Natchez High, Trinity get baseball wins

Published 12:22 am Saturday, March 27, 2010

JACKSON — Natchez High baseball coach Charlie Williams wanted to see some improvement out of his team following what he thought was a lackluster performance against Wingfield on Tuesday.

And on Friday night, the Bulldogs delivered in a 15-9 win against Jim Hill to improve their overall record to 6-5 and district record to 2-1.

“Overall I was proud of the kids tonight,” Williams said. “They showed good character. We fell behind one time and they didn’t give in. They continued to battle and fought back.”

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The game was back and forth for the first few innings.

Natchez scored four runs in the top of the first to take a 4-0 lead, but Jim Hill cut the lead in half with two in the bottom of the inning.

Natchez scored three more runs in the top of the second to go up 7-2, but Jim Hill scored four in the bottom of the inning to cut the lead to 7-6.

The Tigers took a 9-7 lead with three runs in the bottom of the fourth and it looked as if Natchez was on the ropes.

But the Bulldogs got their bats going in the next couple of innings, as they scored four runs in the top of the fifth and four more in the top of the seventh to pull away for the six-run victory.

Natchez had 15 hits in the game. Trevon Chatman and Scott Turner both were 4-for-5 while Javon Washington was 3-for-3 and Derrion Johnson was 2-for-3.

“We hit the ball a whole lot better tonight,” Williams said. “But we still have some areas we can improve in. Hopefully the boys will work toward that goal.”

In addition to the bats, another key to Natchez’s win was the work of Washington on the mound.

Washington came in to pitch in the fifth inning and only allowed Jim Hill one hit the remainder of the game.

“He came in and shut them down,” Williams said. “He did a fantastic job of silencing the bats.”

Trinity 14, Tensas Academy 5

ST. JOSEPH, La. — The Trinity Episcopal Saints scored at least one run in every inning in their blowout win over Tensas Academy Friday.

The Saints pounded out 18 hits, including a home run from Daniel Dunaway and five doubles, two each from Dunaway and Jake Winston.

The game was close early, as Trinity led just 6-5 after Tensas scored three runs in the bottom of the third inning.

But the Saints expanded the lead with three runs in the top of the fourth, then scored three more in the top of the fifth and one run each in the sixth and seventh innings to pull away.

Winston was the winning pitcher, going six innings and striking out 13 batters while holding Tensas to just three hits.

Austin Emfinger took the loss for the Chiefs.

Trinity improved its overall record to 7-5 and its district record to 4-0 with the victory.