Baseball | 3/4/2017 7:12:00 AM
ELLISVILLE –
Erick Hoard (Brandon) blasted two home runs and
Mason Strickland (South Jones) only allowed two baserunners as top-ranked Jones County Junior College whipped Illinois Central 12-1 in five innings in game one here Friday afternoon at Community Bank Park.
Jones got off to a fast start as their first four batters hit for the cycle.
Fred Franklin (West Lauderdale) led off with a single and
Shelton Wallace (Northwest Rankin) tripled to deep center to drive him home.
Hoard then blasted his first home run of the game, a high drive over the centerfield wall.
Tanner Huddleston (George County) then doubled into the leftfield corner and later scored on a wild pitch to make it 4-0.
The Bobcats went up 5-0 in the second inning when Franklin walked, stole second and scored on an error.
JCJC scored four runs after two outs in the third.
Hudson Harris (West Jones) and
Caleb Ledet (Houma, Louisiana) drew walks and Franklin drilled his first home run of the year – a three-run blast over the leftfield wall.
Meanwhile, Strickland retired the first 11 batters he faced, had an 0-1 count on the first eight batters and 0-2 count in the first six. ICC's only hit came with two outs in the fourth when Michael Lowery homered to left.
JCJC ended the game in the fifth, via the 'mercy rule.'
Ledet was hit by a pitch and Franklin reached on a fielder's choice. He went to second on an error, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Wallace.
Hoard then drilled his second home run of the game and fourth of the season over the rightfield wall to end it.
Strickland, 4-0, allowed one hit, one walk and struck out five.
Hoard homered twice, singled and drove in five runs. Franklin homered and singled and had three RBIS, while Wallace tripled and singled and had two RBIs. Huddleston doubled with
Luther Woullard (D'Iberville) and Ledet adding singles.
Jarrod McElyea was the starter and loser for the Cougars. He went three innings, allowed nine runs (seven earned), seven hits, walked four and struck out two. Christian Young pitched the final 1 1/3 innings, allowed three runs and three hits.
Friday's game
Ellisville
Community Bank Park
Game 1
Jones County 12, Illinois Central 1
(5 innings).
Illinois Central (3-2) 000 10 – 1 1 4
Jones County (13-0) 414 x3 – 12 10 0
Jarrod McElyea, Christian Young (4) and Alex Peters.
Mason Strickland and
Jonathan Parker.
WP-Strickland (1-0).
LP-McElyea.
ICC hitters: Michael Lowery HR.
JCJC hitters: Erick Hoard 2 HR, 1B;
Fred Franklin HR, 1B;
Shelton Wallace 3B, 1B;
Tanner Huddleston 2B;
Luther Woullard 1B;
Caleb Ledet.
LOB: ICC-1; JCJC-6.
T-1:21.
