Both Noxapater softball and baseball teams will finally hit the field this week as both teams have a full schedule.
The baseball team was set to open the season on Tuesday as they host Puckett in a 6 p.m. contest as first-year coach Zach Kemp makes his debut for the Tigers. On Friday, the Tigers will host 2A power Lake in a 6 p.m. contest. On Saturday, the Tigers will make the short trip to Louisville to take on the Class 4A Wildcats. Next week, Noxapater is set to travel to Leake County on Monday and host the same Gators on Friday at 5 p.m. On Saturday, March 9, the Tigers will travel to Sebastopol to round out the week.
The Lady Tigers are also set to open the season this week under long-time coach Jodie Duran. The Lady Tigers were set to host Class 5A West Point on Tuesday in a 6:30 p.m. contest. They will then host Class 5A Starkville on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. before they face rival Nanih Waiya on Monday at 6:30 p.m. On Thursday, March 7, the Lady Tigers will travel to Ethel for a 6:30 p.m. contest and then host Class 4A Louisville on Friday, March 8 before taking off for Spring break.
East Central takes 8-7 win over L.B. Wallace
After having rain force the cancellation of its own Rush Invitational Baseball Tournament, the East Central Community College Warriors traveled to south Alabama to pick up a pair of Saturday games, losing a 6-0 decision to Wallace Community College-Dothan and holding on for an 8-7 win over Lurleen B. Wallace Community College.
The two games were played Saturday, Feb. 23, on the campus of Lurleen B. Wallace Community College in Andalusia, Ala.
Wallace Community College pitcher Jared Shemper held East Central in check in game one. The left-hander scattered six hits and struck out 10 batters over six innings. The Warriors actually outhit Wallace 6-5, but the Governors took advantage of two home runs to plate five of their six runs. East Central left 17 runners on base.
Freshman center fielder Al Dumas of Eupora and sophomore second baseman Anderson Shelley (Greenville, Washington School) each had a pair of hits for East Central.
Sophomore Thomas Boothe (Fairhope, Ala., Bayside Academy) took the loss for East Central, but had a good outing. The right-hander gave up two hits and two runs over four and a third innings.
In the second game, the Warriors scored five times in the top of the seventh to take an 8-2 lead, but then had to hold on as the Lurleen B. Wallace Saints also scored five times in the bottom of the frame to make the final score 8-7.
Redshirt freshman left fielder Dakota Kennedy out of Choctaw Central knocked in three of East Central’s runs with three singles in the win. Freshman designated hitter Cameron Cotten of George County had a solo home run in the top of the sixth.
Sophomore left-hander Javian Stone (Jackson, Provine, Highland Community College) pitched the first four innings for East Central, allowing four hits and no runs while striking out four. Freshman right-hander Tanner Knight of Eupora got the win in relief. Sophomore right-hander Austin Braswell (Hattiesburg, Presbyterian Christian) picked up the save.
The Warriors are now 2-4 on the season. Wallace Community College is 8-3, and Lurleen B. Wallace is 7-6.
The Warriors will then host No. 1 ranked and defending NJCAA Division II national champion LSU-Eunice in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 2.
