April 10, 2008

Rocks' Scarborough shuts out Tide 1-0

by Carey Meitzler

Picayune--St Stanislaus earned the number three seed for Region 8-4A in the upcoming playoffs with a 1-0 shut out of Picayune.

Stanislaus' Boomer Scarborough and Picayune' T.J. House were both throwing consistently in the low 90 mph range throughout

the entire game in a great showcase of pitching talents.

After each pitcher retired the first six batters they faced,  the Rockachaws' Kelly Whitman drew a walk on a 3-2 pitch in the top of

the third inning.  Brandon Keel laid down a bunt that was fielded by House, but his throw got away from the first baseman allowing

Whitman to reach third and Keel second base.  John Irwin bunted to House who threw to his catcher Jared Bales who tagged out

Whitman.  Keel moved to third base and Irwin was at first when the play ended.  With James Abraham batting, Irwin was caught

off first by the lefthanded House's pick-off move and a rundown was underway.  During the rundown play on Irwin, Keel raced

home as Irwin was eventually tagged out for the second out of the inning.  House struck out Abraham to end the inning with the

score 1-0.

Picayune (18-9, 7-5) loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning, but was unable to score. Brett Milner was tagged out on a

squeeze play bunt from the bat of Bryce Ladner.  Scarborough, a sophomore righthander, struck out the next batter, intentionally

walked Picayune's Jared Bales, and then collected another strike out to end the inning.

Scarborough struck out five batters, walked only one (the intentional walk in the third), hit two batters, and allowed only two infield

singles in going the distance for the win.

House struck out 12 batters, allowed singles in the sixth and seventh innings, and walked just one batter in losing his first game of

the season.

St Stanislaus and Picayune both finish Region 8-4A play at 7-5 and the Rockachaws are the three seed by virtue of winning the two

head to head games.  Picayune, the fourth seed, will play against Region 7-4A winner East Central in the first round of the playoffs

which begin late next week.