Photo: Center Hill pitcher Houston Green was dominating against Lake Cormorant Friday night, allowing just three hits and fanning 11 in a complete-game victory. (Bob Bakken/desotocountynews.com)
A big series awaits the top teams in Region 1-6A baseball in the days ahead, as Center Hill and Saltillo are set to determine who could be on top heading into the playoffs.
While Saltillo was shutting out Olive Branch 10-0 Friday night, the Center Hill Mustangs bounced back from a 10-9 loss to Lake Cormorant on Tuesday to defeat the Gators 3-1 Friday.
Both Saltillo and Center Hill are on top of the Region 1-6A standings with 5-1 records ahead of a Monday meeting at Center Hill to open their two-game series.
Center Hill made an early lead stand up, thanks to some strong defensive plays and a dominating pitching performance by Houston Green, who struck out 11 Gators while allowing only three and not walking a batter in the complete-game victory.
The Mustangs’ early lead came in their first at bat, when JaMaryon Warren scored on a passed ball. During the same at bat with Cooper McCool at the plate, pitcher Derrin Randle was called for a balk that allowed Green to score for a 2-0 lead.
“We got in the box early and refused to get out of the way,” said Center Hill coach Peyton Callahan, referring to a pair of batters hit by Randle pitches in the first inning. “We got some timely hits, put up two in the first, and then just handed the ball to number 31 (Green). It was a dominating performance by him.”
The game settled down from that point until Lake Cormorant got on the scoreboard in the fourth inning to cut the margin to 2-1. A balk charged to Green brought Ty Agner home from third for the Gators’ only run.
Center Hill would add an insurance run in the fifth when McCool singled, scoring Warren.
Lake Cormorant had opportunities late in the contest but some stout defensive plays would snuff those chances out. Third baseman Jermikko Taylor and shortstop Warren both made leaping catches from their positions in the Gators’ sixth inning, both plays that prevented possible extra base hits from happening by Lake Cormorant.
Green would strike out the side to end the contest.
“He gets up there and can throw four pitches for strikes,” Callahan said. “Locates them all well, all of them are good, quality pitches. Not only that, but he’s a starting shortstop, three-hole hitter that’s been swinging the bat well lately.”
On the night, Warren scored twice and hit safely twice for the Mustangs. Lake Cormorant got a run and a hit from Agner.
Randle struggled in the first inning and was relieved after just one out by Brayden Collins, who struck out five but walked three while allowing four hits and one run.
Center Hill hosts Saltillo Monday night with the second game set for Saltillo on Friday, April 12. The Mustangs also have a non-region game Saturday, April 6 against Amory.
Lake Cormorant dropped to 3-3 in the region with Friday’s loss and have a pair of games ahead on Monday and Friday against South Panola.
Grenada is also in the mix at 4-2 for third place in Region 1-6A. The Chargers play Olive Branch in the coming week, but Center Hill awaits the following week before the regular season ends.
DeSoto County Scoreboard
Prep baseball
Center Hill 3, Lake Cormorant 1
Saltillo 10, Olive Branch 0 (5 innings)
Note: Quistors were held to just one hit, a single by Trace Harvey.
SPORTS ETC:
The Lake Cormorant Lady Gators powerlifting team won the MHSAA 6A state team championship Friday at Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson. It is the first girls’ team state title in powerlifting for a school from DeSoto County.
Two members of the Lewisburg boys’ soccer team Friday signed to play junior college soccer next season. Logan Heath signed with Northwest and Ronaldo Serna is headed to Itawamba.
