May 1, 2009

Maroon Tide clubs Cougars 16-1

by Carey Meitzler

Picayune--The Maroon Tide sent 17 batters to the plate in the second inning in scoring 13 runs and cruised

to a 16-1 win over Lawrence County in Game 1 of their 3rd round playoff series.

The Cougars scored first when Willie Buckley hit a rocket shot home run with one out in the top of the first

for a 1-0 lead.

Picayune tied the game in the bottom of the first when Bryce Ladner walked and moved to second base on

Hunter Gill's sacrifice bunt.  Bales flew out to right field in foul territory with Ladner able to tag and move to

third base.  Evan Nichelson laced a double to left center to score Ladner.  Bales set down the Cougars in

order in the second to keep the score at 1-1.

Jake Riser led off the bottom of the second with a single to center.  Braxton Lee was safe on a bunt.

Ladner moved the runners up one base with a sacrifice bunt.   Hunter Gill drilled a double to right center

to score Riser and Lee.   Bales was issued an intentional walk.  Nichelson grounded out to third on a slow

roller allowing Gill and courtesy runner Jonathan Hickman (running for Bales) to move up one base. 

Jay Dedeaux single to right to score Gill and Hickman making it 5-1.  Dedeaux was replaced by courtesy

Brett Milner. Garrett Williams was safe on an infield single.  Brandon Jurich singled to score Milner and Riser

then singled to score Williams.  Braxton Lee walked to load the bases.  Ladner walked to bring in Jurich.

Gill was hit by a pitch to force home Riser.  Bales doubled to right to clear the bases scoring Lee, Ladner,

and Gill to give Bales a total of 36 RBIs on the year.  Evan Nichelson ending the scoring with a blast over

the left field fence for his second home run of the season.

All photos by Jill Lee

Hunter Gill arrives at second base after his two-run double in the second inning.

Picayune added two runs in the bottom of the fourth.  Bales walked with two outs and Hickman came on

to run.  Nichelson singled to right moving Hickman to third base.  A balk on the pitcher brought in Hickman.

Jay Dedeaux doubled to right center scoring Nichelson.

Bales pitched four innings allowing two hits, struck out four, and did not allowed any walks. Ricky Rimkus

pitched the fifth inning for Picayune (21-3). 

Lawrence County (23-9) will try to even the series in Monticello at 2pm on Saturday.

All photos by Jill Lee

Asst Richard Imhoff (left) talks to Jake Riser, Braxton Lee (4), and Brandon Jurich (17).

Jared Bales threw four innings and 52 pitches for the Maroon Tide to win Game 1.

Ricky Rimkus pitched the last inning for the Maroon Tide to close out Game 1.