ELLISVILLE – For the second straight night, 14
th-ranked East Central scored a walk-off victory over No. 2 Jones County.
Billy Cameron's two-run single in the bottom of the ninth lifted the Warriors to a 13-12 victory in the championship game of the MACJC Tournament here Saturday night at Community Bank Park.
On Friday night, ECCC scored on a passed ball in the bottom of the ninth to edge JCJC, 14-13.
The Warriors (37-15) will now host the Region 23 Tournament May 19-22. In first round games, JCJC (45-7) will meet top-ranked LSU-Eunice (50-4) and ECCC will face Northwest (29-19). An official tournament bracket will be released Monday.
JCJC held a 12-11 lead going into the bottom of the ninth.
Will Kennedy led off with a slow roller to JCJC third baseman
Tanner Huddleston, who fielded the ball, but made a low throw to first baseman
Erick Hoard. The ball got past Hoard and Kennedy ended up at second base on a two-base error.
Cole Prestegard then struck out, but the ball got away from catcher
Jonathan Parker. Parker threw Prestegard out at first base, but Kennedy took third on the play.
With the infield playing in, Brandon Clark hit a groundball to shortstop
Dalton Skelton. Kennedy started home and Skelton threw to Parker. But Kennedy ran back to third base and Clark reached first on the fielder's choice.
Clark then stole second on the first pitch to Matt Mitchell. The Bobcats elected to put Mitchell on to load the bases with one out.
Cameron stepped in and hit the first pitch to right for the game-winning single.
JCJC opened the game by scoring twice in the top of the first inning.
Clint Sasser walked and stole second.
Shelton Wallace reached on an infield single and Sasser was able to score on the play. Wallace went to second on the throw home and took third on a wild pitch. After Huddleston walked, Wallace scored when Hoard hit into a double play.
ECCC came back with four runs in the bottom of the inning.
Dylan Snypes walked, Kennedy reached on an error and Prestegard walked to load the bases. Clark was hit by a pitch to score Snypes and Kennedy scored on a passed ball. After Mitchell walked to load the bases, T.J. Lockett walked to force home Prestegard and Michael Davis followed with an RBI single to make it 4-2.
But the Bobcats came right back to take a 6-4 lead in the second.
Parker led off with a single and Skelton walked. After
Fred Franklin sacrificed the runners, Sasser walked to load the bases.
Wallace followed with a two-run single and Huddleston would also have a two-run single.
The Warriors tied it at 6-6 in the bottom of the second.
Kennedy led off with a double and was doubled home by Clark. Cameron's single scored Clark.
ECCC took a 7-6 lead in the third when Nathan Roseberry singled and Snypes followed with a bunt single. Kennedy's groundout scored Roseberry.
The Bobcats went ahead 9-7 in the fourth.
Sasser led off with a walk and Wallace singled. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch and Irby's single scored Sasser. Wallace would score on a wild pitch and Huddleston singled to score Irby.
East Central tied it in the fifth when Roseberry led off with a single and, two outs later, Prestegard homered over the rightfield wall.
But the Bobcats came right back to take a 12-9 lead in the sixth.
Irby tripled off the rightfield wall and Huddleston followed with a home run to left. After Hoard doubled, Parker drove him in with a single.
The Warriors pulled within 12-11 in the seventh.
Snypes and Kennedy drew walks and Prestegard followed with an RBI double. Clark's sacrifice fly scored Kennedy.
Huddleston homered, singled twice and had five RBIs, while Wallace singled and drove in three runs. Irby tripled and singled, while Parker singled twice. Hoard added a double.
Prestegard homered and doubled, while Clark doubled and singled. Cameron, Roseberry and Davis had two singles each, while Kennedy doubled. Prestegard, Clark and Cameron each had three RBIs.
Will Brand, 3-1, went the last 2/3 of an inning and was charged with the loss. He gave up two runs (one earned), one hit, walked one and struck out one.
Tyler Spring entered in relief in the first inning and pitched six innings. He allowed seven earned runs, nine hits, walked two and struck out four. Starter
Reed Michel lasted 1/3 of an inning. He gave up four runs (three earned), no hits, walked four and hit one.
Channing Wall, the sixth ECCC pitcher of the night, went the final 3 1/3 innings and got the win. Wall, who was the winning pitcher on Friday, allowed no runs, no hits, walked one and struck out four as he improved to 6-5.
Starter Peyton Cain lasted 2 1/3 innings, allowed six earned runs, four hits and walked four. Taylor Creighton, Tyler Ladner, Christian Bellew and Hagan Brown also pitched for ECCC.
MACJC Tournament
Ellisville
Community Bank Park
Saturday's games
East Central 13, Jones County 12
Jones County (45-7) 240 303 000 – 12 11 3
East Central (37-15) 421 020 202 – 13 12 1
Reed Michel,
Tyler Spring (1),
Jay Simpson (7),
Will Brand (8) and
Jonathan Parker. Peyton Cain, Taylor Creighton (3), Tyler Ladner (4), Christian Bellew (6), Hagan Brown (6), Channing Wall (6) and Michael Davis.
WP-Wall (6-5).
LP-Brand (3-1).
JCJC hitters: Tanner Huddleston HR, 2 1B;
Shelton Wallace 3 1B;
Mason Irby 3B, 1B;
Jonathan Parker 2 1B;
Erick Hoard 2B.
ECCC hitters: Cole Prestegard HR, 2B; Brandon Clark 2B, 1B; Billy Cameron 2 1B; Nathan Roseberry 2 1B; Michael Davis 2 1B; Will Kennedy 2B; Dylan Snypes 1B.
LOB: JCJC-9; ECCC-12.
T-3:52.
MACJC Tournament
Ellisville
Community Bank Park
May 12 results
Game 1, East Central 19, Meridian 11
Game 2, Jones County 15, Northwest 12
May 13 results
Game 3, Northwest 9, Meridian 4
Game 4, East Central 14, Jones County 13
May 14 results
Game 5, Jones County 10, Northwest 4
Game 6, Championship, East Central 13, Jones County 12
