Meridian, Moss Point tangle again

By By Jeff Byrd / sports editor
April 17, 2003
The Meridian High Wildcats meet up with a familiar opponent in the 5A State Baseball playoffs which open tonight at 7 p.m. at John Moss Field.
The Wildcats will again tangle with the Moss Point Tigers. Last year, the two teams met in a second round series which Meridian pulled out in three games, winning the clincher at Moss Point, 6-2.
Meridians, champions of Division 5-5A, will take a 24-4 record into the best of three series. Game two is set for Bellview Park in Moss Point on Friday at 7 p.m. A third game, if necessary, is set for Saturday at 7 p.m. at John Moss Field.
Moss Point brings in a 10-14 record to the playoff series, but Wildcat head coach Vince McLemore will present his team a challenge, just like last year. That's because the Tigers can depend on staff ace Miles Clark, one of the top pitchers on the Gulf Coast.
Clark helped beat the Wildcats in game one of last year's series at Moss Point. He then pitched in relief in game three, but by then, Meridian was ahead in the contest.
McLemore said the Tigers will also have Chad Green available to pitch. Green regularly plays at shortstop.
Meridian's success this season has been built around pitching, defense and timely hitting. McLemore says the team has been able to overcome the loss of power from last year's team.
The Wildcats rely on a strong 1-2 punch at the top of the rotation. Sophomore Kyle Boswell has stepped up into a leadership role pacing the staff in nearly all categories except walks per innings pitched.
Boswell boasts a 8-1 record with an outstanding earned run average of 0.84 in 56 1/3 innings pitched. He has struck out 73 batters while walking 16.
Tyler Maxwell is 7-1 with a 1.53 ERA with 67 strikeouts to just eight walks in 47 innings pitched. He also threw a perfect, seven-inning, game at Wayne County this spring.
A solid defense, especially up the middle, is another Meridian strength.
Catcher Bobby Stone along with shortstop Richmond Alexander and second baseman Maurice Cole anchor the unit.
Offensively, Meridian is batting .351 as a team.
Cole lead the way batting an impressive .447 with 12 extra base hits including five home runs. He has driven in 24 runs.
Alexander, the leadoff batter, has 37 runs scored and 35 hits. He is batting .421 with eight doubles and four triples.
Maxwell bats .395 with 21 RBI while first baseman Lance Burnham is hitting .362 with 15 RBI.
Ricky McMillian (.337, 20 RBI), Stone (.340, 16 RBI) and freshman Tyler McMullen (.355, 10 RBI) round out the potent Wildcat bats.