Rockets reach final round at ECCC tourney
By By Marty Stamper / EMG sports assistant
March 12, 2003
DECATUR In a close game, every miscue usually proves costly.
That was the case in Tuesday's late game between Neshoba Central and Newton County in the East Central Community College Spring Break Tournament.
Travis Butler's bases loaded bunt, with one out ,scored two runs as Neshoba captured the Pool 2 championship with a 5-4 eight-inning win over the Cougars.
Ackerman won Pool 1 and Kosciusko took Pool 3.
In today's final round of games, Neshoba faces Ackerman at 11 a.m. and Kosciusko at 2 p.m. Ackerman and Kosciusko clash at 5 p.m. Game times may be moved up for the second and third games.
Newton County (5-5) rallied from a 3-0 deficit, with one run in the sixth and two in the seventh.
The Cougars went up 4-3 in the top of the eighth, as Sam McDill led off with a single, stole second,and scored on a single to right field by Tyler Hagan.
Neshoba (8-3) got its first two batters on base in the bottom of the inning, as Michael Smith led off with a walk and Scott Fieber beat out an infield hit.
After a sacrifice by Jordan Flake put runners at second and third with one out, pinch hitter Jason Goodin was issued an intentional walk to load the bases.
Butler laid down a perfect bunt to score Smith and Fieber motored home from second base when the throw to first base sailed past an uncovered bag.
The Rockets got their first run in a similar manner when Butler hit a two-out single and scored from second base on an infield hit by Tyler Adkins and a throwing error trying to get Butler at third when that base was left unattended.
The Rockets extended their lead to 3-0 in the fifth, as Taylor Petty had an RBI double down the left-field line. The second run scored when Allan Sisson's ground ball was booted at second base.
Newton County picked up an unearned run in the sixth when McDill's grounder near the line at third base was thrown wildly to first base.
The Cougars drew even in the top of the seventh on a two-out, two-run single to right field by Jamey Farmer.
Smith had the game's defensive gem, as he turned a diving catch of a fly ball by Brandon Ezell in center field into a double play in the second inning. The Cougars went on to get two more runners in the frame but did not score.
Petty got the win in relief of Adam Griffin. Ezell took the loss in relief of Colby Amis.
With four games in the last four days, the Rockets will be deep in their pitching staff today.
Butler was Neshoba's lone multiple hitter, with a pair of singles.
Farmer, McDill and Hagan each had two hits for the Cougars.
Philadelphia 8
Forest 7
The Tornadoes gave head coach Scott Hill a win over his alma mater, as they battled back from a 7-4 deficit with three runs in the fourth and another in the fifth.
Jonathan Pickens had a three-run homer in the second inning for Philadelphia (8-3). Cameron Tawater had a double and an RBI triple.
Jerwarrick Hartzog added a single and a double. Shay Grady had two singles and Tyler Threadgill hit a two-run single in the fourth.
Matt Reynolds had a double and a two-run homer for Forest. Michael Townsend, Austin Wilbanks, and Marcel Wash each had a pair of singles. Mitch Rogers and Steven Dukes both had a two-bagger.
Jonathan Holland got the win with Alex Reed picking up the loss.
Ackerman 5
Philadelphia 2
The Tornadoes tallied twice in the bottom of the first inning and held a 2-1 lead before Ackerman crossed the plate four times in the top of the sixth to advance to today's championship round.
Daniel Stevens had a single and a two-run double for the Indians. Winning pitcher Brent Telano had a single and a double. Adam Bell added a pair of singles.
Threadgill had an RBI double for the Tornadoes (8-4), who were held to three hits.
Tawater took the loss.
