East Webster baseball coach Wes Johnson knew exactly what he was going to do in the Northeast Mississippi Coaches Association for Better Baseball 1A-2A All-star game this weekend.
Johnson started Eupora’s Tanner Knight on the mound and finished out with his son, Walker Johnson with two innings as the duo led their team to a 5-0 win.
While Johnson has had to battle Knight at Eupora in division play, he was very familiar with the East Central Community College signee.
“Tanner played on my team with Walker from the time he was 7 until he was 12,” Johnson said. “I knew exactly what he could do. He threw the ball extremely well. He started and threw two innings and got us off to a good start. Walker pitched the last two innings and struck out four batters. They both represented Webster County well.”
While Knight started the game with two scoreless innings, Walker Johnson finished the game with two scoreless innings and struck out four batters and was named the game’s Most Valuable Defensive Player.
“I talked to a scout at the game and he said the best two pitchers he saw was Walker and Tanner,” Johnson said. “They both threw the ball really well.”
Also playing in the game from East Webster was J.T. Slay and Dalton Perrigin. Joining Knight from Eupora was Al Dumas.
“Webster County and our division was well represented,” Johnson said. “I think there were nine players from our division in the game. I think that shows the kind of players we had in our division.”
While East Webster and Eupora are rivals on the field, they were all playing on the same team on Saturday.
“The kids like each other,” Johnson said. “All of that rivalry stuff is for the fans. These kids have been playing ball together since they were kids. They enjoyed getting to play together one more time.”
Johnson was assisted in the game by his assistant, Jordan Smith.
The Johnsons have one more high school game to play together.
Johnson will coach the North squad in the Crossroads Diamond Club 1A-2A All-Star game on Saturday, June 9 at William Carey in Hattiesburg.
Johnson will be joined by J.T. Slay and Art Thompson. Eupora’s Tanner Knight and Al Dumas will also participate in the game. In an earlier article it was inadvertently omitted that Slay was also named second team Class 2A All-State.
Johnson will also coach in the game as well and be joined by Smith again.
“It will be our last game together which is special,” Johnson said. “I’m glad we have gotten these last two games together and look forward to this last game.”
