POPLARVILLE, Miss. — Baseball’s No. 2 Pearl River had to fight until the very end Friday at Dub Herring Park against Itawamba. The Wildcats cruised to a 15-7 victory in Game 1 before taking a late lead in the nightcap to win 5-2.
“We swung the bats in the first game and so did they,” Pearl River coach Michael Avalon said. “They are always going to fight and be tough. They are still a formidable opponent. These are two big wins for us. Our guys did a really good job of not panicking and defending themselves. We are very proud of how they continue to fight.
FIRST GAME
Itawamba (14-18 overall; 8-12 MACCC) came out strong in the first game of the day, earning a fourth-place finish in the first set over three singles. The Wildcats (28-8; 16-4) tried to respond in the bottom half as Tate Parker (Gulfport; West Harrison) and Alex Perry (McComb; North Pike) both singled, but the Indians were able to end the threat.
Dakota Lee (Purvis) bounced back from a tough first inning to quickly take out the ICC in the second and third innings.
Pearl River stormed back in the bottom of the third inning, scoring six runs to take a 6-4 lead. John Griffin Bell (Mobile, Alabama; Faith Academy) and Parker were eliminated to start the round. Picking a fielder off Perry then moved Parker to third base. Ian Montz (Lafayette, La.; Acadiana) walked up to the plate and fielded a ball past the first baseman who rushed to tackle the first run. A release later Preston Soper (Madison; Germantown) clipped a ball over the pitcher’s head and into center field to bring in another. Another hit per pitch loaded the bases for Taylor Woodcock (Pass Christian; West Harrison) who drilled a 1-0 pitch off the left field wall for a grand slam, giving the Wildcats their first lead of the day.
The Indians battled to level the score at 6-6 a frame later after a single and a sacrifice ball.
Pearl River regained the lead late in the fifth after a pair of par Matt Mercier (Richton; Petal) and Perry. The singles made it 8-6.
In the sixth inning, the Indians scored a run and had a chance to do a lot more damage after charging the bases with one out. The Wildcats opted to create the left-on-left game by bringing in Ryan Burt (Columbus; New Hope). The first pitch from second base was cut to second base for an end-of-inning double play.
PRCC added a pair of insurance runs late in the sixth inning. Woodcock and Broadus both singled out and Bell stepped up to the plate and laid down a bunt to try to get them forward. The ICC pitcher fielded the ball but threw it down the right field line to allow the runners to score and make it a 10-7 game.
The Wildcats scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to take a 13-7 lead. Donaldson kicked the first run of the inning with an RBI single and Woodcock added another a few pitches later with a double down the left field line. Broadus drove in the final run of the inning with a looping fly ball that went down for a hit.
Pearl River took the win late in the eighth inning as Woodcock scored a two-run brace into left center field. Races made the final score 15-7.
Lee finished the night with five innings pitched, allowing six runs on eight hits and two walks. Will Passeau (Mobile, Alabama; St. Pauls) recorded an out.
Burt pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings, walking one and putting out another.
“Burt did what he did,” Avalon said. “We need him to keep doing that for us, he’s been really special.”
Woodcock was amazing at the plate, finishing the game 4-for-6 with a career-high seven RBIs.
“I was very, very proud of Woody in the first game,” Avalon said. “He carried us with some big hits. It was a big game for him. »
Broadus had three hits and an RBI. Parker, Perry, Montz and Mercer all had a two-hit game.
SECOND GAME
Cole Tolbert (Laurel; West Jones) made her second start of the season in Game 2 and had another great outing. In the first set of play, the right-hander ran into trouble but managed to force a double play to get out of it.
The Indians nearly got on the board in the second moto, but Tolbert caught the Itawamba runner a little too leaned over and threw behind him for a pick-off.
Pearl River broke the stalemate in a big way in the bottom half of the frame. After Perry started the inning with a single, Montz entered the batter’s box and smashed a two-run homer off the right field wall to give the Wildcats a 2-0 lead. The outburst was the outfielder’s ninth of the season.
ICC cut the deficit to 2-1 in the third inning with a sacrificed steal to right field.
Tolbert settled in afterward, putting the Indians with ease in the fifth inning of the game.
A wild pitch tied the Indians at 2-2 in the fifth inning.
The Wildcats got a clutch at bat from Mercer late in the sixth inning. With Parker and Montz on base, Mercer hit a ball deep into right field that bounced off the warning track and hit the wall to give the Wildcats a 4-2 lead. A batter later, Donaldson fielded a single into center field to drive home an insurance run and extend the lead, 5-2.
Landen Payne (Ocean Springs; St. Martin) made a quick three-and-three run in the bottom of the seventh to give the Wildcats a 5-2 victory.
Tolbert finished the night with 5 2/3 innings pitched and four strikeouts on four hits, two walks and two earned runs.
“Tolbert was really good for us,” Avalon said. “This is the start we needed. I wish we could give him the win, but he doesn’t care as long as we win. We are proud of him for tonight.
Payne pitched 1 1/3 innings scoreless, striking out a pair of batters.
Montz went 1 for 2 with two RBIs and a walk. Mercer finished the night with a hit and two RBIs.
NEXT
PRCC returns to the diamond on Wednesday at Meridian. The doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. and will be broadcast live on MCCEagles.live.
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