Center Hill to host Warren Central on Friday evening
Photo: The Center Hill baseball Mustangs gather for a photo after their 2-0 series-clinching victory over Grenada Monday night. (Bob Bakken/desotocountynews.com)
PREP BASEBALL PLAYOFFS
CENTER HILL VS. GRENADA: Center Hill baseball has advanced to its first-ever North Half championship series with Monday’s 2-0 victory over Grenada in game three of their best-of-three second round series. The only runs of the game came in the fourth inning when a balk was called on Grenada pitcher Brayden Trusty with Hudson Marasculio at the plate to score Houston Green, followed by Marasculio then hitting a single to center that scored Kyle Erwin. Center Hill won the game with pitching and defense. Left fielder Ryan Brunetz made two highlight reel plays in the outfield, one a diving catch to save a run and end the first inning, followed by another catch later in the game at the outfield wall.
Another stellar effort came from catcher Whit Key, who threw out two runners who tried to steal second base on him during the contest. Offensively, Erwin had the only extra-base hit with a double among four Center Hill base hits. Green continued his strong play on the mound, striking out six and allowing four hits in the shutout victory.
“Houston Green has been really good for us this year on the bump,” Center Hill coach Peyton Callahan said. “Tonight, no earned runs, struck out six. This was another game where we put our best arm on the mound and rode him.”
Center Hill now plays Warren Central in the 6A North Half final series, starting Friday at Center Hill.
MHSAA 6A baseball playoffs – best of three
Center Hill vs. Grenada
Center Hill 2, Grenada 1
Grenada 4, Center Hill 3 (8 innings)
Grenada at Center Hill 2, Grenada 0 (Center Hill wins 2-1)
MHSAA 6A baseball North Half finals – best of three
Warren Central at Center Hill – Friday
Center Hill at Warren Central
Warren Central at Center Hill (if needed)
PLAYOFFS ETC. Oxford finished a two-game sweep of Madison Central with a 3-2 victory Monday night and advanced to the 7A North Half finals against Hernando. The series with the Tigers and Chargers will start in Hernando Friday.
MHSAA 7A baseball North Half finals – best of three
Oxford at Hernando – Friday
Hernando at Oxford
Oxford at Hernando (if needed)
NORTHPOINT CHRISTIAN 3, ST. GEORGE’S (COLLIERVILLE) 2: Northpoint clinched no lower than a number two seed and reached the final round of the TSSAA D2-A West Region baseball tournament with the win. The Trojans scored twice in the third inning and what became the winning run in the top of the seventh, then saw the Gryphons score twice in the bottom of seventh, but not the needed tying run to give Northpoint the victory. Nolan Bone scored two of the Trojans’ three runs in the victory, including the third run in the seventh inning. Bone and Kaden Clayborn each had two hits and Seth Giamportone hit a double for Northpoint’s only extra-base hit. KL Farr and Alex Love split the pitching duties with Farr throwing the first three innings and Love wrapping up the final four frames. Both struck out four. Farr was credited with the victory and Love earned the save.
NORTHPOINT CHRISTIAN 10, LAUSANNE COLLEGIATE 3: Northpoint took a 4-1 lead against Lausanne after four innings and quickly built the lead to 8-1 with a four-run fifth inning, adding two more in the sixth for a 10-1 advantage. Lausanne scored twice in the sixth but couldn’t score any more in dropping the first championship round game. The Trojans bunched 10 hits together, led by Nolan Bone, Jace Robinson and Kaden Clayborn with two hits each. Robinson and Bone each drove in two runs and Carson Jones belted a triple for the Trojans’ only extra-base hit. Three pitchers threw for Northpoint in the game, led by Robinson with seven strikeouts, three walks, three runs and seven hits allowed in pitching six innings. Alex Love and Jaylon Dickson divided up the final frame. The Trojans also benefited from five Lausanne errors in the contest. The teams meet one more time at USA Stadium in Millington, Tenn. Tuesday at 6 p.m. for the region title and number one seed. The loser will be the number two seed in the upcoming state playoffs.
TSSAA D2-A West Region baseball tournament
Lausanne Collegiate 11, Northpoint Christian 0 (5 inns.)
Northpoint Christian 10, Jackson Christian 5
Northpoint Christian 12, FACS 3
Northpoint Christian 3, St. George’s 2
Northpoint Christian 10, Lausanne 3
Northpoint Christian vs. Lausanne – Tuesday 6 p.m. at USA Stadium (Championship)
PREP SOFTBALL PLAYOFFS
MHSAA 7A softball North Half playoffs – best of three
DeSoto Central at Hernando – 6 p.m. Thursday
Hernando at DeSoto Central – 6 p.m. Friday
DeSoto Central at Hernando – 6 p.m. Saturday, if needed
USJ 12, NORTHPOINT CHRISTIAN 3
Despite the loss, Northpoint remains alive in the D2-A West Region softball tournament and will play Tuesday against ECS on Tuesday at 5 p.m at USJ in Jackson, Tenn. Against USJ, the Lady Trojans were held to single runs in the third, fourth, and fifth innings. The Lady Bruins scored in every inning of the contest, including a four-run fourth. Northpoint did have six hits, which included doubles from Hannah Bostain, Josie Beth Smith, Katy Bobo, and Trinity Garvin, and Macie Dever-Boaz homered. In the circle, Garvin struck out five and walked one, but gave up 12 runs and 15 hits against USJ. A win against ECS means the Lady Trojans would again face USJ for the region title and would have to win twice for the championship.
TSSAA D2-A West Region softball tournament
Northpoint Christian 9, Jackson Christian 5
USJ 12, Northpoint Christian 3
Northpoint Christian vs. ECS – 4 p.m. Tuesday at USJ-Jackson, Tenn.
TSSAA D2-A West Region boys’ soccer playoffs
Northpoint Christian 9, Harding Academy 0
Northpoint Christian vs. Westminster Academy – 5 p.m. Tuesday at St. George’s (Collierville)
