Stevens Carries Tide To Victory Over Hancock, 4-3

By: Jason Pigott

Trailing 3-1 at home to the Hancock Hawks (8-13, 0-6) with two outs

in the bottom of the 5th the Tide needed something good to happen in a

hurry if they were to qualify for the postseason.  The offense had done very

little against Hancock senior pitcher Robert Pullens and the visitor's

confidence was growing by the minute.  Someone had to step up and

deliver a big hit...Heath Stevens answered the call. 

After a couple of quick outs in the 5th, 2B Britton Fortenberry legged

out an infield single bringing Stevens to the plate.  Stevens jumped on a

first pitch curve ball from Pullens launching itt over the wall in the LF power

alley to tie the game at 3-3.  The Tide would threaten to score more by

getting runners on first and second base but were unable to push any runs

across. 

Stevens struck out the side in the top of the sixth and the Tide appeared

to be ready to break the game open in the home half of the inning. 

Tide DH, Will Quinn led off with a single and moved up to 2B after a sac

bunt by Scott Parish.   Tyler Lee would reach on a bunt single and then

Alex Riser was intentionally walked to load the bases.  The rally was soon

brought to a halt when Fortenberry bunted into a highly improbable (P to C to 1B)

double play to end the inning.

Stevens put the clamps on the Hawk offense in the 7th and in doing so collected

two more strikeouts to set a new school record for strikeouts in a single game.  In

the bottom of the 7th, after a Stevens fly out to centerfield, Hoyt Hughes singled

and later advanced to second on a botched pick off attempt.  After Garrard struck

out, LF, Justin Deloach delivered a clutch 2-out base hit to left field scoring Hughes

for the game winner.   

The win sets up a "settle it on the field" scenario next week against

Hattiesburg (16-3, 3-2).  Earlier in the season Picayune (13-8, 4-3) defeated the

Tigers 7-5 in Hattiesburg.  The teams are tied for second in the division behind

Oak Grove.

Stevens finished with 17 K which eclipsed the mark set by

Justin Pigott (15 K, at George Co.) in 2003. 

Adding to his impressive performance, Stevens threw 65 pitches in a relief role

against Oak Grove and still was able to go the distance against the Hawks on 3 days rest.