Published: April 23, 2008 02:33 pm            

Warriors split with Co-Lin, key division games ahead

DECATUR — It was “Sophomore Recognition Day” Saturday for the defending state champion East Central Community College Diamond Warriors who took a break from MACJC Central Division competition to take on South Division member Copiah-Lincoln Community College at the Clark/Gay Baseball Complex on the Decatur campus.

East Central won the first game by a 4-2 margin but fell 10-4 in the nightcap.

The Diamond Warriors are 25-20 overall and 7-5 in league play with division doubleheaders remaining with visiting Holmes Community College beginning at 3 p.m. Wednesday and against East Mississippi Community College Saturday starting at 2 p.m. on the Scooba campus.

East Central is in a battle for a playoff spot along with Meridian Community College, which sports a 9-5 record with two division games remaining, and Hinds Community College, whose division marks is the same as EC’s at 7-5. Hinds has four division games left.

The top two teams in each division qualify for the MACJC State Tournament scheduled May 1-4. The North Division winner is designated as host for this year’s tournament.

East Central recognized sophomore players prior to the first contest with Co-Lin. Honorees and their respective hometowns include pitcher Jesus Aleman, Belle Glade, Florida; pitcher Gregory Stovall, Philadelphia; middle infielder Jacob Casey and manager Justin Joyner, both of Union; pitcher Mack Creighton and outfielder/infielder Josh Lafferty, both of Quitman; pitcher/utility player Terrell Hendrix, Starkville; pitcher/middle infielder Brian Jones, Adolphus, Ky.; catcher Chris Parkman, Pulaski; pitcher Robert Westbrook, Decatur; and infielder/outfielder Deon Williams, Northport, Ala.

In the win over Co-Lin, EC scored one run in the first inning and three in third. Co-Lin tallied its two runs in the sixth inning.

Jack Edmondson of Louisville belted two singles and Casey and Parkman had doubles each to lead the offense. Singles each were recorded by Jones, ZeErica Hall of Carthage and Clint Coleman of Louisville. Parkman led in RBIs with two. Casey and Jones knocked in a run apiece.

Creighton was the winning pitcher for EC on the mound. He pitched four and two-thirds scoreless innings and allowed just one hit. Creighton fanned eight batters and walked four.

Carey Miller of Louisville pitched one and one-third innings, allowing two earned runs on three hits. He fanned two batters. Hendrix hurled the final inning and allowed one hit. He fanned two batters.

In the loss to Co-Lin, EC scored two runs in the first inning and two in the seventh. The visitors tallied three in the third, four in the fourth, one in the fifth and two in the sixth.

The Diamond Warriors managed just six hits- a double and single by Hendrix, two singles by Hall, and singles by Jones and Kylie Ming of Louisville.

Co-Lin pounded 13 hits in notching the win.

Stovall took the loss for EC on the mound, allowing seven runs on seven hits through three and one-third innings. He fanned one and walked six. Timothy Maloney of Meridian hurled two innings, allowing three runs on four hits. He fanned two batters and walked one. Aleman pitched the final one and two-thirds innings, allowing two hits. He fanned two batters.

        

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