Prep baseball roundups: Hughes comes up huge for CA

Published 12:01 am Wednesday, April 17, 2013

CENTREVILLE — Chase Hughes scored the game-winning run in a most unusual way with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning as the Centreville Academy Tigers defeated the Simpson Academy Cougars 2-1 Tuesday night to take a one-game-to-none lead in the first round of the MAIS Class AA South State Playoffs.

After Tyler Duncan reached first base after being hit by a pitch from Austin Douglas, Hughes came in as a pinch runner and stole second base. Then John Marcus McDowell laid down a bunt and beat the throw to first base. Right as McDowell hit the bag, the ball hit him and went down the left-field line, allowing Hughes to score.

Randy Bell went the distance and held Simpson Academy to no earned runs on one hit and one walk to go with 14 strikeouts.

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McDowell ended up going 2-for-4 to lead the Tigers at the plate. They scored their first run in the bottom of the fifth inning, also with two outs. Casey Haygood was on third base when Cale McKey hit a ground ball to second base and the throw went in the dirt for an error, allowing McKey to reach first base safely and Haygood to score.

Douglas gave up two runs, none earned, on four hits and one hit batter with seven strikeouts in seven and two-thirds innings.

Game 2 between Centreville Academy (15-5) and Simpson Academy will be at 4:30 p.m. Friday at Simpson Academy. Game 3, if necessary, will follow the conclusion of Game 2.

Vidalia 12, Harrisonburg 0

HARRISONBURG, La. — William Handjis pitched a complete-game shutout and struck out 12 batters as the Vidalia Vikings took care of the Harrisonburg Bulldogs Tuesday afternoon.

Handjis gave up just two hits and walked three batters. He also went 3-for-3 at the plate. Even though the final score looked like one that would have a couple of innings early because of the 10-runs-after-five-innings mercy rule, this game ended up going all seven innings.

Kyle Coley went 3-for-4 and Dillon Gautreau was 2-for-3 for the Vikings.

Vidalia (12-9) next plays at 4 p.m. Thursday at home against Avoyelles.

Monterey 10, Rapides 0

MONTEREY — After being held scoreless in the first three innings, Monterey scored seven runs in the bottom of the fourth inning and never looked back as the Wolves defeated the Rapides Mustangs Tuesday afternoon in an LHSAA District 4-B game.

Kade Passman was the winning pitcher, giving up no runs and scattering eight hits to go with six strikeouts and one walk in six innings. He also went 2-for-4 with two runs batted in. Jake Barlow went 3-for-4 with three RBIs, a triple and a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth inning that ended the game. Jeffery Spann was 2-for-3 with two RBIs.

With the win, Monterey (17-4, 7-0) clinched at least a share of the district championship with Oak Hill. The Wolves’ next game is at 5 p.m. Thursday at Oak Hill.