Photo: DeSoto Central’s Ashton Willis scores the first run of the game in Monday’s Class 7A playoff game against Madison Central. (Bob Bakken/desotocountynews.com)
April 28, 2025- Madison Central garnered only three hits in their 5-4 7A first-round playoff baseball victory over DeSoto Central Monday night. Unfortunately for DeSoto Central, two of them were a grand slam home run and a run-scoring double that pushed the eventual winning run across to even the best-of-three series at 1-1.
After Ashton Willis scored the game’s first run for DeSoto Central off a double to right from Jack Willis in the bottom of the third, Addison Jayroe blasted a grand slam homer in the top of the fifth inning. Jayroe’s homer to left field would give Madison Central a 4-1 lead, but DeSoto Central, which battled to win the series opener by the same score Saturday night, would not lie down and play dead.
Coach Brian Lewis’ charges from DeSoto Central answered with a run in the home half of the fifth when Jack Willis scored, thanks to a passed ball thrown by Hayden Wilson to make the score 4-2 for Madison Central.
DeSoto Central then tied the game in the sixth with a pair of runs. Christian Newson scored on a sacrifice fly by Colton Smith, followed by the second run scored when Ashton Willis singled to center, a hit that brought home Mason Hildreth when the throw from centerfielder Warren Hutchinson went high over the catcher’s head to the backstop.
The game-deciding run came in the Madison Central seventh when Sanders Ainsworth hit a double off reliever Tanner Bridgewater, a hit that scored Landon Deslatte.
Aiden Steht doubled to bring life to the DeSoto Central attack in the home seventh, but he was stranded when Connor Simpson hit a pop fly for an out and Newson hit a grounder back to the pitcher for the final out of the game.
Lewis said he was proud of the way his team battled.
“We never gave up,” Lewis said. “We had the tying run on second base there in the fifth, and again in the sixth. We chipped away and we didn’t give in, we just didn’t get the big hit and tonight, they did.”
Game three to decide the first round series now heads to Madison Central on Tuesday night, April 29 and Lewis to show resilience as they recover from a disappointing loss.
“They’ve gone through a lot this year, and they’re not going to give up,” Lewis said. They’re going to keep battling. We know we’re never out of it.”
Monday, April 28
Prep baseball – regular season
Northpoint Christian 18, Memphis White Station 2 (4 innings)
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