More with Gore

HOUSTON — Houston’s Haley Gravat kept the Lady Panthers’ bat quite with eight strike outs in the Lady Hilltoppers’ 12-2 win in six innings over Amory on Thursday.

The Lady Hilltoppers (18-0, 3-0) set the tone early by scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning on a double by Brittany Vance, a ground out by Gravat, and a single by Avery Springer.

Houston had back-to-back one-run innings in the second and third with RBI from Yasmeen Cooper and Springer before tacking on two more runs in the fourth on a triple by Vance and single by Gravat to take a 7-0 lead heading into the fifth inning.

Amory (7-10, 3-1) kept Houston off the board in the bottom of the fifth and wrestled away momentum in the top of the fifth with a pair of runs from Bailey Oswalt and Lara Evans.

Oswalt lead off the inning with a six-pitch walk, but looked to be the fifth player stranded on the bases as the next two batters were quickly retired by the Lady Toppers. Evans smashed a single to score Oswalt and advanced into scoring position on a single by Victoria Hood. Taylor Brassfield pushed across Evans to plate the Lady Panthers’ second run before Gravat picked up her eight strike out to end the inning.

A pair of errors opened the door for Houston to put the game on ice with five runs on six at bats in the bottom of the sixth. Winter reached and scored on an error. Hanna Wilson and Shelby Whitt scored on a double by Gravat. Gravat and Springer scored on a walk-off single by KB Weaver.

Evans, Hood, Brassfield, Ashley Camp, Paige Earnest, and Courtly McCollum all singled in the game while Lindsey Boyd added a double for Amory. Brassfield was hit with the loss giving up six runs (five earned) on five hits, two walks, and one error in two and two-thirds innings pitched.

Winter had a RBI double and RBI triple while Springer and Weaver each added a pair of singles to the Lady Toppers’ 11-hit performance.

Gravat helped her own cause going 3-for-4 from the dish with a pair of singles, a double, four RBI, and two runs scored. She gave up two runs on seven hits, one walk, and no errors in the complete game.

NETTLETON – Someone forgot to tell the Tishomingo County Lady Braves they were playing the defending Class 3A Champions on Friday, but a seven-run fourth inning by the Lady Tigers quickly reminded them who they were playing against.

Erin Williams kept the Lady Tigers (6-1) bats quite allowing one hit and issuing one walk through the first two innings of play to take a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the second inning before Nettleton started showing signs of life.

Michele Hester doubled to center to allowing her courtesy runner Korie Beth Leach to score on a one-out double by Holly Schlicht. Schlicht advanced to third on a balk and tied the game at 2-2 when she scampered home on a wild pitch.

Jessie Patterson and Makenzie Hawkins led off the bottom of the third inning with back-to-back singles before Haydden Payne loaded the bases on a one-out walk. Hester reached on an error that allowed Patterson and Hawkins to score to give the Lady Tigers their first lead of the game 4-2 before Hayley Parker pushed the lead out to four. Heather Noe drove in a pair of runs with a two-out single. Katie Leach, who singled, and Molly Bramlett, running for Noe, scored on a pair of wild pitches to take a 9-2 lead into the fifth.

Tishomingo put runners on first and second in the top of the fifth, but Nettleton escaped the inning with no damage done allowing them to plate three runs in the bottom half of the inning to pick up the 12-2 victory in five innings.

“It was a very good win for us,” said Nettleton head coach Chris Kidd. “It’s been nearly two weeks since we played and it took us a couple of innings to get the bats going.”

Hawkins powered the Lady Tigers offensive charge going 3-for-3 with a double, two singles, two runs, and a stolen base.

“She plays bigger than a sophomore,” Kidd said of Hawkins play this season. “She has done a real good job in crucial situations being there ready to come through with a hit.”

Schlicht doubled, singled, drove in two runs, and scored another while Patterson singled, tripled, and scored a run. Nettleton had 12 hits on the night with five going for extra bases.

Hester went the distance giving up two runs on six hits, one walk, and no errors in the win.

“The defense played well today,” Kidd. “We walked the number nine batter, if we don’t do that we probably hold them to one run or maybe no runs in the game.”

HOUSTON — It’s wasn’t a pretty, but the Lady Hilltoppers improved to 13-0 on the season with a 12-5 win over the Oxford Lady Chargers in the Houston Classic on Saturday.

