McComb’s Dixie Youth Baseball 10-year-old All-Stars knew they couldn’t repeat Friday’s lackluster performance against Walthall County if it were to make tonight’s championship.
McComb had but one hit Friday in a 4-0 loss to Walthall County in the opening round of the Sub-District 6 Tournament at Edgewood Park. Monday’s parings pitted the same two teams playing in an elimination game.
Monday night, however, McComb did everything it needed to do and then some in an 18-1 victory in a game called after three innings because of the 15-run rule.
The victory put McComb in the championship series tonight at 6 opposite unbeaten Summit. Should McComb win the opener, a second game would be played immediately following.
McComb scored eight runs on five hits and five errors in the first inning. The hosts added 10 runs on five hits and an error in the second frame for an 18-0 advantage.
“We came out hitting the ball tonight. Us putting the ball in play was key,” McComb manager Pender Johnson said. “Friday, everything we hit went to the second baseman, first baseman or pitcher. We put the ball in play a little bit Friday, but they weren’t good hits. Tonight we hit their pitching.”
Walthall County used four hurlers. Bracey Morgan started, threw to five batters and allowed four hits. All five batters scored. Gage Kennedy — who tossed the 1-hitter Friday — came on and pitched to 10 batters. He allowed six runs and three hits. Aliyah McGlown allowed seven runs, three hits in facing nine batters. Dammareon Ginn threw 11/3 innings and didn’t allow a run or hit. He did walk four.
McComb starter Brady Johnson and Aaron Artigues combined for a no-hitter. Johnson went two innings, fanned five and allowed one runner on an error. Artigues fanned three and walked two.
Walthall’s Javontae Walker walked and scored on an error on an attempted steal of home in the third inning.
“We couldn’t ask any more out of our pitching tonight,” Pender Johnson said.
For McComb offensively, Cory Culotta, Braxton Cooksey and Artigues all had two hits. Artigues doubled twice and drove in three runs. His double in the second got by the center fielder, and Artigues motored all the way home. Culotta and Brady Cooksey both doubled, while Keverrion Robinson, Preston Alexander and Brady Johnson recorded singles.
Pender Johnson said his squad must play as well tonight.
“We’ll have a tough night against Summit,” Johnson said. “We know their kids, and their kids know us. It’s going to be a tough game.”
Pender Johnson said he was not sure who might start on the mound in tonight’s game, but said the pitching staff is intact. He noted Brady Johnson still has six innings left and Artigues has 11 innings remaining.
9-year-old District
Pine Hills’ Dixie Youth Baseball 9-year-old All-Stars defeated Walthall County, 8-4, on Monday night in an elimination game of the District 6 Tournament.
Pine Hills advanced to tonight’s championship game at 6 against unbeaten McComb. Should Pine Hills win, another game would be played immediately afterward.
Pine Hills pitcher Brady Smith went the distance. He recorded eight strikeouts in getting the victory.
Pine Hills scored two runs in the first inning and added one in the second, three in the third and two more in the fourth and final inning.
Walthall County scored all four of its runs runs in the third inning on D.J. Smith’s four-run inside-the-park homer.
Pine Hills managed three hits in the game, including a double by Tyler Jones and singles by Jeremiah Cupil and Carson Pritchard.
A.J. Warren singled for Walthall County.
Chase Bickham, Dylan Davis and Da’on Hill all pitched for Walthall.
