Rams shut out by Tallulah

By From staff reports | The Natchez Democrat

Published Friday, March 21, 2008

TALLULAH, La. — Tallulah Academy pitcher Caleb Landrum struck out 11 batters in a complete-game performance as the Trojans defeated the WCCA Rams 4-0 Thursday afternoon in an early key MPSA District 6-A game for both teams.

Tallulah Academy improved to 2-1 in district play with the win and is now just a half-game back in the win column behind WCCA, which dropped to 9-6 overall and 3-1 in district play.

Brandon Simon had a good outing for WCCA on the mound as he struck out seven and walked two in seven innings. Unfortunately, the Rams’ bats sputtered against Landrum.

“Landrum pitched a good game. It was as if he overpowered us,” WCCA head coach Ray Olive said. “We’ve been hitting the ball real well and getting out to early leads. We didn’t hit the ball well today.”

The Trojans scored their first run in the bottom of the first inning as Caleb Landrum got on base after being hit by a pitch, moved to second on a fielder’s choice and scored on Martin’s single.

Tallulah Academy added a pair of runs in the bottom of the third inning. Walker led off with a walk, went to third base on a double by Clark and scored on a balk. Clark then scored on a two-out single by Caleb Landrum.

In the bottom of the fifth, Clark got things going for the Trojans with a single, moved to third on a single by Cody Landrum and scored on a sacrifice fly by Caleb Landrum.

“They had some very timely hits in the game,” Olive said. “Our pitcher was good enough to get the win, but we didn’t give him any run support.”

WCCA returns to action next Monday when it travels to Natchez to take on Trinity Episcopal at Chester Willis Field. The junior varsity game starts at 5 p.m., followed by the varsity game at 7 p.m.

Monterey 6, Block 4

JONESVILLE — In addition to being the winning pitcher, Monterey’s Beau Shivley had quite the performance at the plate as he led the Wolves past the Bears Thursday afternoon.

Shivley had three hits in four at-bats, including a two-run home run in the top of the third inning that broke a scoreless ball game, and finished with four runs batted in. On the mound, he scattered 11 hits and only got in trouble in one inning.

Oddly enough, that was the bottom of the third as Block (7-6) answered with three runs of its own to briefly take the lead. That was because Monterey (4-8) responded with two runs in the top of the fourth to take a 4-3 lead.

The Bears scored one run in the bottom of the fourth inning to make a tie ball game at 4-4, but the Wolves scored the final two runs of the game in the top of the fifth.

Even though Block had 11 hits in the game, which was the same number of hits that Monterey had, the Bears could not get the key hits off Shivley that they needed to when they had their opportunities.

Monterey begins District 3-B action next Tuesday when it hosts Epps at 4 p.m.

Trinity Episcopal 12, Riverfield 2 (Game 1)

Trinity Episcopal 3, Riverfield 1 (Game 2)

LAKE PROVIDENCE, La. — Thanks to some solid pitching by Parker Brumfield and Matthew Freeman, the Saints took a doubleheader sweep over the Raiders Thursday afternoon in MPSA District 3-AA action.

Brumfield struck out seven while allowing just two runs on five hits as Trinity Episcopal 10-run ruled Riverfield in six inning to take the first game. Brian Sanderson led the Saints at the plate with three hits, including a double, and Trevor Faust had a double.

The Saints scored in all six innings, including four runs in the top of the third inning and three straight two-run innings after that. Brumfield ended the game by keeping Riverfield scoreless in the bottom of the sixth inning.

The second game was much closer than the first game, but Freeman did his job by pitching six straight scoreless innings. Trinity (11-2, 3-0) scored one run in the top of the first, fourth, and fifth innings. The Raiders got a solo home run from J.T. Davis in the bottom of the seventh, but it was not enough.

Before Davis’ home run, Riverfield could only manage two hits off Freeman, who struck out six batters. Brumfield and Wells Middleton each had a double for the Saints.