By Danielle Bean There was a major jungle cat battle in Batesville Monday afternoon as the South Panola Tiger baseball team hosted the Hernando Tiger team in non-conference action, defeating the out of town Tigers 7-5.
The game was rescheduled from last Saturday’s rain out.
Hernando is one of those Desoto County teams who knows how to swing the bats. South Panola has learned how to swing just as well in the Hernando defeat.
The game was tied 3-3 after the first inning. Hernando came out with hot bats getting five hits and scoring three runs.
The Tigers answered with three runs of their own, going through the first eight batters.
Catcher Mitchell Houston walked to get on base. Shortstop David Renfroe got hit by a pitch to advance Houston to second. Pitcher Heath Bolton got hit by a pitch to load the bases with Colton Ales coming in as courtesy runner.
Right fielder Joseph Blair hit a single RBI (run batted in) to drive home Houston for the first run and reload the bases. Designated hitter Marty Stokes walked and scored Renfroe.
Ales scored the tying run on a passed ball.
"Heath (Bolton) settled down in the second inning and didn’t allow a hit," Tiger head coach Patrick Robey said.
Bolton picked up the win for the Tigers on the mound pitching the complete game in seven innings and striking out 11.
The second inning was also big for the Tigers. With two outs, the Tigers rallied and scored three runs.
Second baseman Monroe Harrison walked but got put out going to second base on a Tyler Benson fielder’s choice.
Bright singled and drove home Benson. Bolton singled and drove home Renfroe who had walked. Bright was also able to score for the sixth run. The bases were loaded when the Tigers’ Moore made the third out.
The Tigers’ last score came in the fourth inning. where Bolton walked and scored on a Moore double RBI.
Hernando went through three pitchers and finally were able to stop the Tigers’ scoring spree. Leading hitters for South Panola were Renfroe with two singles, Bolton with a single and a triple, and Moore with two singles.
The Tigers are playing in the Desoto County Tournament this holiday weekend.
Thursday the Tigers will play Jackson County, Mo. at 5:30 p.m. at Horn Lake. On Friday the Tigers will play Desoto Central at 11 a.m. at Desoto Central. Following the 11 a.m. contest the Tigers will play Farmington, Mo. at 1:30 p.m.
Tuesday, the Tigers return home to host Olive Branch in the last home district game of the season. The Tigers need to win next week’s games against Olive Branch to extend the season to the playoffs.
Friday, April 13, the Tigers will be in Olive Branch to finish up that three-game series.
Next Saturday, the Tigers will play the final home and regular season games hosting Water Valley at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Batesville Jr. High The Batesville Jr. High team will participate in the Oxford Tournament tonight and tomorrow. They play tonight at 5 p.m. The game Saturday will depend on the results of Friday’s game.
Monday, the Jr. High Tigers will end their season hosting Oxford at 5 p.m.
SP Lady Tigers The South Panola Lady Tigers hosted Southaven last night in a pivotal district game, but the score was not available at press time.
The Lady Tigers (22-4) will be back in action Tuesday to host Horn Lake in the final district game of the season at 5 and 6 p.m.
Next Thursday, the Lady Tigers will end the regular season hosting Hernando at 5 and 6 p.m. Playoffs begin April 14 with places and times to be announced.
North Delta Baseball The North Delta baseball team will return to action Tuesday at Desoto, Ark. for district games. Thursday, the Green Waves will host Marvell in the final home game which is a district match at 4 and 6 p.m.
The final two district and regular season games will be played April 17 and 19. North Delta will play at Tunica Institute on April 17 and at Bayou April 19. Times to be announced later. |