Oxford took a 4-0 lead in the top of the first, but quick saw the lead evaporate when the Lady Toppers’ bats heated up in the bottom of the second to plate five runs on two hits and two errors.

Hanna Wilson led off the inning reaching on a four-pitch walk and scored when Audi Dendy reached on a one-out error. Avery Springer followed with a single before KB Weaver singled to score Dendy. Springer and Weaver scored on sacrifice fly to right by Haley Gravat to take a 5-4 lead into the third frame.

The Lady Chargers put runners on second and third before Gravat got out of the jam with her third strike out of the game.

Houston kept the offense rolling scoring four runs in the bottom of the third. Chelsea Gates walked and scored when Springer reached on an error. Springer, Gravat and Yasmine Cooper all scored on a pair of two-out errors by Oxford to extend their lead to 9-4.

Wilson, Springer, and Raven Havens all scored in fourth inning to give Houston a 12-4 lead. The Lady Chargers scored a run in the top of the fifth, but the Lady Toppers were able to get out of the inning to improve to 13-0 behind a 12-5 victory.

Dendy and Wilson each had a triple while Springer and Weaver both had a pair of singles. Gravat gave up three earned runs on four hits and five errors.

Houston was scheduled to play West Point in the final game of the Classic, but elected to not play the game due to being behind schedule and travel concerns for the Lady Wave.

HOUSTON — The South Pontotoc Lady Cougars held off a late-game rally and ran away with another contest to pick up a pair of wins 13-11 over Houlka and 16-3 over Starkville on Saturday in the Houston Softball Classic.

South Pontotoc 13 Houlka 11

The Lady Cougars jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning when Emily Henson was hit by a pitch and scored when Jade Cobern reached on an one-out error, Liz Henson reached via a walk and scored on a two-run single by Anna Roberts. Roberts later scored when Michelle Gregory reached on the second error of the inning.

South tacked on eight runs in the top of the seventh with Jala Parker scoring a two runs, Liz Henson, Emily Henson, Roberts, Gregory, Haley Washington, and Jenny Hinton all scoring a run in the inning. Houlka answered with Macey Haire scoring when Amber Cox was hit by a pitch with bases load to make it a 12-1 contest.

“I thought we came out and hit the ball extremely well,” said Coach Adam Patterson. “They made a couple of errors that helped us get started early and we had close to 16 stolen bases in the game that helped us get the big lead.”

Washington stole a pair of bases and scored a run in the third, but little did Coach Patterson know it would end up being a security run before everything was said in done in the bottom half of the inning.

Houlka rallied to plate 10 runs in the bottom of the third highlighted by a two-run bomb over the center-field wall and an even bigger shot over the fence in right for Candiace McIntosh to hit a grand slam before South could escape leading 13-11 and secure the victory in three innings due to the time limit rule.

“I thought we did a real good job after they made that big run in not panicking and staying focused on finishing the game to be able to get the win,” said Patterson.

Liz Henson picked up the win in two-plus innings of work.

South Pontotoc 16 Starkville 3

The bats stayed hot for the Lady Cougars in the second game of the Houston Classic.

South totaled 14 hits with five doubles and one triple while stealing nine bases in the contest to help Emily Henson to pick up the win.

“I thought we came out and hit the ball really well,” Patterson “Jala did a good job getting the bat on the ball and putting it in play. Emily threw a really good game coming off a pretty good performance against North Pontotoc.”

Parker led the offensive onslaught going 4-for-4 at the plate with one triple, three doubles, three RBI, and four runs scored.

“I feel like we’ve picked up two good wins that will hopefully help us heading into division play,” Patterson.

HOUSTON — Senior center fielder Candiace McIntosh hit a two-run home run and a grand slam in the third inning but the time-limit helped the South Pontotoc Lady Cougars escape Houlka’s late-game rally to pick up a 13-11 victory in the Houston Softball Classic on Saturday.

The Lady Cougars took a 4-0 lead in the first inning before tacking on eight more runs in the second to race out to a 12-0 edge. Houlka got on the board in the bottom of the second when Marissa Hobson reached on an error and scored when Amber Cox was hit by a pitch with bases loaded.

South Pontotoc tacked on another run in the third inning, but little did Coach Adam Patterson and the Lady Cougars know that run would turn into an insurance before things were said and done in Houston.

