St. Al, PCA cruise in wins

Published 11:59 am Wednesday, April 2, 2014

From staff reports

 

St. Aloysius started a pivotal stretch of its season by breaking out the whuppin’ sticks.

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The Flashes banged out 15 hits — eight of its nine starters had at least one — and scored multiple runs in each of the first four innings to crush Pelahatchie 18-0 Tuesday at Bazinsky Field.

Pat Murphy led the offensive onslaught by going 3-for-4 with a double, RBI and two runs scored. Wailes Kemp was also 3-for-4 with two RBIs, while Matthew Foley and Drake Dorbeck each had two hits and scored three times.

Ben Welp went the distance on the mound in the five-inning, run-rule shortened game. He gave up two hits, walked one, and struck out 10.

The victory got St. Al (6-7, 1-2 Division 7-1A) into the win column in division play after suffering a pair of losses to Bogue Chitto last week.

It was also the start of a four-game stretch over the next two weeks that will determine the Flashes’ playoff fate. They play at Pelahatchie (3-9, 0-3) on Friday night, then face Cathedral (9-3, 2-0) twice next week.

 

Warren Central 4,

Greenville-Weston 3

Zach Cox’s sixth-inning double brought Carlisle Koestler all the way around from first base with the go-ahead run, and Warren Central (13-3, 4-1 Division 4-6A) fended off upset-minded Greenville-Weston (4-5, 1-3).

Cameron Upton struck out four batters in three innings of scoreless relief to earn the win. He outdueled Greenville’s Kenneth Hinton, who struck out eight in a complete-game loss.

Greenville outhit WC 10-7 and took a 3-2 lead into the fifth inning before the Vikings rallied for a run in the top of the fifth to tie it and another in the sixth to go ahead to stay.

“That team we just played was a quality ball club. One of the better teams we’ve played all year, the way they played tonight. They swung it well and their pitcher was one of the best arms we’ve seen all year,” WC coach Conner Douglas said. “We showed up to play, but so did (Greenville). They were here for a dog fight, and I’m glad our guys battled the way we did all night.”

 

PCA 13, Rebul 3

Hunter Lyons went 4-for-4 with three RBIs and three runs scored, and Porters Chapel Academy (12-8, 5-0 District 5-A) scored nine runs in its last two at-bats to rout Rebul Academy.

PCA used three walks, an error, and three wild pitches to score four times in the fifth inning and take an 8-3 lead. Lyons then had a two-run single in the sixth as PCA tacked on five more runs and won by the 10-run mercy rule.

Jarrod Avery and Booth Buys each had a triple, while Sam Kirk was 2-for-4 with a double. Kirk also pitched the first 4 2/3 innings and was credited with the win.

PCA can clinch its first playoff berth since 2011 by sweeping a doubleheader with Rebul Thursday at home.

VHS 12, Callaway 7

Jekori Reed went 2-for-2 with two triples and three RBIs, Josh Sterling was 2-for-4 with a double, triple and three RBIs, and Vicksburg (8-6)(4-0) beat Callaway on Monday night. In his last three games, Reed is 8-for-9 with three triples, two doubles, eight RBIs and five runs scored.Tyler Smith struck out eight batters in five innings to get the win.

Vicksburg and Callaway play again Friday night at 7 at Bazinsky Field.