Meridian Wildcats' Jason Spinks blanks top-ranked New Hope Trojans

By By Marty Stamper/EMG sports assistant
March 30, 2002
As Meridian High School baseball coach Vince McLemore said, "It isn't a good Friday, it's a great Friday."
And indeed it was for the Wildcats as they knocked off top-ranked New Hope 6-0 Friday night in Lowndes County.
Jason Spinks (6-0) struck out 10 and allowed only four hits as Meridian improved to 20-5. In only one inning did the Trojans send more than four batters to the plate.
Meridian scored three runs in the top of the first inning and added single runs in the fourth, fifth, and seventh frames.
John Stevens had two singles and a solo homer for Meridian. Maurice Cole had a single and a triple, while Torry Bates had a single and a double.
New Hope, whose only other loss came in a tournament in Florida, fell to 23-2.
Meridian 18
West Lowndes 1
The Wildcats knocked off the Panthers Friday afternoon with seven runs in both the third and fifth frames doing the bulk of the damage.
Torry Bates had a two-run homer for Meridian, 19-5, while Andy Slayton, Tyler Maxwell, Stephen Boyd, and Chris Harris each had a double.
Maxwell (4-2) got the win.
Meridian outhit West Lowndes 11 to eight.
Quitman 10
Newton 0
The Panthers and Tigers were locked in a tight 1-0 battle Thursday at Newton until Quitman erupted for nine runs in the top of the fourth inning.
Quitman improved to 18-4, while Newton dropped to 11-5.
Matthew Creighton (6-1) got the win.
Blake Pippin had three hits including a double for the Panthers.
Jeremy Tune (1-1) took the loss.
Scott Central 11
Kemper County 4
The Rebels scored three runs in the fourth inning and added five more in the seventh in taking Thursday's Division 5-2A contest at DeKalb.
Jason Darby evened his record at 2-2 with the win. Omar Backstrom got the loss for the Wildcats. Backstrom had a triple for one of Kemper's six hits.
Carthage 22
Choctaw Central 0
The Tigers shelled the Warriors Thursday at Choctaw in Division 5-3A action. Carthage had 14 hits, while Daniel Holleyman (4-0) tossed a no-hitter for the Tigers.
Lanny Edgar had five hits including a triple for Carthage.
The Tigers upped their record to 12-6.
Nanih Waiya 16
B.L. Moor 9
The Warriors rallied from a 7-2 deficit to take Thursday's Division 4-1A win at Nanih Waiya.
David Frey upped his record to 4-2 as the Warriors improved to 8-3.
Nanih Waiya got six runs in the bottom of the fourth to take an 8-7 lead and added three in the fifth and five in the sixth.
Brent Blackwell had four hits for Nanih Waiya including a double.
Lake 11
Pisgah 6
The Hornets evened their overall record at 10-10 and upped their league-leading Division 6-1A mark to 7-1 with Thursday's win at Lake.
Brandon Burrus (2-3) got the win. Bryan Williamson and Eric Watkins homered for the Hornets. Billy Wooten had three singles for Lake. Williamson, Watkins, and Kyle Wolfe each had three hits.
PREP SOFTBALL
Union 17
Nanih Waiya 2
The Lady Jackets improved to 4-0 in Division 4-1A and 11-7 overall with Thursday's win at Nanih Waiya.
Lindsey Cassel evened her record at 3-3 with the win. Madison Brantley had two singles and a double, while Marley Smith had a double and a triple. Cassel had a single and a double with Loren Kennedy, Lauren White, and LaSaundra Harrison each adding a pair of singles.
Union scored six runs in the top of the first inning and added four runs in the fourth and fifth frames.
Winona 17
Choctaw Central 4
Sarsey Eubanks (6-3) tossed a one-hitter as Winona won Thursday's contest at Choctaw. The Lady Tigers improved to 6-4 with the win.
Winona got four runs in the first inning and six in the second to take control early.