May 1, 2010

Maroon Tide clubs Moss Point 13-2 to sweep series

by Carey Meitzler

Picayune--The Maroon Tide brought out their sticks early scoring four runs in both the first and second innings and coasted

to a 13-2 win behind a solid pitching performance from J.D. Stockstill to complete a two-game sweep of the Moss Point

Tigers in Round 1 of the South State Class 5A playoffs.

All Photos by Jill Lee

Jon Jon Hickman lays down a bunt in the first inning.

Eric Smith walked with one out and Jay Dedeaux stroked a two run homer over the left center field wall to give Picayune a

2-0 lead.  Brandon "PigPen" Jurich singled to center and Jon Jon Hickman followed with a bunt single.  A failed pickoff

attempt allowed Jurich to move to third base.  After a fly out to the second baseman, Colton Lee walked to load the bases. 

Drew Hedgepeth fought off two pitches with a 2-2 count before he singled to center scoring Jurich and Hickman to make it 4-0.

Jay Dedeaux is greeted at home plate after his first inning home run.

Moss Point got on the board in the top of the second on Reggie Matthews home run over the left field wall.  That's about the

only thing the Tigers could muster against Stockstill as kept the Tigers off balance the entire game with his array of pitches.

The Maroon Tide got things going in the second when Eric Smith singled to right with one out.  Jay Dedeaux hit a grounder to

third, but the throw to second base pulled the second baseman off the bag leaving both runners safe.  Marvin Van Buren came

on to run for Dedeaux and a wild pitch moved the runners up one base and then another one allowed Smith to score from third

base and put Van Buren on third.  Jurich doubled to right field to score Van Buren, but Jurich was out at third as his slide carried

him past the bag and he was tagged out by Moss Point third baseman Corey Loggins.  With two outs, Hickman reached on

an error and Kyle Beech followed with a home run over the left field wall to make it 8-1.

Picayune got three runs in the fourth with Colton Lee driving in two runs with a single to left.  The other run scored on a wild

pitch.

Moss Point scored a run in the top of the fifth when Derrell Green tripled and scored on a ground out by Brelan Booker.

Dedeaux ended the game in the bottom of the frame with his second home run that plated Braxton Lee who reached on

an error.

Kyle Beech arrives at home plate after his home run.

Stockstill threw 66 pitches allowing the two runs on five hits and striking out five Tiger batters.  Jurich, who singled

in his last at bat in Game 1 on Friday night, had three hits for the Maroon Tide while Kyle Beech had two hits

including his home run.

Picayune (12-13) will play Long Beach in the 2nd round with Game 1 at Long Beach on Friday at 6:00pm and

Game 2 in Picayune on Saturday at 1:00pm.  Game 3, if necessary, will be at Long Beach on Monday at 6:00pm.

Eric Smith dives back to first base just ahead of a pickoff throw from QuayshanWilliams to Reggie Matthews.