Raneisha Townsend led off the bottom of the third inning with a single to left and McIntosh followed with a monster-shot over the wall in center to make it a 13-3 contest in favor of the Lady Cougars. Sara Zachery reached on via a walk and Nicole Linton singled to left-center before Cox singled to left to load the bases. Colbie Walls and Macey Haire pushed home a pair of runs when they drew bases loaded walks to plate Zachery and Linton and make it 13-5 with one out in the inning.

Townsend, who led off the inning, drove in a run before McIntosh cleared the bases with her second home run of the inning sending a shot rocketing grand slam over the right field fence to pull the Lady Wildcats with a 13-10 deficit.

Hobson drew a six-pitch walk and later scored on a triple to right by Zachery. Linton was hit by a pitch and advance to second before South Pontotoc could finally record the third out of the inning to hold on for the 13-11 victory.

Houlka 11 Starkville 2

The Lady Wildcats also defeated Class 6A Starkville Lady Yellow Jackets 11-2 in their second game of the Houston Classic.

McIntosh hit her third-straight home run in her first at bat of the game. The Lady Yellow Jackets would walk her every time she came to plate for the remainder of the game.

Region 2-1A All-Division Teams

Girls

HW Byers - Kourtney Coleman, Alexis Hardaway, Brionne Gulledge, Kyra Gulledge
Potts Camp - Kenyotta Jenkins, Lamonica Ingram, Ashton Gandy
Myrtle - Aspriona Gilbert, Halle Knowles
West Union- Claire Wilkerson, Kimberly Jumper
Ingomar - Kayla Stevens, Reid Little
Blue Mountain – Tamara Knox, Natreka Earl

Co-Players of the Year – Aspriona Gilbert- Myrtle & Kenyotta Jenkins- Potts Camp
Co-Coaches of the Year – Tana Miller- Potts Camp & Jason Thompson- HW Byers

Boys

Ingomar - Zack Carnell, Matt Purvis, Steven Foster, Clay Kidd
Myrtle - David Wilson, Jimel Judon, Robert Montgomery
Potts Camp - Johnathan Falkner,  LaDarrius Beard
HW Byers - Jeremy Williams, Marcus Rayford
Blue Mountain - Aaron Liddell, Ron Jones
West Union - Wesley Jumper, Zak Jumper

Player of the Year - Zack Carnell- Ingomar
Co-Coaches of the Year:  Norris Ashley- Ingomar & Jonathan Ashley- Myrtle

Division 2-1A Basketball All-Tournament Team

Girls

HW Byers – Kourtney Coleman, Alexis Hardaway, Teresha Wood
Myrtle – Aspriona Gilbert, Meshay Cox
West Union - Carley Wilkerson, Robyn Taylor
Potts Camp - Kenyotta Jenkins
Ingomar – Claire Wise
Blue Mountain - Anna Sappington

Boys

Myrtle – Beau Cummings, David Wilson, Russ Yates
Ingomar - Zack Carnell, Matt Purvis
HW Byers - Jeremy Williams, Marcus Rayford
Potts Camp - Ladarius Beard
Blue Mountain – Von Echols
West Union - Austin Harkness

Thanks to Coach Andy Kirk (West Union) for emailing the above information.

The Houston Hilltoppers had an up and down Spring Break week picking up wins over North Pontotoc and Nettleton in the ICC Baseball Challenge before losing three-straight to close out the week.

Houston 5 North Pontotoc 2

The Hilltoppers used three runs in the bottom of the first and two more in the third to start the ICC Baseball Challenge off with a 5-2 win over the North Pontotoc Vikings on Monday.

Garrett Brandon went 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles, three runs batted in, and scored two runs while Cole Eldridge went 1-for-3 with a RBI single. John Ryan Porter singled and scored two runs with Josh Griffin and Ross Moore each added a hit in the win.

Ben Uhiren struck out nine, walked four, and gave up two runs on two hits in seven innings of work to pick up the win.

Houston 6 Nettleton 1

Will Faulkner threw five-plus innings of work in the Toppers’ 6-1 win over the Nettleton Tigers on Tuesday scoring two runs in the third, fifth, and seventh innings.

Faulkner gave up one run on seven hits and one error before Sharone Wright came in to close the game. Faulker and Wright both recorded four strike outs in the game.

Brennan Pugh doubled and scored a run. Jacob Shempert singled, drove in a run, and added a pair of runs. Brandon singled, drove in a run, and scored a run while Eldridge singled and scored a run with Porter scoring a run.

