April 18, 2009

Picayune gains sweep with 11-1 win

by Carey Meitzler

Picayune-- Picayune banged out 11 hits, scored 11 runs, and met the friendly dare of a parent in their 11-1 win in Game 2 over

Mendenhall sending the Maroon Tide into the 2nd round of the Class 4A playoffs with the two game sweep.

After holding Mendenhall scoreless in the top of the first, Picayune jumped on Tiger starter Timmy Pierce right from the start.

Bryce Ladner was hit by a pitch and scored on Hunter Gill's double to right center.  Jared Bales singled to right to bring in Gill

for a 2-0 lead.  Evan Nichelson reached on an error.  Garrett Williams hit into a 1-6-3 double play, but Eric Smith, running for

Bales as the courtesy runner, scored to make it 3-0.

Picayune scored a run in the second when Jake Riser doubled to start the frame.  After a line-out to left field off the bat of Braxton

Lee,  Brett Milner was hit by a pitch.  Before the next pitch was thrown, Milner got caught in a rundown between first and second

on a botched steal attempt and Riser scored when one of the throws during Milner's rundown bounced away from the first baseman.

Leading 4-0, the Maroon Tide got two more runs in the 3rd inning on Garrett Williams' infield single and Braxton Lee's fielder's

choice to push the margin to 6-0.

Picayune scored five runs in the bottom of the fourth.  Hunter Gill tripled to right center to score Bryce Ladner, who had just

became the 50th Tide batter to be hit by a pitch this season as he led off the inning.   With two out, Williams was recipient

number 51 on a hit by pitch.    Kyle Beech drove in two runs with a pinch-hit single to left center and Milner drove in the last run

with a double off the wall in left. 

Photos by Jill Lee

Jonathan Hickman got his second win of the season.

Sophomore Jonathan Hickman used his assortment of delivery points and pitches to keep the Tigers in check throughout the game.

Hickman dealt with base runners in every inning and only surrendered a run in the top of the fifth.  He allowed four hits, struck

out six, walked one, and hit two batters in the five inning game shortened by the ten run rule.

The post game celebration included parent Derwin Bales getting a mohawk haircut as he stated before the game that if the Maroon

Tide collected 11 hits and won the game, he would do as many players did earlier this week, and have his hair style transformed

into a "mohawk".  (see pictures below)

Picayune will host Game 1 of the second round against the winner of the Vancleave / South Jones series beginning on Thursday.

The Maroon Tide will be on the road for Game 2 and back home for Game 3 if necessary.

All photos by Jill Lee

Brett Milner makes his way to third base.

Below, Derwin Bales gets ready to keep his end of the bargain.

Before.....

During....

After....with son Jared Bales sporting his own mohawk.