Quitman snags one-run win

By By Steve Swogetinsky / special to The Star
March 31, 2004
QUITMAN Senior Daniel Boyd knocked in the winning run in the bottom of the seventh to lead the Quitman High Panthers to a 9-8 come-from-behind victory over Northeast Lauderdale Tuesday night.
The Panthers had trailed 8-0 at one point, but Boyd said his team never gave up. Quitman upped its record to 10-9 overall and 5-3 in the District 5-4A standings.
Quitman had already scored two runs in the inning to tie the game at eight. With two outs, Boyd hit the ball up the middle and pinch hitter McElvin Shepperd scored from second after the ball was mishandled to end the game.
The Trojans took a three-run lead in the top of the first. Jeremy Barnacastle's triple along the right field line scored two runs, and Nathan Peden knocked in Barnacastle for a 3-0 lead.
Northeast added five runs in the top of the second. With the bases loaded, Chad Brunson walked to bring in one run, and Barnacastle followed with a hit that brought in two more runs. Another scored on the same play when Quitman overthrew the third baseman for a 7-0 Trojans' lead. Peden singled in Barnacastle and Northeast led 8-0.
Mack Creighton came on in relief during the top of the second for Quitman. After giving up hits to the first two batters he faced, Creighton settled down and fanned the last Trojan batter of the inning.
From that point, Creighton allowed only one more base runner in the game as he struck out eight and gave up one hit and no walks.
The Panthers picked up two runs in the bottom of the second inning. Terrance Lafferty got on base when he was hit by a pitch and scored on Kevin Busby's single. Busby scored on a single by Josh Lafferty, making the score 8-2.
Adam Neal then led off the Panthers' rally in the fifth when he belted a solo homer. Adam Harper got on with an error and later scored on Dustin Smith's single. Creighton then came up with a big hit that scored two more runs and Quitman trailed 8-5.
Josh Lafferty singled in the bottom of the sixth and scored on Jayme Smith's single, making the score 8-6.
Then came the bottom of the seventh. Smith led off with a single and scored on Creighton's double to make the score 8-7.
Josh Lafferty brought in Smith on a sacrifice fly that tied the game at eight. Northeast Lauderdale got another out and Harper walked. Boyd's hit scored Shepperd to end the game.
Creighton upped his record to 3-5 for the season. Cory Chance went all the way for the Trojans and took the loss. Chance had 10 strikeouts and allowed 11 hits.
The Trojans dropped to 13-4 overall and 5-2 in the district.