Choctaw County had four three-run innings in rebounding from a 9-3 loss to Lake with a 12-5 victory over Leake County.
The Chargers jumped out to a 6-0 lead over Leake County with three runs each in the first and third, but Leake cut the deficit to one with five runs in the bottom of the third. Choctaw County regained control with two more three-run rallies in the fourth and sixth.
Alex Talano came on in relief for Choctaw County and blanked Leake County on one hit, with six strikeouts, over the final four innings. “He came in and steadied the ship for us,” said coach Justin Flake.
The offense was led by Ques McNeal, with three hits and three runs scored, and Trace Beard with a homer, two walks and three RBIs.
The Chargers were aggressive on the bases with seven steals -- three by Clark Crowley, two by Beard and one each by NcNeal and Conner Jewell.
Eight walks and four errors resulted in the loss to Lake. The Hornets took a 6-1 lead with five runs in the second.
“You get guys on and everybody is operating under a little more pressure,” Flake said. “Once we cleaned it up and started throwing strikes it really should have been more of a dog fight than a one-sided affair like it was. One inning got away from us.”
Crowley had a single and double and Eli Dale two singles for Choctaw County.
The Chargers played McAdams Monday, began Region 4-3A play Tuesday with a home doubleheader against Noxubee County and will be at Choctaw Central in a non-region game Saturday.
“We need to get games under our belt,” Flake said. “Once we start playing we can clean up things that are kind of haunting us right now. The more we play, the better we are going to be.”
