April 21, 2008

Tide loses heartbreaker 12-11 in Game 3

by Carey Meitzler

Hurley--After forcing a third and decisive game, Picayune rallied from a 9-0 deficit to take the lead in the seventh inning, only

to lose a 12-11 heartbreaker to East Central.

The homestanding Hornets struck for nine runs on six walks, four hits, and two Maroon Tide errors in the bottom of second inning

on starter Ricky Rimkus and reliever Hunter Gill. Jared Bales, who caught eight innings in the day's earlier game, was summoned

from behind the plate to the mound with two outs and struck out Jarrod Howell to end the inning.

Picayune got one run in the fourth when Garrett Williams singled to centerfield and scored when Evan Nichelson reached on a

throwing error by East Central.

While Bales kept the Hornets in check retiring nine batters in a row, the Maroon Tide stormed back in the top of fifth sending

12 batters to the plate.  Jacob Gandy reached on an error at first base.  Bales then drilled a opposite field two run homer to

make it 9-3. Brandon Jurich singled to right field.  After a strikeout, Hunter Gill was hit by a pitch. Jacob Riser walked to load

the bases and chase starter Justin Parker.  Reliever Matt Linton walked Williams to force in Jurich.  Nichelson was hit by a

pitch forcing home Gill.  After another strikeout, Gandy hit a two out, full count pitch just inside the left field line to score both

Riser and Williams making the score 9-7.

East Central finally got something going against Bales in the sixth inning scoring a run via a walk, a hit by pitch, a fielder's choice,

and a Maroon Tide fielding error to lead 10-7.

Picayune took the lead in the top of the seventh.  Gandy started the rally with a sharp single to center field.  Bales hit his second

homer of the game with Gandy aboard, this time a tape measure shot that sailed over the left center field wall clearing the

scoreboard traveling and landed near 400 feet from home plate.  With the game now tied at 9-9, Jurich walked chasing Linton.

East Central brought in Phillip Byrd, who was the winner in Game 1 on Saturday.  Byrd  walked Martinez on a full count pitch.

Gill hit a one hopper back to the mound, but Byrd's attempted throw to second base to start a double play was mishandled and the

bases were loaded.  Riser's grounder to second looked like another double play opportunity, but the Hornets again committed an

error allowing Martinez to score.  With Williams batting, Gill broked from home on a wild pitch, but the ball bounced off the

backstop directly to the catcherr who threw to the pitcher Byrd covering home plate, however, the ball got by Byrd and Gill

scored giving Picayune a 11-10 lead.

In the bottom of the seventh, Taylor Bonafacio swung at a third strike on a wild pitch allowing him to reach first base safely to start

the inning.  Bales walked Jarrod Howell and leadoff hitter Caleb Dickerson sacrificed the runners to second and third with a bunt.

Andrew Evans ended up at second base when his third strike was in the dirt and the throw to retire him at first sailed into shallow

right field allowing Bonafacio to score and moving Howell to third base.  Trey Porter was intentionally walked to load the bases

and setup a force play at home.  Cleanup hitter Phillip Byrd single to right field bringing in Howell with the game winning run.

Picayune finished their season with an overall record of 19-11.  Picayune graduates seniors T.J. House, Jacob Gandy, and Jake

Martinez.

East Central, now 19-9, advances to play Lawrence County in the second round of the Class 4A South State playoffs.