Eupora wasn’t happy about the way that its regular season ended with a two-game sweep to the rival East Webster, but a new leaf was turned over last week when the playoffs hit.
After grabbing a game one win over Potts Camp last Monday, the Eagles came out on Friday and rolled 12-2 sweep the series and advance.
“It’s survive and advance. To see our guys go out and compete and get after it was great. The first game we had some calls that didn’t go our way and we could have played the victim. They chose to keep competing and that says a lot about them.”
Thanks to an eight-run third inning, the Eagles were able to roll over the Cardinals in the second game of the series. Jude Hawkins kept things where they were after four innings as the senior pitcher struck out the final six batters he faced. A run in the sixth inning from Eupora would give the team an early ending by run rule in six frames.
Potts Camp’s six errors were an issue and the Eagles played relatively clean with just one miscue. Hawkins did hit six batters in the game but he didn’t let it bother him as he gave up just two hits, two runs and two walks and he struck out 11 batters.
Eupora had two hits from Chris Robinson in the game and everyone in the lineup with the exception of one got a base knock. Cullen Harrison got a hit and walked twice while driving in two RBI. Jacob Surma, Ames Conrad and Robinson all had doubles.
It was a fairly complete two-game set for the Eagles and especially on the mound. Harrison started the first game in the 5-2 victory and went 6.1 strong frames with three hits, one earned run, four walks and seven strikeouts while Robinson got the final two outs and a strikeout. It’s a staff that has really come together on the mound as a whole.
“We didn’t see Jude start out the best, but guys picked him up,” Aldridge said. “Cullen and Jude have thrown well and it helps when you know you can bring a guy in like Chris, Ty or Landry. In a three-game series, you’ve got to have five or six arms that are ready to go. We started out slow on the mound this year but in the course of the season we’ve been able to get guys out there on the mound. We’ve been very fortunate to be able to spread that out over several guys.”
With round one now behind them, the Eagles are looking to make another move this week in the playoffs. Eupora (13-12) is starting the series with the No. 4 seed out of Region 1 in Baldwyn.
Aldridge cautions that the district finish is misleading and the Bearcats are no pushover after sweeping the series with a district champ in Riverside.
“They’re a good program and they’re going to compete,” Aldridge said of Baldwyn. “They’ve got several guys that swing it well and a couple of really good arms.”
Eupora and Baldwyn began the series on Tuesday night in Eupora. Game two was slated for Friday at Baldwyn at 6 p.m. Saturday’s if necessary game three will be back in Eupora at 2 p.m.
