McComb’s résumé isn’t the sexiest, nor is it remotely flashy. Fortunately for the Tigers, the MHSAA doesn’t determine a season on style points, or even overall wins and losses.
On the final day of the regular season Thursday, McComb clinched a playoff berth with a home doubleheader sweep of Wingfield. The win improved the Tigers’ record to 6-17 — but more importantly to 3-6 in District 6-5A — which was good enough to lock up the No. 3 seed and earn a trip to East Central (13-6) today for the opening round of the 5A playoffs.
“I’ve thought about it where you say, ‘Hey, you’re 6-17,’ but the state says come in third in your division and go to the playoffs,” McComb coach Brian Eby said. “And we did what the state told us to do. That’s my response.”
McComb’s seven wins more than doubled last year’s total of three and is the first playoff berth since 2009.
“Now, do I want to come in third every year? No,” Eby said. “But with a group of 11 freshmen and four eighth graders … if I can’t be satisfied with making the playoffs with that young of a group, I need to re-evaluate what I expect.”
McComb beat a Wingfield team that didn’t win a league game all season, and it was displayed clearly Thursday. Wingfield showed up 20 minutes late with only nine players for a game originally scheduled for 5 p.m.
Even so, Wingfield took an early 2-0 with a pair of runs off wild pitches in the first inning. From there, it was all McComb as it scored 12 runs during the next five innings to win 12-2 via the 10-run rule.
Adrian Brown had a monster night for McComb at the plate. Brown was 2 for 2 with five RBIs, including a two-run home run to left field in the Tigers’ six-run fourth inning.
Alex Woodall added two singles, Shawn Speight scored three times and KeCardarious Wells drove in two runs for McComb.
Freshman Henry McDonald picked up the win in relief of starter Gabe Misora. McDonald tossed four scoreless innings with eight strikeouts.
“It was really big for him,” Eby said. “He’s young. We want to get him as many innings as possible.”
The second game was closer than it should have been as Eby rested his starters and played nearly all freshmen and eighth graders. McComb led 7-0 early but Wingfield made things interesting when it pulled to within 10-9 in the fourth.
The Tigers tacked on a four runs in the fourth to seal it. Brown continued his torrid hitting with a RBI double in his only at bat. Freshman Rachaurd Brown had a double, a single and drove in a run and Rachaud Brown added a double.
Eby didn’t say who would pitch for McComb tonight, but did note the pitchers that saw action Thursday wouldn’t be available.
Jake Simpson or Marquell Carroll, McComb’s two best pitchers, are likely to see the mound.
The Tigers will make the three-hour drive back to McComb late tonight before hosting East Central for a doubleheader Saturday if necessary.
