GOODMAN- The Coahoma Tigers were getting things ready for the season finale at home against East Central Community College. Inclement weather changed plans for both teams as the doubleheader moved to Decatur, Mississippi. The Tigers entered with a great start but the Warriors came out with a better finish, sweeping the doubleheader 12-6 and 14-1.
In Game 1, Coahoma got things started by taking a 4-0 lead in the first inning. The big inning was driven with singles by Colt Norris and Rodney Hilber.
East Central (22-21, 15-13 MACJC) returned with three runs in the third inning. Dakota Kennedy stepped up with an RBI single to cut the lead to 4-3.
The Tigers answered with a 2-run homer by Jacob Compton and extended the lead to 6-3.
The Warriors took over by scoring nine unanswered runs. They pulled away for good with three runs in the sixth inning for an 8-6 lead. In the sixth, Eli Harrison singled on a 2-0 count, scoring one run.
East Central tallied three runs in the seventh inning. Warrior batters credited for the big inning include Ken Scott, Alex Hay and Kennedy, who each had RBIs in the inning.
The Warriors racked up 16 hits on the day. Kennedy, Harrison, Scott, Hay, and George Farid all managed to make multiple hits for Warriors. Kennedy led the Warriors with four hits in six at-bats.
Will Ross took the win for the Warriors. He lasted two and a third innings, allowing one hit and zero runs while striking out two and walking zero. J.T. Carney and Braxton Rose entered the game out of the bullpen and helped to close out the game in relief.
Trace Owens started the game for Coahoma. He lasted two and two-thirds innings, allowing six hits and three runs. Davin Hetts and Chase Yearwood entered the game from the bullpen, throwing three and two-thirds innings and two and two-thirds innings respectively.
Coahoma scattered ten hits in the game. Hilber, Norris and Drew Smith each racked up multiple hits for the Tigers. Hilber went 4-for-5 at the plate to lead Coahoma in hits.
In Game 2, Ken Scott kept the game going with a hot hand that tallied four hits and led the Warriors to a 14-1 victory against Coahoma. Scott homered in the first, singled in the second and singled in the fourth.
The Warriors opened up scoring in the first inning, when Scott homered on a 2-1 count, scoring three runs.
They scored six runs in the fourth inning. Kennedy, Ross, Harrison, Farid and Ryan Cupit each had RBIs in the big inning.
East Central totaled 16 hits. Scott, Anderson Shelley and Farid each made multiple hits for the Warriors. Shelley and Scott all had four hits to lead the Warriors.
Roper Ball was the winning pitcher for East Central. He surrendered one run on one hit over three innings, striking out two and walking zero. Evan Keith, Chance Shepherd and Austin Braswell all put in work in relief out of the bullpen, steering their team towards the victory.
Pedro Rubio led Coahoma with their only hit of the game.
Michael Westerfield stepped on the mound for Coahoma. He lasted three innings, allowing ten hits and eight runs while striking out one. Rodney Hilber threw two innings out of the bullpen.
CCC Head Coach Lee Hodge felt so bad that venues changed. The graduating sophomores could not be honored at home. East Central stepped up and honored the Tiger sophomores with a special sophomore recognition.
"East Central are some gracious hosts and we would do the same to return the favor," said Hodge. "We had to play up here four out of the last five years because the rain has got us."
The graduating sophomores of Coahoma Baseball 2019 are Tyler Buckner, Kyler Johnson, Chris Pittman, Pedro Rubio, Davin Hetts, Drew Smith, Colton Norris, Matt Bumpous, Brandon Herring and Joe Gee. They are tied with a past sophomore class for having the most wins in school history. They have combined for 43 wins in two years.
Matt Bumpous took charge as a leader in the outfield this season. He was hoping Coahoma could make it to the postseason this time. He's planning to attend Mississippi University for Women (MUW) to further his education and baseball career.
"This has been a fun team that battled and played hard baseball. You're not always going to come out on top in baseball," said Bumpous. "It's not about baseball it's about the brothers that make a brotherhood."
Joe Gee has been the starting second baseman for the Tigers since his arrival on the CCC campus. Gee had a .313 batting average with 18 RBIs. He appreciates what Coahoma has done for him and is proud to have played for the Tigers with pride. He's planning to further his athletic and academic career at Union University.
"I enjoyed the baseball but what I enjoyed most was the people," said Gee. "Everybody has made a lasting impact on me and I made some friends for life with this team. Coach Hodge means a lot to me because he took a chance on me and I proved him right. The professors and counselors I had were great to me. I really enjoyed my time at CCC."
Coach Hodge really appreciates the effort his team put on the field this season. The lack of depth and string of injuries that affected the Tigers this season were so unfortunate.
"This is a good group and they believe in us. They want to turn Coahoma Baseball around just as I do," said Hodge. "These sophomores are good players and they battled throughout the season. The main thing for them is to get their degree. If you have a degree, you choose your profession and your profession doesn't choose you. The main reason why we're here is to get these kids an education."
Coahoma Baseball has finished the season (20-26, 6-22 MACJC). The Tigers will aim for bigger and better in the 2020 season.
