Maroon Tide Rallies To Beat Stone County 11-10 by Carey Meitzler
The old cliche of "it aint over til it's over" could not have rang more true on Friday night as the Maroon
Tide rallied from an 8-3 deficit to overtake Stone County 11-10 in one of the wildest games ever played at
the Field of Dreams.
Stone County pushed across three runs in the top of 5th inning to take an 8-3 in the bottom of the 5th
inning. But, Picayune stayed close scoring two runs in the bottom of the inning. Hoyt Hughes reached first
when Stone's third baseman lost Hughes pop-up in the lights. One out later, Heath Stevens launched his
second homerun in as many nights, a 370 foot shot over the left centerfield wall, to bring the Tide to within
8-5.
The Tide would tie the score in the bottom of the 6th inning. With one out, Chris Stewart beat out an infield
single. Hughes walked and Moreaux followed with an RBI single to left centerfield to plate Stewart. Heath
Stevens then drove in both Hughes and Moreaux with a single to make it 8-8 after six innings.
Stone pushed across two runs in the top of the 7th inning. Designated hitter Drew White drove in Kris
Rouse to make it 9-8 and then leadoff hitter Dean Patton lifted a sacrifice fly to centerfield to score Trey
Danzey to put Stone on top 10-8.
Down to their last at bat, the Tide came to life with one out and no one aboard. Kelly Ray reached on an
infield single. Chris Stewart walked and then Hoyt Hughes promptly stroked a double to right centerfield to
score both Ray and Stewart to tie the score at 10-10. Hughes moved to third on the throw to the plate as Stone
tried to make a play on Stewart. Stone first pitched to Moreaux, but then decided to intentionally walk him
and the next batter Stevens to load the bases and setup a force play at home or a possible double play. Alex
Riser smashed a one hopper to the third baseman that he could not handle and Hughes scored to give the Tide a
thrilling 11-10 come from behind win.
Dustin Thibodeaux picked up the win in relief as he took over from starter Jordan Kellar with two outs in
the top of the third inning and weathered the Stone County uprisings in the fifth and seventh innings.
Picayune (11-3, 2-0) will travel to Hollis Field in Biloxi on Saturday with a JV game at 11:00am and
Varsity to follow at 1:00pm against the Indians.
Dustin Thibodeaux got the win in relief and Hoyt Hughes tied the game with a double
and eventually scored the winning run.