March 14, 2008

Vancleave rallies past Maroon Tide 3-2

by Carey "In Person" Meitzler

Vancleave--Picayune squandered a one run lead by committing two throwing errors in the bottom of the 7th inning that allowed

homestanding Vancleave to score two runs and defeat the Maroon Tide 3-2 in non-region baseball action.

After surrendering a run in the first inning, Picayune's T.J. House kept the Bulldogs scoreless through the 6th inning.

House struck out nine batters , walked five, and allowed 3 hits.

Picayune (10-4, 2-2) scored its two runs in the top of the 4th.  Leadoff hitter Jacob Riser reached on a throwing error and was

promptly sacrificed to second on a near perfect bunt by Evan Nichelson.  Brandon Jurich singled to left field putting runners at

first and third. After a wild pitch allowed Jurich to move up to second base, Jared Bales laced a double to right field scoring

both runners.

After tallying a pitch count that reached 106 pitches, House was relieved in the bottom of the 7th by freshman Jonathan

Hickman. After retiring the first batter on a fly ball to right, Hickman threw wildly past first base after fielding a slow grounder

near the third base line that allowed Corey Dearman to reach second base. Sean Hodges's grounder was fielded by shortstop

Hunter Gill, but his throw sailed over Nichelson's head at first base allowing Bray to score and putting Hodges on second base.

Leadoff hitter Jarod Ely doubled to deep left field to score Hodges to end the game.

Vancleave (7-5, 3-1) pitched lefhander Michael Corso for five innings and Anthony Izzo pitched a scoreless sixth and seventh

to earn the win.