ELLISVILLE – Freshman catcher Mason Irby doubled twice, singled and drove in four runs to spark the 10th-ranked Jones County Junior College Bobcats to a 12-6 victory over Itawamba Community College in game one of a doubleheader here Friday afternoon at Community Bank Park.
ICC got out of the gate quickly with three runs in the first inning.
Tanner Poole led off with a single, stole second and scored on Timothy Rowe's single. Hayden Williams then singled and Gable Butler followed with a two-run double to the gap in right-center.
The Bobcats made it 3-1 in the bottom of the first when Chris Morgan led off with a single and Clint Sasser reached on a fielder's choice. Sasser advanced to second on an error and scored on Irby's single to center.
JCJC took a 4-3 lead in the third when they scored three runs with two outs.
Sasser drew a walk, Carter Polles singled and Irby followed with a two-run double. John Alan Wall followed with an infield single and courtesy runner Josh Keel came home on an error.
The Bobcats took a 5-3 lead in the fourth when Peyton Attaway led off the inning with a home run over the leftfield wall.
ICC would tie the game at 5-5 in the seventh.
Cody Young reached on a two-base error and Bryce Williams followed with a single. Poole then walked to load the bases. After a strikeout, Rowe and Hayden Williams were hit by pitches to force in two runs.
But JCJC sent 11 batters to the plate in the bottom of the seventh.
Morgan led off with a walk and Sasser reached on a bunt single. After a strikeout, Irby walked to load the bases. Wall then delivered a two-run single to center and Tyler Schankin followed with another single. Dylan Manichia then had an RBI single to center and Attaway followed with a bases loaded walk to score a run. Chris Richardson then doubled into the leftfield corner to score two more runs.
ICC got a run in the top of the eighth when Russ Johnson singled and later scored when Brayden Owen reached on an error.
The Bobcats got the run back in the bottom of the eighth when Polles walked, stole second and scored on another Irby double.
Christian Dale went 6 1/3 innings as the JCJC starter. He allowed five runs (four earned), eight hits, walked one and struck out seven. Will Brand, 4-1, pitched 2 2/3 innings and got the win. He gave up one unearned run, two hits, walked one, hit two and struck out one.
In addition to Irby's big game, Attaway homered and singled, while Sasser, Polles and Manichia had two singles each. Richardson had a double with Morgan, Wall and Schankin adding singles.
Hayden Williams had three singles for Itawamba and Bryce Williams added two singles. Butler added a double with Poole, Owen, Rowe and Johnson getting singles.
Brady Chambley started for ICC. He went five innings, allowed five runs (four earned), seven hits, walked two and struck out five. TJ Watson pitched 1 1/3 innings and took the loss. He gave up six runs, six hits, walked four and struck out three. Jonas White pitched 2/3 of an inning, Blake McGuff pitched to three batters and did not retire any. Cole Robinson pitched an inning and allowed one run and one hit.
JCJC is now 22-9 overall and 9-6 in MACJC play. Itawamba is now 13-10 and 7-8.
 
Friday's game
At Ellisville
Community Bank Park
Game 1
Jones County 12, Itawamba 6
Itawamba (13-10, 7-8)       300 000 210 – 6 10 1
Jones County (22-9, 9-6)  103 100 61x – 12 15 2
Brady Chambley, TJ Watson (6), Jonas White (7), Blake McGuff (8), Cole Robinson and Cody Young. Christian Dale, Will Brand (7) and Mason Irby. WP-Brand (4-1). LP-Watson. ICC hitters: Hayden Williams 3 1B; Bryce Williams 2 1B; Gable Butler 2B; Brayden Owen 1B; Tanner Poole 1B;Timothy Rowe 1B; Russ Johnson 1B. JCJC hitters: Mason Irby 2 2B, 1B; Peyton Attaway HR, 1B; Carter Polles 2 1B; Clint Sasser 2 1B;  Dylan Manichia 2 1B; Chris Richardson 2B; John Alan Wall 1B; Chris Morgan 1B; Tyler Schankin 1B. LOB: ICC-8; JCJC-7. T-2:52.