April 19,2008

Tide rally falls short 10-8 to East Central

by Carey Meitzler

Picayune--Picayune's rally fell short and East Central captured Game 1 of their best of three series with a 10-8 win on

Saturday.  The game was halted on Friday with East Central leading 3-1 in the top of the third inning when rain flooded the field.

On Friday, the Hornets jumped to a 3-0 lead on Phillip Byrd's three run home run off T.J. House.  Picayune scored a run in the

bottom of the second off Byrd when T.J. House was hit by a pitch.  Jacob Riser came on to run as a courtesy runner for the

pitcher (House).  Riser moved to second base on a passed ball and scored on Hunter Gill's RBI single to left field.

When the game resumed on Saturday, the Tide inserted Gill in place of House on the mound.  East Central scored a run in the third

and four more in the fourth to lead 8-1.  Bryce Ladner replaced Gill with one out in the fourth inning.

Picayune scored two runs in the bottom of the fourth.  Gill started the frame with a single to right field and Bryce Ladner walked

bringing on courtesy runner Matt Archer.  After a strikeout, Jake Martinez singled to load the bases.  After another strikeout, Jacob

Gandy delivered a two-out single to right field scoring Gill and Archer.

In the fifth, Jared Bales doubled to left center and House followed with a single.  Gill reached on an error to load the bases.

Courtesy runner Eric Smith, running for the catcher Bales, scored on a 4-6-3 double play to make the score 8-4.

East Central pushed the lead to 10-3 with two runs in the top of the sixth on Matt Linton's single and a bases loaded walk to Jarrod

Howell.

Picayune scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth.  Martinez and Riser singled to start the inning. Gandy reached on an error to

load the bases.  Brandon Jurich's sacrifice fly to right field scored Martinez.   Bales was hit by a pitch to load the bases again.

House lifted a sacrifice fly to center scoringn Riser from third base. Gill delivered his third single of the game driving in Gandy. 

Ladner singled to bring in Smith who running for Bales.

Picayune was able to get the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the seventh, but was unable to score.

Picayune (18-10) will travel to Hurley on Monday needing to sweep a doubleheader from the Hornets (18-8).   The first game is

scheduled for 4:00pm with a third and deciding game (if needed) to follow 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first game.