Just four weeks ago, McComb played in the Class 5A boys basketball state semifinals in Jackson.
The basketball season came to an end then, and the baseball and softball season is more than halfway through the schedule. Teams across the state have only three weeks left before the state playoffs start at the end of the month.
With enough games in the book, a report card for the six local teams in Pike County can be accurately graded.
Below are explanations on each team — McComb, North Pike, South Pike and Parklane Academy.
North Pike baseball (15-1, 6-0) A-
The highest grade for the county goes to North Pike, which currently sports a sparkling 15-1 record so far. The only thing holding the Jaguars back from an “A” is a somewhat incomplete resume’.
North Pike has blown through competition but has yet to play district foes Columbia and Purvis, which have won the last two 4A state championships. The Jaguars can either prove they’re the best team in the area tonight at home against Purvis, or may prove the season has been an aberration.
Strong hitting is what has separated North Pike from last year’s squad. Seniors Jacob Fleming and Brady Badon have been on fire of late. Fleming is fresh off a three home run performance Thursday over Tylertown, and Badon has hit two home runs in his last four games. The duo also are a combined 9-0 on the mound this season.
North Pike softball (10-5, 3-1) B
It’s rare to see North Pike’s softball program even lose a district game. Tylertown escaped with a 4-3 win back on March 19, handing the Jaguars their first district loss of the season.
North Pike has put together yet another solid season, which has become the norm around Summit. If not for a tough non-conference schedule, the Jags could be flirting with an undefeated season.
Wins against Clinton and New Hope earlier this season got North Pike off to a strong start. Three of the five losses have come to traditional powers — Madison Central, Harrison Central and Oak Grove, which are a combined 39-4 on the season.
Lauren Wells has been a mainstay on the mound with eight of North Pike’s 10 wins to go along with a 1.85 ERA. She also is tied for the team lead with 13 RBIs.
Savannah Johnston’s .479 average and 11 RBIs have helped glue together a solid Jaguar lineup.
Parklane baseball (12-6, 7-2) B
Parklane is off to a strong start with first-year coach Robert Young, who coached at Amite School Center last season.
Young had big shoes to fill after Michael Clements led the Pioneers to the state championship game last year when they lost to Madison-Ridgeland Academy.
Parklane shook off a slow start and has now won six of its last eight games after starting the season 6-4.
The Pioneers lost a lot from the 2012 runner-up squad and replaced those players with a group of youngsters. The comfort level has finally set in, but the youth has still glared through at times. In 18 games, Parklane has committed a whopping 46 errors, something Young realizes the Pioneers need to address.
Most of the talk has been about James Michael Schmidt and his senior leadership, but senior Dan Gill is quietly raking at the plate. Gill currently sports a .513 average in 39 at-bats and is fourth on the team with 10 RBIs. Tanner Whittington leads the team with 19 RBIs.
Schmidt has been the rock of the pitching staff with a 3-1 record and 1.71 ERA. He’s allowed just one earned run in the past two conference starts, including a complete-game shutout two weeks ago against Jackson Prep.
McComb softball (8-6, 2-0) B-
McComb entered the season with high hopes after returning its entire lineup from last year. The Tigers encountered some early struggles but are 2-0 in district play with wins over Pearl and Brookhaven.
Returning ace Kamry Creel has done her best in the circle for McComb but hasn’t had much help. She has a 1.93 ERA in 902/3 innings pitched but just an 8-6 record. Of the 45 runs she’s allowed, only 25 have been earned.
Sophomore Bethany Davis leads the team with a .341 batting average while Breean Talbert has scored 10 runs to go long with a .324 average.
With two games against Ridgeland and a game each against Pearl and Brookhaven left in district play, the Tigers can finish the season strong without a blemish.
McComb baseball (5-11, 2-2) C+
Normally this would be a typical year of baseball for McComb — go through the motions as a connecting point between basketball and football season.
Not exactly the story this season.
First-year coach Ronald Hines is trying to transform the program and has his team competing and, more importantly, having fun.
The season has already been successful after senior Adrian Brown signed a scholarship with Copiah-Lincoln Community College last week and junior Marquel Carroll has torn the cover off the ball this season with a .488 batting average and 13 RBIs.
McComb will surely experience some lumps along the way, but it’s hard to be disappointed with the effort so far.
South Pike baseball (3-11, 0-6) D
When it rains, it pours.
South Pike actually looked liked a baseball team in March when it played Purvis to a 2-0 game through six innings. Then the wheels fell off and the Eagles ended up suffering a 13-0 loss.
Since then, South Pike has been outscored 53-2.
Neal Smith is trying his best down in Magnolia, but the Eagles can’t seem to find a recipe that works.
