Tigers Dominate Maroon Tide 14-2

By: Carey Meitzler

Hattiesburg skipper Larry Knight handed the ball to sophomore Curtis "Bear" Banks and Banks delivered a dominating

effort  for the Tigers as they thumped Picayune 14-2 to force a winner take all game for the Division 5-5A runner-up and

an automatic playoff berth.  The deciding game will be played at Hattiesburg's Smokie Harrington Park on Friday.

After Picayune gave the Tigers an unearned run in the top of the second inning, the Maroon Tide responded in the bottom

half when Ronnie Pascal punched a one-out double to right, move to third on a balk, and scored on Justin Deloach's

ground-out to make it 1-1.

Hattiesburg pushed across four runs in the top of the third.  Stevens hit Banks to start the inning and Chris Lee came on

as the courtesy runner.  Leadoff hitter Jermaine Jackson drew a walk.  Brent LeFan's single to right scored Lee.  Shortstop

Reggie Lee singled to score Jackson. After a strikeout and a fly out to right, Josh Wiley doubled to plate LeFan and Lee to

put the Tigers up 5-1.  That's all the runs Banks would need as used his 87 mph fastball and a good curve ball to keep

the Maroon Tide from mounting any serious threat the rest of the way.

Picayune got a run in the bottom of the third.  Alex Riser walked with one out and moved to third base on two passed balls.

He scored when Heath Stevens reached on an error.

Hattiesburg added three runs in their next at bat when sophomore designated hitter Robert Carson singled sharply with

the bases loaded.  Two runners scored on the hit and Carson got caught in a run down between first and second, but was

able to draw the attention of the Tide fielders just long enough to allow the third run to score pushing the lead to 7-2.

Brandon Robbins came on for the Tide in the fifth to relieve Stevens and eventually gave way to sophomore Andrew Lohnes.

The move to pull Stevens will Coach Cayne Stockstill to have Stevens available again on Friday at Hattiesburg.

Hattiesburg will likely go with Collin Cargill or Jermaine Jackson on the mound.

Friday's first pitch is scheduled for 7:00pm following the JV game at 5:00pm.

Hattiesburg (18-4, 4-3)

Picayune (14-10, 4-4)

WP - Banks (5-1) - CG, 11K, 1 Earned Run, 11 Ks, 2 BB

LP - Stevens (4-4)  4 IP, 5 Hits, 4 Earned Runs, 6 Ks, 4 BB