Meridian Community College completed its weekend of dominance as the Eagles swept Baton Rouge, La., to take three key Miss-Lou Conference victories over the Bears.
The Eagles improved their 2009 record to 26-13 with the sweep of Baton Rouge and improved to 6-3 inside conference play.
“These were three wins that we really needed,” MCC head coach Chris Rose said. “We came out and hit the ball really well and got two really fantastic pitching performances from our starters. We have a huge week coming up and this is some great momentum heading into some big games.”
MCC will hit the road on Tuesday and Wednesday with two doubleheaders in the state of Alabama. The Eagles tangle with Northwest Shoals Tuesday beginning at 3 p.m., and travel to Wallace-Hanceville Wednesday for a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m.
MCC will conclude conference play next weekend at Scaggs Field against long-time foe Delgado.
MCC 10
Baton Rouge 0
MCC got a solid pitching performance from freshman Mandella Mingo and the Eagle offense continued its great hitting in the run-rule victory in Game 1. Mingo pitched six shutout innings and collected two strikeouts in the outing for MCC.
“He did a great job of battling and getting out of some tough situations,” said Rose. “We played some solid defense behind him and it was a great job on the mound in the first game.”
The MCC offense gave Mingo plenty of run support as the Eagles scored three runs in the opening inning. Jordan King got the bats going with a single and Brent Tanner followed with a single to put a pair of runners on for Tyler Vick.
Vick reached on a single down the left field line to load the bases for MCC.
The first inning scored on a fielder’s choice by Wesley Thigpen and the next run crossed the plate on an RBI single by William Beckwith to make the score 2-0. The third run of the first inning scored on a fielder’s choice by Jonathan Pace to give MCC the three-run lead over Baton Rouge.
MCC put the game away for good with six runs in the fourth inning to extend the lead to 9-0. Kenny Sanders led the inning off with a solo home run and Corey Dickerson followed with a solo shot of his own to give MCC a 5-0 lead.
Vick added an RBI single in the inning and Beckwith picked up another pair of RBIs on a single in the six run fourth inning.
The Eagles added their final run of the game in the sixth inning on a bases loaded walk to Pace to give MCC the run rule win.
MCC 7
Baton Rouge 1
Sophomore Garrett Harris threw seven strong innings and recorded six strikeouts to finish the three-game sweep of Baton Rouge in Game 2.
The MCC offense put five runs on the board in the second inning to jump on the Bears. Three of the runs in the second inning scored on two errors by the Baton Rouge defense and Tanner drove a pair of runs in on a single in the inning for MCC.
The Eagles extended the lead in the fifth inning to make the score 6-0. Thigpen started the inning with a single and later scored on another error on the infield by the Bears to give MCC the six run advantage.
Baton Rouge (9-34, 1-8) was able to manage its only run in the doubleheader in the sixth inning to make the score 6-1. Kyle Gardere reached base on a double to left center field and later crossed the plate on a wild pitch.
MCC plated its final run in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI single by Tanner to propel the Eagles to the sweep.
MCC had nine hits in the second game as Tanner led the way with three of singles for the Eagles. Dickerson and Thigpen also had two singles in the game for MCC.
Sports
Eagles sweep Bears
- Sports
-
-
Neel leaving champion War Eagles for Panthers
Eric Neel spent three seasons coach at East Central. The Hornets played in three state championship games.
Neel then coached the past three years at Wayne County, leading the War Eagles to three straight Class 5A fast-pitch state crowns.
And now, he doesn’t see why the same can’t occur at Quitman. After guiding Wayne County to its third straight championship Saturday, Neel resigned his position in Waynesboro on Thursday to replace Kacie Roberson at Quitman. -
Unexpected Honor
Winning a state championship, that Blake McMullen expected.
To be named the Player of the Year in Class 3A by the Mississippi Association of Coaches, that caught the Southeast Lauderdale senior off guard. -
RCA’s Lee and pair of Generals chosen for All-Star tilt
Russell Christian Academy senior Camryn Lee and Newton County Academy duo Clay Upton and Dillon Williams will wrap up their senior seasons today.
The local trio will play in the MAIS All-Star Class A game at Smith-Wills Stadium in Jackson at 2 p.m. The Class AA-AAA game will follow. -
McFarland named first-team All-American for Jones County
The honors continue to come in for the Jones County Junior College softball program.
Pitcher Ginger Lonergan and centerfielder Relanda McFarland were both named to the NJCAA Division II All-American first-team on Thursday. -
A Family Affair
Five days. Two state titles. One family.
It’d be hard to find a family that had a better week than the one Robbi and Shay Cooper just experienced. -
Roundup — Stephens receives Sekul Award
Adding to his impressive collection of coaching hardware, East Mississippi Community College head football coach Buddy Stephens was presented with the 2011 George Sekul Award during the All-American Football Foundation’s Banquet of Champions held earlier this month at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame.
-
The Drought Is Over
All Mason Irby was hoping for was to find a way on base.
The Southeast Lauderdale sophomore did that and so much more. Irby's single with two outs in the seventh inning broke a tie, lifting the Tigers to a 6-3 MHSAA Class 3A state championship win at Smith-Wills Stadium on Wednesday, and handing Southeast (32-7) its first title since 1966. -
Ramey shines again, hurls Tigers to MHSAA Class 3A crown
The bar was set pretty high.
After all, Southeast Lauderdale senior right-hander Colby Ramey needed just 65 pitches to beat Kossuth in Game 1 of the MHSAA Class 3A state championship game Thursday.
However, according to fellow senior Blake McMullen, Ramey cleared the hurdle Wednesday when he scattered eight hits on 104 pitches to finish off the Aggies in a 6-3 state championship-clinching win at Smith-Wills Stadium on Wednesday. -
Southeast wins MHSAA Class 3A Championsip
Slideshow from the MHSAA Class 3A state championship game between Southeast Lauderdale and Kossuth.
-
Briarwood to host Emerald Coast Golf Tour in June
Professional golf is coming to Meridian.
The Emerald Coast Golf Tour will be holding the Meridian Pro-Am Classic at Briarwood Country Club June 26-29. - More Sports Headlines
-
Neel leaving champion War Eagles for Panthers

