April 21, 2008

Picayune wins thriller 5-4 in 8 innings

by Carey Meitzler

Hurley--Picayune squandered a 4-1 lead in the bottom of the seventh inning, but rallied to score a run in the 8th inning to defeat

East Central 5-4 to force a third and deciding game in their first round Class 4A South State playoff series.

T.J. House gave up a leadoff single to the Hornets Caleb Dickerson in the bottom of the first, but then retired the next 15 batters.

The Maroon Tide had baserunners in every inning and finally broke through in the top of the fourth off East Central's Trey Porter.

With one out, Hunter Gill walked and Garrett Williams followed with a single to left field. Matt Archer came on as a pinch runner

for Gill at second base. Jacob Riser laced a single over the second baseman's head to score Archer.  Jake Martinez singled to

deep short to load the bases. Bryce Ladner work a bases-loaded walk to bring in Williams.  Jacob Gandy's liner to right field

resulted in sacrifice fly that scored Riser for a 3-0 lead.

The Maroon Tide scored another run in the top of the sixth when Riser reached on an error, stole second base, and scored when

Ladner laced a single up the middle.

Trailing 3-0 in the bottom of the 6th, the Hornets got a single run.  Taylor Bonafacio singled to left field to start the inning and

moved to second on a passed ball, and on to third base on a ground out.  He scored on a Tide error.  East Central could have

scored more if not for an outstanding play at third base by Brandon Jurich who fielded a grounder and tagged a runner out after

a brief chase between third and home.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Hornets scored three runs to tie the game.  Justin Parker lead off with a walk and Matt Linton

singled.  Designated hitter Kyle McMellon hit into a fielder's choice forcing Linton out at second base. After a walk to Bonafacio,

Picayune committed two fielding errors allowing two runs to score and send the game into extra innings.

Riser singled to start the top of the 8th inning and then stole second base on the second pitch to Jake Martinez.  Martinez singled

sharply to right field, but Riser slipped around third base and had to retreat to the bag as Martinez moved to second base on the

throw to home.   Facing a 1-2 count, Ladner fought off a good pitch and lifted a fly ball to right that allowed Riser to tag and score

from third base.

In the bottom of the inning, starter T.J. House was lifted and freshman Jonathan Hickman came in to pitch.  After Hickman

walked the first two batters he faced, Ladner was inserted to pitch.  Matt Linton laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners up.

Picayune intentionally walked McMellon to load the bases.  Bonifacio was retired on a short fly ball and Ladner induced a grounder

from the next batter to end the game.