April 16, 2010

Picayune defeats Pearl River Central 8-3

by Carey Meitzler

Picayune--J.D. Stockstill scattered five hits on his way to a complete game victory as Picayune defeated the Pearl RiverCentral

Blue Devils 8-3 at the Field of Dreams.

PRC touched Stockstill for an unearned run in the top of the first when leadoff hitter Aaron Lee and the next batter Kyle Mitchell

reached on ground balls that the Tide mishandled.  Trey Wynn's doubled scored Lee for a 1-0 lead.

Picayune responded in the bottom of the inning with two runs.  Braxton Lee walked and moved to second on Eric Smith's single

to right. A wild pitch moved the runners up one base.  Jay Dedeaux was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Brandon Jurich's fielder's

choice to short scored Lee.  Jon Jon Hickman's fielder's choice to second scored Smith.

Picayune added a run in third when Jay Dedeaux doubled off the left field wall. Courtesy runner Tevin Stubbs scored the unearned

run when Hickman's grounder to second was bobbled making it 3-1.

The Maroon Tide sent nine batters to the plate in the fifth.  Eric Smith singled to start the inning.  After a groundout for the first out,

Jurich singled to score Smith and Jurich moved to second base on the throw to home.  Hickman doubled to the right field corner

scoring Jurich to make it 5-1.  Kyle Beech was hit by a pitch.  Drew Hedgepeth's single to right scored Hickman.  DaKeith Burton

plated Beech with a single to right field and Colton Lee singled to drive in Hedgepeth making it 8-1.

PRC scored single runs against Stockstill in the sixth and seven innings.

Picayune (10-12, 8-4), having secured a playoff spot and closing out their District schedule with the win over PRC, will play

a home and home series with 3A power Tylertown on Tuesday (away) and Friday (at home) before hosting Gulfport on

Saturday, April 24th.   Picayune will open the Class 5A playoffs at either Moss Point or Vancleave depending on the outcome

of their games against each other next week.