked LSU-Eunice,the lions got off to aslow start against Jones County. Highlighted by a two-run home run by Mallory

APPEARED IN:

CARTHAGINIAN -------------------- NEWTON COUNTY APPEAL _____ SPIRIT OF MORTON------------- MERIDIAN STAR _ __..;::.....____

N~SHOBADEMOCRAT __________ SCO~T COUNTY TIMES ------– WINSTON COUNTY JOURNAL --- CLARION-LEDGER------- -