Mother nature muzzles Lions' winning streak

By By Tony Krausz / assistant sports editor
March 7, 2003
SCOOBA The only thing that has been able to stop the East Mississippi Community College baseball team recently has been rain.
The Lions (7-6) are idling on a four-game winning streak due to forced cancellations.
EMCC pushed its record to a game above .500 with a win over the Jones County Junior College Bobcats last Wednesday winning the first game of a double-header 4-1.
The second game was canceled due to inclement weather.
The Lions were set to continue their season Thursday with a double-header against Delgado Community College.
But a steady rain throughout Wednesday night forced the cancellation of the two games.
EMCC evened its record last weekend winning three games at home.
The Lions defeated Copiah-Lincoln Community College last Saturday, and they won three games against John Wood Community College last Saturday and Sunday to improve their record to 6-6.
Part of the reason for the squad's recent surge is the team's comfort level in the batters box.
EMCC is starting to push runners across the plate on a consistent basis.
The Lions tallied three runs in the bottom of the first inning to defeat the Bobcats last Wednesday.
EMCC catcher Justin McMullan hit a game-winning home run against Co-Lin for a 5-4 victory last Saturday, and the Lions notched 32 runs against John Wood in the squads' three contests.
Snider, a product of West Lauderdale, has helped the offense by setting the plate from the lead off spot.
The sophomore has settled down in the box and is regularly giving the Lions' a scoring threat on the base path.
The pitching staff is holding up its end of the diamond bargain.
EMCC has allowed 16 runs during its four game winning streak.
The staff is becoming more comfortable with their rotation 13 games into the season.
Clay, a sophomore from West Lauderdale, had one of the biggest adjustments on the mound this season.
The right-handed hurler pitched primarily as a closer for the team last season.
Clay has adjusted well to having the ball in his hands at the start of the game this season. He is currently 2-1 in three starts.
The final piece of the baseball puzzle the Lions are working on is defense.
EMCC is averaging three to four errors per game.
The Lions will try to improve their glove work and keep their winning streak going against Northeast Community College in a three-game series starting on March 14.
EMCC travels to NECC for a game on March 14, and the Lions host the Tigers in a double-header on March 15.
The two programs have plenty of history, though this year will be a little different when the two square off.
There are still plenty of game left on the schedule, despite losing three contests to mother nature, and the Lions are on the right track a third of the way through their 45-game season.