Stevens tosses perfect game for Tide

By ROB SIGLER/Item Sports Editor
Saturday, February 19, 2005 5:53 PM CST

Picayune's Will Quinn heads for home as Poplarville catcher Joe Simon awaits the throw during Saturday's first game of the Pearl River County Tournament. Quinn was safe on the play and the Tide went on to a 12-0 season-opening win. (Item photo by Rob Sigler)

POPLARVILLE - It was an historical day for Picayune baseball Saturday.

Not only did first-year head coach Cayne Stockstill earn his first career

coaching win, senior hurler Heath Stevens tossed the first perfect game in

school history as the Maroon Tide routed Poplarville 12-0 in the annual

Pearl River County Tournament.

"It's a great feeling," said Stockstill of getting the win in his head coaching

debut. "I tell you, these kids fought and fought and fought. They've worked

hard and they really came through and played hard. My assistant coaches

did a good job. They were prepared and helped me out on this first day

and I thank them."

A year ago, Stevens was sitting on the bench in the season opener nursing

an ankle injury. He more than made up for it on opening day.

"It's a 'W'," said Stevens of the perfect game. "It's a little more special, but

it's a 'W'." Stockstill was a little more excited.

"That was awesome," said Stockstill. "I wanted it for him so bad. He battled

and I think the key was him staying focused. Pitching one pitch at a time and

not try to think a head. He does a good job of that."

Stevens (1-0) went five innings, striking out seven of the 15 batters he faced.

He had five groundouts and just one fly ball, a pop up senior first baseman

Donnie Pascal made on a sliding catch near the fence.

He also got plenty of run support from his teammates.

Picayune pounded out 13 hits against three Poplarville hurlers. They also

batted around for four runs in the first inning and again in the fourth inning,

scoring five more runs.

Stevens, Britton Fortenberry and Scott Parrish had two hits apiece, while

Sean Garrard had a pair of run-scoring singles. But the big blow was delivered

in the fourth inning when Pascal smashed a bases-clearing three-run double to

give the Tide a 9-0 lead. Fortenberry made it 10-0 when he followed with a

base hit to centerfield.

Even some of the younger Tidesmen got into the act in the fifth inning with

Andrew Lohnes delivering an RBI-single in his first varsity plate appearance

and Trace Stockstill belting an RBI-double.

"The whole team hit the ball on the nose," said Stockstill. "It was a great

team effort."

Stevens agreed.

"We started the season off definitely on the right foot," said Stevens.

"Everybody got in and everybody hit the ball well. We've got to carry on

from here."