After getting their first district win last week at McComb, South Pike’s baseball team looked to keep that momentum in the second game against the Tigers on Tuesday.
South Pike looked to avoid tying the Tigers (0-19) for last place in the division, as well as bragging rights, considering past McComb clubs have rarely lost to the Eagles twice in the same season.
The first game of the doubleheader was called in the seventh inning due to rain and lightning. The two teams were scheduled to continue that game but were notified that per Mississippi High School Activities Association rules, after the two teams have played five innings or more, the game is considered complete.
The result of last Wednesday’s game reverted to the score at end of the sixth inning in South Pike’s favor, 6-5.
McComb took South Pike’s baseball field as the home team but was unable to gain any advantage from fans who made the short trip. The game was called at the end of fifth inning with the Eagles thumping McComb, 15-2.
“Well, it’s been a long time coming for us to hit the ball as well as we did,” South Pike head coach Neal Smith said. “The one thing we’ve been lacking the last 3 or 4 weeks is our hitting. We started out slow, but we settled in and finally started hitting like we are capable.”
McComb seemed to have control with a 2-0 lead at the bottom of the first that included a runner stealing home plate, but senior pitcher Kadrious Varnado and the Eagles’ defense tightened the reins and did not allow another scoring run.
Varnado pitched all innings and finished with 10 strikeouts.
“Well, obviously that pitcher we faced tonight was a great pitcher,” McComb head coach Dominic Spinks said of Varnado. “We jumped on him pretty early, and I thought we had a number on him, but he came back and readjusted and we didn’t.
Sophmore pitcher Jamiah Andrews finished with one strikeout and seven walks for the Tigers.
South Pike (5-10) tied the game in the third, 2-2.
In the top of the fourth with bases loaded, sophmore Jesse Jordan connected on a grand slam homerun into left field, making the score, 6-2. South Pike fans got more excitement in the fifth inning when McComb junior Ja’Terrious Wilson took the mound with bases loaded again. That resulted in nearly five batters bring hit by pitches, a near foul ball and another that an outfielder lost track of, leading to a 15-2 final.
“We haven’t been capitalizing on other teams’ mistakes” Smith said. “And tonight we did very good job on taking of advantage of those errors, walks and hit batters. After the grand slam, we were able to put all of that together and continue on in each inning. The biggest thing you can learn from a loss is sportsmanship. Attitude and effort, playing every inning and playing together, and doing the small things correct are all things we can take from this.
“Anytime you can beat McComb, it’s good,” Smith said. “It’s a big-time rivalry around here and everybody knows that, but to have our guys play to a high level and just stay in the game. It’s a lot of emotions because these kids know each other, they grew up together and play ball together, so even though we’re separate, the communities kind of blend together and it’s almost like having a game at a family reunion.”
Senior Jeffrey Pace and Jordan finished four with five RBIs, respectively, and each had two hits for the Eagles.
Sophomore Keshun Nimox and Varnado finished with three hits each.
Seniors Robert Holmes, Lapatrick Nimox, and Kendarious Brumfield each had one hit. Seniors Brandon Andrews had two runs and an RBI, while senior Blake Lantrip had one base on ball and was left on base once. Sophmore Kadarious Osbey also contributed with a run.
Neither club qualified for this postseason, but South Pike looks keep the momentum from last week and be a contender in Region 7-4A next season.
“We’ve got seven or eight seniors that we want to send out on a high note, and we’ve got some young players that can help with building a tradition here so hopefully it can carry on to the summer and fall, and getting ready for next year,” Smith said.
McComb freshman Kendrick Butler finished with two hits, while Wilson finished with one hit.
South Pike will finish the season against visiting Amite County in a doubleheader at 5 tonight.
McComb is in talks to play Hattiesburg High this week but are waiting to see if Hattiesburg makes the playoffs.
