ACCS, CHS and Vidalia all get early season wins

Published 12:01 am Sunday, March 8, 2015

RAYMOND — The Adams County Christian School Rebels ended up with a split of an MAIS District 5-AA varsity doubleheader against the Central Hinds Academy Cougars Saturday afternoon, taking Game 1 9-8 while falling in Game 2 8-1.

ACCS got off to a strong start in Game 1 with seven runs in the top of the second inning, highlighted by Bradley Jones’ two-run home run. Winning pitcher Wade Simpson pitched two scoreless innings to start, then gave up five runs over his final three innings.

But with the score at 7-6 after six innings of play, Simpson came up big when the Rebels needed it the most as he blasted a two-run home run in the top of the seventh. Which was key because the Cougars plated two runs of their own in the bottom of the seventh. However, Central Hinds was unable to bring in the game-tying run.

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Simpson wound up going 2-for-5 and Caden Gillespie was 2-for-3 to lead the Rebels, who amassed eight hits. Simpson gave up four hits, struck out eight and walked two.

Game 2 of the twinbill saw ACCS struggle at the plate and in the field against Central Hinds. The Rebels didn’t get on the scoreboard until the bottom of the sixth inning and by then they were already trailing the Cougars 4-0.

Luke Thomas took the loss as he allowed four runs on five hits and three walks with five strikeouts in five innings. The defense behind him did not help as the Rebels committed four errors.

ACCS (1-3, 1-1) will travel to Gallman for a unique doubleheader. First the Rebels will take on Home School at 1 p.m. and they will play Copiah Academy at 5 p.m.

Vidalia 6, LaSalle 0

OLLA, La. — Jewel Thompson and Katlyn McCarver both produced two-run singles for Vidalia High School in the top of the seventh inning as the Lady Vikings pulled away for a 6-0 win over the LaSalle High School Lady Tigers Saturday afternoon.

The first six innings of this match-up was a pitchers’ duel between Vidalia’s Taylor Rodgers and LaSalle’s Keeley Parham. The two combined to pitch a shutout through the first four innings before Vidalia put up one run in the top of the fifth inning.

“We struggled early on, mentally. Defensively, we did a good job,” Lady Vikings head coach Forrest Foster said. “Taylor did a great job in the circle and her curveball was working well today.”

As for what wasn’t working well against Parham, Foster said the Lady Vikings couldn’t get runs in when they had the opportunity. And he said there were several of them.

“We couldn’t get the bunt down or execute. That is just part of it,” he said.

After a scoreless sixth inning kept the score at 1-0, the Lady Vikings finally got to Parham for five runs in the top of the seventh. Meanwhile Rodgers continued to keep the Lady Tigers off the scoreboard to complete the shutout.

“Obviously, any time you win it is a good win. We broke it open with good base running in the seventh. Laid a bunt down well in that inning,” Foster said. “The good teams play seven innings and we haven’t quite done it yet with the bat, but on defense we have. Overall, I’m tickled to death.”

Rodgers allowed three hits and walked just one batter while striking out six batters to get the win. Despite being charged with the loss, Parham held her own against a talented Vidalia team with nine strikeouts. However, she gave up nine hits and walked six batters.

“Early on, I was really disappointed. It was like we weren’t there to play, but then the light switch clicked on,” Foster said. “It is like I told the girls, if we have any aspirations at all, every game is a sense of urgency because in order to get to state, every game is important,” Foster said. “We can’t overlook anybody or anything.”

Vidalia (2-0) opens up LHSAA District 2-2A play at 4 p.m. Monday at Caldwell Parish.

Cathedral 8, Wesson 3

BROOKHAVEN — Zach Flattmann went 2-for-3 with a home run to lead Cathedral High School at the plate as the Green Wave defeated the Wesson High School Cobras 8-3 Saturday afternoon at the Brookhaven High School Tournament.

Sam Parker got the win after giving up two runs (one earned) on three hits and one walk to go with four strikeouts over two innings of work. Quinton Logan and Pate Shirley also pitched a few innings for the Green Wave.

“We didn’t swing the bats as well as we did last Saturday. Hopefully we’ll be sharper on Monday at the Ridgeland Tournament,” Cathedral head coach Craig Beesley said. “I thought Sam, Quinton and Pate did a good job on the mound. Right now, our pitching should be ahead of our hitting.”

The Green Wave and the Cobras went back and forth as far as putting runs on the board were concerned for much of the first three innings. By the time the third inning was over, Cathedral led Wesson 4-2. It remained at that score until the Green Wave pulled away with four runs in the top of the seventh.

Craig Bradley had a double for the Green Wave, which finished with six hits.

Cathedral (3-0) will take on Brookhaven Academy at 11 a.m. Monday and Warren Central at 3 p.m. Monday at the Ridgeland High School Tournament.

Vidalia takes two wins at Monterey Tournament

MONTEREY — The Vidalia High School Vikings went 2-0 Saturday at the Monterey High School Baseball Tournament, first defeating the LaSalle High School Tigers 10-6 in the morning and then taking care of the Block High School Bears 13-3 in the afternoon.

In the win over LaSalle, Vidalia trailed the Tigers 4-3 after three innings of play before scoring seven unanswered runs over the next three innings to take control of the game. William Handjis was the winning pitcher after allowing four runs on seven hits with nine strikeouts in six innings. Handjis also went 2-for-2 with a double, a triple and one run batted in. Landon Seyfarth had a double and four runs batted in, Cole Cangemi was 2-for-3 and Tyler Sandifer drove in two runs.

In the win over Block, Vidalia jumped out to an early 7-0 lead and was never seriously threatened by the Bears. Alan Doyle got the win on the mound as he allowed three runs on two hits with two strikeouts and 10 walks.

Taylor-Perron Krause was the lone bright spot for Block as he hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Handjis had another big game for the Vikings as he went 2-for-2 with a triple and three runs scored. Cangemi went 2-for-4 with two doubles and three RBIs. Seyfarth also had three RBIs.

Vidalia (5-0) next plays at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Mangham.