Photo: Luke Romine of Hernando swings at a pitch during Friday’s 13-6 playoff victory over Tupelo. (Bob Bakken/desotocountynews.com)
HERNANDO 13, TUPELO 6: The Hernando Tigers, ranked by some as the top 7A baseball team in Mississippi, showed its offensive firepower in Friday’s 13-6 game-one victory over Tupelo.
The Golden Wave smacked the Tigers immediately with two solo homers in the first two at bats, but after that it was Hernando doing the smacking, punctuated by a six-run fourth inning. It was a Tigers’ victory that saw Hernando score runs in each inning.
Preston Johnson and Meyer Maddox highlighted a 16-hit attack with homers for Hernando and Hallas Lawson doubled twice, all part of a total of eight extra-base hits. Maddox plated three runs and Johnson drove in three RBIs.
Thomas Mitchell was the winning pitcher for Hernando with seven strikeouts and five walks in six innings pitched. Mitchell allowed four runs and three hits. L Holmes pitched the seventh inning for the Tigers and gave up a hit. All four Tupelo hits were home runs.
The series moves to Tupelo for game two of the best-of-three series and Hernando coach Taylor Kerr expects the Golden Wave to rally strongly from Friday’s result, so the Tigers have to be ready.
“I think they’re going to do everything they can to sell out for that one,” Kerr said. “I expect them (Tupelo) to play well and we have to play well, too.”
LEWISBURG 4, STARKVILLE 2: The Patriots, which won the 6A state championship last season, opened its first round series with the Yellowjackets in a 4-2 victory at Starkville. Lewisburg scored twice in the sixth inning to fashion a game one victory. Kody Gilmore led the Patriots’ offense with three hits, including a double, and Trae Cagle had two runs-batted-in. Stone McCaughey and Matthew Osteen split time on the mound with Osteen getting the victory.
He struck out five, walked two, and allowed one hit and one run in three innings pitched.
MADISON CENTRAL 11, DESOTO CENTRAL 1 (6 INNINGS): Madison Central took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series against Desoto Central, which scored its only run of the game in the second inning. Connor Simpson had the only extra-base hit for DeSoto Central with a double. Conner Ferguson took the loss among six DeSoto Central pitchers with two runs and one hit allowed, four walks and one strikeout.
CENTER HILL 10, VICKSBURG 0 (5 INNINGS): The Mustangs started the playoffs with a run-rule victory, featuring a one-hit pitching performance by winning pitcher Houston Green, who struck out 10 and walked one. Hudson Marascuilo homered among three extra-base hits for Center Hill. Marascuilo also got two hits and drove in two runs. Whitman Key tripled and hit safely twice in the win.
WARREN CENTRAL 1, LAKE CORMORANT 0: Warren Central got only three hits but scored the game’s only run in the fourth inning to get the victory. Among six Gator hits, H Streiber and Derrin Randle each had two hits, all singles. M Callahan suffered the mound loss for the Gators, allowing three hits and three strikeouts in six innings pitched.
REGULAR SEASON BASEBALL
NORTHPOINT CHRISTIAN 15-10, BOLTON 0-0: Northpoint fashioned a 12-run second inning in its game-one victory of the doubleheader and scored eight in the first inning of the nightcap. Both games lasted just three innings. KL Farr doubled among just six hits in the 15-0 twin-bill opening victory and Vail Perkins struck out nine on the mound. Seth Giamportone homered and had three RBIs in the nightcap victory, as did J Herrell also drove in a trio of runs. Brett Whitten pitched just one-third inning and struck out one, but was given the pitching victory for the Trojans.
Prep baseball playoffs
7A first round – best of three
Hernando vs. Tupelo
Hernando 13, Tupelo 6 (Hernando leads 1-0)
Lewisburg vs. Starkville
Lewisburg 4, Starkville 2 (Lewisburg leads 1-0)
DeSoto Central vs. Madison Central
Madison Central 11, DeSoto Central 1 (6 innings) (Madison Central leads 1-0)
Prep baseball playoffs
6A first round – best of three
Center Hill at Vicksburg
Center Hill 10, Vicksburg 0 (5 innings) (Center Hill leads 1-0)
Lake Cormorant vs. Warren Central
Warren Central 1, Lake Cormorant 0 (Warren Central leads 1-0)
