2012

ltawamba bounces ECCC from playoffs Warriors end

ly disappointed with the results of t~e weekend aeries but praised squad members for their efforts throughout the season. "I was proud of our guys and the way they fought through adversity this year in the fact that we had several injuries," said Holliman. "We cer– tainly didn't accomplish the things we set out to do and that is my responsi– bility, but we will regroup and go again next year. This was a very enjoyable group to be around and we will certainly miss this group of sophomores." Hampton, a sophomore outfielder and product of Nanih Waiya High School, also singled for EC in Sat– urday's matchup and fin– ished with two RBis . Other sluggers were Rubert Alcantara of the Dominican Republic and Xzavier Franklin, a prod– uct of Newton County High School, two singles each; Tim Anderson of Hillcrest (Ala.) High School, Ricardo Velez of Puerto Rico and Nic Hodges of St. Martin High School, doubles each; and Kalik May of 'fuscaloosa County and Kyle Henson of Starkville Academy, singles each. Hodges was also credited with two RBis, and Anderson and Velez knocked in a run each. Evan Humphries, a right-hander from Louisville, took the loss in relief. Humphries hurl~d three innings and allowed

one run on one hit. He fanned t hree batters and walked two. Starter Fernando Gon– zalez of Puerto Rico went 2 2/3 innings and allowed five earned runs on six hits. He fanned a batter and walked one. EC used seven pitchers in the loss c. and four hurlers appeared on the mound in the eighth inning, when all five runs scored on walks or batters hit by pitches with the bases loaded. In Friday's game, Hampton's three-run homer in the eighth inning followed by Velez's three-run blast in the ninth rallied EC from an 8-1 deficit but the Indians held on for the one-run victory. Hampton and Velez also singled and finished with three RBis each to lead the offense. Other hitters were Anderson, double and sin– gle; and May, Franklin and Alcantara, singles each. David McAdory of Louisville was credited with an RBI. Right-hander Severino Signa of Deer Creek took the loss. He allowed two earned r-uns on one hit through 2 2/3 innings. He fanned a batter and walked five. Bro.ck Ward hurled 5 1/3 innings in relief and allowed four earned runs on three hits. The right– hander from Louisville fanned three batters and walked two.

season with 25-23 mark

After Fred Hampton's two-run homer in the top of the seventh inning tied t he contest at 6-6, East Central Community Col– lege's Diamond Warriors appeared to have regained the momentum after trail– ing 6-2 in the second game of the best of three series with Itawamba Community College Sat– urday afternoon in Ful– ton. But the host Indians had other ideas and reclaimed the lead for good in the bottom of the frame following a solo blast by Chris Hanning. Itawamba sealed EC's fate with five runs in the eighth for a 12-6 victory, sending the Diamond Warriors home without a victory in the playoff series leading up to the MACJC State Baseball 'lburnament. EC's rally fell short Friday night in an 8-7 set– back. The Diamond War– riors, who qualified for API post-season play by finish– ing fourth in the MACJC South Division with a 12- CAf 12 mark, completed the NE~ 2012 campaign with a 25- 23 record under sixth- SPifyear head coach Neal Hol– liman and first-year assis– MERtants Justin Brewer and Jack Edmonson. Holliman was obvious-

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