Errors doomed Choctaw County in an opening round MHSAA 3A playoff series with Booneville.
“We lost the games more than Booneville won them,” coach Andy Young said of the 7-2 and 10-9 defeats last week.
The Chargers committed 15 errors in the two games. “You're not going to win a T-ball game making that many errors,” Young said.
It was errors that allowed Booneville to overcome a 9-7 deficit in the second game with three runs in the bottom of the sixth. Two misplayed balls in the outfield and and error on a grounder loaded the bases.
That was followed by another grounder. “We had the infield in,” Young said. “All he had to do was throw home, then to first for a double play. But the ball just ate him up.”
Choctaw County led the series opener 2-1 through five innings before Booneville scored three runs in the sixth and three more in the seventh. The Chargers had four hits in the game, doubles by Brice Utley and Hunter Crimm and singles by Calvin Talley and Tanner Threadgill.
In the second game, Booneville jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first. Choctaw County responded with four runs in the second, four in the fourth and one in the fifth for a 9-7 lead prior to Booneville's winning rally.
Braden Hinds had a single, double and two RBIs. Talley, Utley and Austin Telano also doubled and Tanner Threadgill had two singles.
Choctaw County finished 14-8, the same record as last year, including 7-3 and a second place finish in 3-3A.
“We started out the season on fire,” Young said. “I think we peaked way too early, It's like a race. It's not how you start, it's how you finish. We didn't finish really well.”
Young feels the team was affected by the death of teammate Moe Hardin last month due to complication from a liver transplant.
With eight seniors in the starting lineup, the Chargers will be younger next year. “We have a lot of young talent coming up” said Young, who pointed out that the JV team lost only one game.
“If not next year, the year afterwards we should be back in the thick of things.
Telano and Hines were the Chargers top hitters. Telano finished the season with a .500 average, nine doubles, two homers, 24 RBIs and 31 runs scored. Hines batted .463 with seven doubles, three homers, 32 RBIs and 15 runs scored. Billy Ray Evans batted .375, Tanner Threadgill .306 and Adam Threadgill .298.
On the mound, Telano was 4-1 with a 1.01 earned run average in 34.2 innings. He allowed 25 hits and fanned 34. Utley was 2-0 with a 1.08 ERA.
