Oct 10, 2007

Lady Tide sweeps D'Iberville to advance

By Carey Meitzler

Biloxi--Ernie Banks became well known for his catch phrase of "It's a beautiful day for a ballgame...

Let's play two!", expressing his wish to playa double-header every day out of his pure love for the

game of baseball.  Coach Kristi Mitchell's Lady Tide seemed to embrace Banks' sentiment as

they played two solid games in sweeping the D'Iberville Lady Warriors in the 1st Round of the

Class 4A South State playoffs at the Biloxi Sports Complex by scores of 5-1 and 7-4.

D'Iberville, playing the "home" games at Biloxi due to their own field not having a minimum

outfield distance of 215 feet, scored a run in the bottom of the first in Game 1 to lead 1-0. 

The margin held up until the Lady Tide erupted for five runs in the top of the 5th inning.

Katie Kent, who also turned in a stellar defensive day for Picayune in left field with her glove

and her rocket right arm, singled to open the inning.  Taylor Seals and Mallorie Mixon followed

with singles to load the bases. Natalie Guy, the catcher and lone senior on Picayune's squad,

singled to center field to score Kent.  Millie Gill walked to force in Seals for a 2-1 lead. 

Leadoff batter Jessica Rancifer singled scoring Mixon.  Brandi Rabion laced a double to

left center to plate Nastassia Poole (courtesy runner for Guy) and Gill for a 5-1 lead.

Photos by John Young

Millie Gill catches a throw for a force out in Game 1.  Amanda Green singles to drive in a run in Game 2.                               

D'Iberville went three up & three down in their half of the 5th inning.  The Lady Warriors were able to

get two runners aboard in both the 6th and 7th, but the Lady Tide kept them in check by not allowing

any runs and preserving the win.

In Game 2, each team scored a run in the first inning.  For Picayune, Rancifer singled and later scored

on Amanda Green's single to center field.  D'Iberville added a run in the top of the second, but Picayune

got two runs on RBIs from Mixon and Guy to hold a 3-2 lead.

D'Iberville tied the game in the top of the third on Krista Hardy's RBI single that scored Jordan Adams. 

In the top of the fifth,  Adams scored on a single from Katie Ward to put the Lady Warriors up 4-3. 

Picayune rallied to take the lead for good in the bottom of the fifth.  Brandi Rabion and Hillary Dickens

singled to open the inning.  Tiffany Devore came on as a courtesy runner for Dickens.  Tiffany Reed, who

had four hits and reached base six times in the two games, drove in one of the two runs with a single and

the other run scored on a fielder's choice off the bat of Katie Kent to make the score 5-4.

Photo by John Young

Mallorie Mixon moves to her left to snag a line drive against D'Iberville in the Lady Tide sweep.

The Lady Tide got some insurance runs in bottom of the sixth.  With one out, Millie Gill singled and Rancifer

followed suit with a single.  Rabion's hard grounder was mishandled by the second baseman, which loaded

the bases.  Dickens singled to plate Gill and Green's

fielder's choice grounder drove in Rancifer and give the Lady Tide a 7-4 lead.

D'Iberville got two runners on in the top of the seventh with one out, but Picayune got an out on a grounder

and then Katie Kent

put the squeeze on a fly ball in left to end the game.

The Lady Tide banged out  28 hits in the two games and played solid defense committing only four errors,

three in Game 1.

Coach Kristi Mitchell was pleased with the effort from her young team.

"After getting 20 hits against Forrest County (last regular season game) and losing because of 11 fielding

errors, I've spent a lot of time on defense in preparing for the playoffs.  I think it showed tonight in the

way we played in the field."

Mitchell wasn't sure how to take her team's even keeled post game reaction.

"They are a hard bunch to figure.  I am so intense and sometimes I wonder if they realize what's at stake

for them.  Krystal (Penton) and Courtney (Dickens) (volunteer assistant coaches and former players)

asked them did they realize they had just won a playoff series and are now one of only eight teams

left in the 4A tournament?  I'm not sure how to take it at times?  Should I worry and be grateful

with their even demeanor?   Either way, I am real proud of this bunch.  I hope people come out

and support us at home on Saturday.  Win or lose, we are exciting and fun to watch."

Picayune (19-7) will host  Lawrence County on Saturday.  Lawrence County swept perrenial

power West Lauderdale to advance.