Houston closed out the ICC Baseball Challenge with a 9-5 loss in eight innings to the Shannon Red Raiders. Brandon went 3-for-4 with three runs batted in, including hitting the only home run of the three-day event.

The Toppers traveled up Highway 45 to participate in the Saltillo Tournament on Thursday and Friday.

Houston scored five runs in the sixth inning to force the game into extra innings before Saltillo was able to plate a run in the eight inning to pick up the 6-5 victory on Thursday. Griffin went 2-for-4 with a RBI while Brandon went 2-for-3 with a run scored.

On Friday the Toppers dropped a 5-3 decision in six innings to the New Hope Trojans. Shempert went 2-for-3 with a RBI single. Porter singled and scored two runs while Danny Springer singled and scored a run.

The North Pontotoc Vikings (4-7) entered the ICC Baseball Challenge looking to pick up some momentum heading into region play and despite a trio of loses Coach Chad Anthony feels the experience the team picked in Fulton will be a valuable asset going into the second half of the season.

On Monday the Vikings dropped a 6-3 decision to the Amory Panthers and loss 5-2 to the Houston Hilltoppers.

“We didn’t play very well on Monday,” said Anthony. “We were in every game. If we just could have made a couple of plays here and there then picked up some timely hits it gives us a chance to win those two games.”

Amory 6 North Pontotoc 3

Nate Mounce drew a walk and scored when Ethan Flake was hit by a pitch with bases loaded in the sixth inning. Hayden Stegall singled to right and scored on a sacrifice fly to left-center by Devin Rodgers. MacKenzie McKnight drew a one-out walk and scored when Myles Synder drew a bases load walk in the seventh.

Houston 5 North Pontotoc 2

Mounce reached on an error and scored on a single by Synder in the first inning and then singled and scored when Synder reached on error in the second.

Hamilton 6 North Pontotoc 3

Rodgers and Gage Davis scored on a single by Caleb Mills in the second inning. Synder added another run in the third on a single by Synder.

“I felt like we played better against Hamilton. Their pitcher (Dylan) Earnest is one of the best in the area and we competed well getting six or seven hits against him. He’s not going to give up that many a lot of days,” Anthony.

Coach Anthony saw a lot of positives in the three games and hopes to see his team build on those for the upcoming run towards post season play.

“We’ve played well at times and sometimes it seems like we like giving up fives runs in one inning. We’ve had everything possible go on possible in eleven games to learn from that you can possibly have. We are hoping we’re learned from those mistakes and play well from here on out,” Anthony.

Buzz Hornsby/Special to GoreSports

I may have to begin by apologizing to my followers for the late update, but this weekend has been “abuzz” with NCAA regional hopes and Omaha dreams, if you will pardon the pun.

I’d rather skip the chit-chat about silly mid-week games whose outcomes have no real sway on the NCAA regional selection committee, but I’ll humor other fans.

Last Thursday evening, our Eagles dropped a hard-fought decision to Navy, 13-5. Who cares if the Midshipmen brought in three scrubs after jumping out to the 13-0 lead in the first five innings. Our Eagles (0-6) tacked on a run in the 7th, three in the 8th and one on a sacrifice fly in the top of the 9th. The frenzied offensive attack in the final three frames was merely a precursor to the following week.

All three decisions over the weekend against the Gaels of Iona College were uber overrated, yet there were some high points for CSU.

Game 1 of Saturday’s doubleheader could have been much better as our own Andrew Kiessling continued to leave much to be desired after surrendering six runs in six innings and allowing six free passes. As if the mark of the beast and two balks weren’t enough, sophomore Cipriano Garza issued four more free passes and two wild pitches over the next three innings, also giving up three runs on two hits as the Eagles dropped the first game by a score of 9-6.

Game 2 allowed for the Gaels to face expert BP pitcher Tom Lawton, who faced 24 batters in 3 innings, allowing 9 runs. At least the bullpen shows sign of improvement, only giving up 4 runs over the next 4 innings. Upon further inspection of this weekend’s box scores, I feel that our coaching staff may resort to other, more radical means of improving our defensive abilities. In fact, the bungee cord drill from ‘Major League: Back to the Minors’ may prove to be helpful as our boys decided to boot the ball around 13 times throughout the 3-game set. Sunday’s contest proved to be a more fair contest as 57 beleaguered guests soaked in a 10-5 Iona win. Eagles’ stop-gap starter Jim Vagnier continued to devastate the team ERA by giving up 3 runs in six innings, partly by walking nine Gaels and hitting the mascot once with a wild pitch.

