2016 Combined

WEEK OF 5-15· t.e.

ECCC·on roll heading to Region 23 By Elton Hayes el ayes.@the11 nd1anstar.c::om many things well. "We have a lot of guys who are Mitchell said. "We got down and fought back and played our hearts

enthralling series where his team posted 27 runs, East Central head coach Neal Holliman said he knew early that this year's group of players was going to be a special one. "I've liked this group from day one," he said. "I've always been able to go home and say I like this team, and I like the potential and the capabilities of this team-that's a really good feeling. We have quality young men who come from really good families." Pitcher Channing Wall, who earned the win on the mound for the Diamond Warriors in their last contest, has t.hrown 54.2 innings this season and has allowed just 10 earned runs. He sports a sparkling 1.64 ERA. He said East Central is a well-rounded ball dub that does

pesky and who try to do well," Wall said. "We fight, and it's one of our team's strengths. We keep our hitters in the game. Our defense plays really well. We got hot at the right time, and that's what I like to see." Left fielder Matt Mitchell's bat has been consistent for East Central this postseason. The Lake High School alumnus is batting .609 through the Diamond War riors' five playoffgames, and he's compiled 14 hits. In his 41 games played this year, he's batted .374, and has 28 RBis. He said his team's resiliency this year is one of its strong points. "We never gave up as a team, and nobody quit in the game,"

out. I thought we played really well, and we never quit on each other." . Second baseman Dylan Snypes said he expects the Diamond War riors to continue their postseason dominance as the competition will only become stiffer the further East Central advances. Snypes is batting .348, and has four hits in the post season. "I'm expecting the same as we did in our state tournament," Snypes said. "I expect a lot from our starting pitchers and our bats. We've played Jones twice. They're the second-ranked team in the nation, and they really can hit the ball. We're ~oing to give a good team effort. '

East Central Community Col lege snagged its fourth overall MACJC state championship last week with a dramatic 13-12 walk-offvictory against Jones County Junior College. The win occurred one day after the Diamond Warriors defeated Jones County 14-13 in Gamel of the series. East Central's (36-15) champi onship-clinching win sets the stage for the NJCAA Region 23 tourna ment, which will feature Northwest, LSU-Eunice and Jones County. East Central draws Northwest at 4 p.m. today at Clark/Gay Baseball Com plex in Decatur. Even before last week's

APPEARED IN:

CARTHAGINIAN

NESHOBA DEMOCRAT - - - - --- SCOTT COUNTY TIMES ----- -- WINSTON COUNTY JOURNAL ---- CLARION-LEDGER ~-------~

~--------- NEWTON COUNTY APPEAL - --- SPIRIT OF MORTON MERIDIAN STAR ,-z~---- OTHER

----------------------------~