This weekend’s “Bald Eagle” award goes to Tom Lawton who has evidently succeeded in contacting opponents before his starts en route to  a 12.86 ERA in 7 innings of work during his two starts this season. His stat line impresses even those who may not be familiar with our sport, as he has allowed 13 runs on 10 hits, walked 11 and opponents are hitting .323 whenever his flies to the mound.

And now, the game I have been waiting to report on for more than a year. Our Eagles swept a doubleheader only two nights ago, crushing Virginia State by scores of 10-3 and 11-10. More importantly, our team was able to get off the schnide; the first win by a Coppin State baseball team since 2008. It snaps at least a 38-game losing streak and brings their total record to 6-134 since 2007. Not only am I impressed, but I’m ready for Omaha. If our boys can sweep a doubleheader from a Division-II team like Virginia State, the likes of LSU and Texas don’t stand a chance in June.

It all came together in Game 1, which was shortened to seven innings due to the shellacking we administered. Tim Pomierski threw a gem of a game, going the distance and only giving up three runs, all unearned, while striking out six. The bats came alive as the modern-day Rickey Henderson, Craig Richmond, went 2-for-4 with two steals. Derek Richards, Dwight Robinson, Alex Black, and Chris Kashangaki all recorded multi-hit games as well, but due to the nature of Chris’ last name, he will now be referred to as Chris K. The 15-hit onslaught marked the first time since the Nixon administration that the Eagles used aluminum bats, or so it seemed.

Game 2 was just as beautiful, when the Eagles pushed two across in the bottom of the ninth to defeat Virginia State in walk-off style, and further embarrass a team that could probably not beat a Post-Steroid era Jose Canseco club. Chris K. and Harry Williams led the way at the plate with multi-hit performances once again as the Eagles improved to 2-9 on the season.

I have only two regrets on this day before a promising weekend against the Mountain Hawks of Lehigh: First, that the NCAA does not recognize wins by a Division-I school over a Division-II opponent when selecting the regional field and two, that I was not one of the 43 people in attendance when the planets aligned and my beloved Eagles took two in one day. This one’s for you Ernie, but thank God you had a better glove.

ON TO VICTORY!

FULTON — The South Pontotoc Cougars (1-10, 0-0) opened the ICC Baseball Challenge with a major vote of confidence picking up a 6-4 win over the Shannon Red Raiders on Monday before dropping back-to-back games to close out the three-day event.

Shannon took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first before Lance Carter and Jermaine Bean each scored a run in the bottom half of the inning and tacked on another run in the second when Jonathan McKnight scored on an error to take a 3-1 lead.

Kyle Leslie doubled and scored on a two-out triple by Jake Scott, but South Pontotoc answered once again when Bean scored on a single by Dalton Butler. Shannon made it a 4-4 game with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth. South Pontotoc responded with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning when Butler and McKnight scored on a single by Nathan Newell.

“I think it’s going to give us some confidence heading into division play and hopefully it will carry over into the rest of the season,” Coach Bryan Buckner said about the Cougars first win of the season.

Dusty Foster picked up the win giving up four runs on five hits and striking out five and walking one batter.

Bean went 3-for-4 with a trio of singles, two runs, a stolen base, and RBI. Bulter finished 3-for-3 with a walk and a pair of doubles, drove in a run, and scored a run.

“Dalton Butler hit the ball well for us this week,” Buckner. “Jermaine has led us at the plate so far this season and had another good week for us.”

On Tuesday the Cougars dropped an 8-7 decision to the Mantachie Mustangs despite only having two hits in the contest. Seth Roye and Collin Dill each singled and Kolten Ferguson was saddled with the loss.

South closed the Challenge with a 15-5 loss in six innings to the Hamilton Lions on Wednesday. Roye and Carter each went 2-for-4 with a pair of singles. Newell was the pitcher of record in the loss.

“Seth is starting to show signs of coming out of his slump,” Buckner “I thought we saw some good pitching too. Dustin Foster did a good job in the win and we got some good innings out of Nathan (against Hamilton).”

Overall Coach Buckner was pleased with his team’s effort.

“I thought we competed better this week, but we’ve just got to be finish games and be able to come through in big situations,” said Buckner. “We’re no where near where we should be, but we are getting close.”