French Camp showed marked improvement in both pitching and hitting in a 17-5 victory over Winona Christian last Saturday. A week earlier, the Panthers surrendered 18 walks in jamboree losses to Eupora 10-0 and Starkville Academy 9-0.
“We threw some strikes,” said coach Nathan Wright. Referencing the jamboree, he added “We didn't know if the other teams could hit because we didn't throw any strikes. Hopefully, we can keep up the pace.”
Bradley Edwards led an 11-hit attack against Winona Christian with two doubles, a single, three RBIs and two runs scored. Javen Anderson had two singles, scored three tuns and drove in one, Cody Perry had two hits and an RBI, Seth Box doubled and Jarren Holmes, Macon Bentley and Holt Barlow each had a single.
Box and Holmes shared the pitching, Box with three strikeouts in four innings and Holmes with four in two innings.
The game was ended by the 10-run mercy rule after six innings, A doubleheader was scheduled, but the second game was called by darkness after three innings. The Winona Christian field does not have lights.
Pitching will be tested by a busy schedule this week. The Panthers were set to play Winona Tuesday, will be at Calhoun City Thursday, at Sebastopol Friday and have a home game with Sebastopol Saturday.
FCA drops pair in baseball jamboree
By Laurence Hilliard
Choctaw Plaindealer
The 2020 French Camp baseball season got off to a rocky start with losses to Eupora 10-0 and Starkville Academy 9-0 in jamboree games hosted by Starkville Academy.
“I thought we swung the bat pretty well. We didn't play poorly on defense. We just couldn't throw strikes,” said coach Nathan Wright. “We had 18 walks in six defensive innings. It's hard to win like that. That was the stat of the game. That will destroy you and it did.”
The Panthers return five position starters, all seniors. Javen Anderson plays centerfield, Holt Barlow is an outfielder, Seth Box and Bradley Edwards catch and play the infield and Jarren Homes is a first baseman.
“We have some young guys coming up,” Wright said.
Box, Barlow and Holmes also pitch and all three struggled with control at the jamboree. “I need them to throw strikers. They just struggled the other night,” Wright said. “I think some of it is they haven't picked up a baseball since May of last year and we haven't had much of a chance this year with the rain. At least throwing off the mound.”
Box was the Panthers' leading hitter last year with a .385 batting average, .541 on base average and .600 slugging percentage. Wright feels he will be the ace of the staff despite his wildness at the jamboree with seven walks.
“I expect a lot of that was nervousness and trying to overthrow. I expect him to settle in and do a good job.”
French Camp will compete in Region 5-1A with Nanih Waiya, Ethel, Noxapater and McAdams. Nanih Waiya is a traditional power with state championships in 2017 and 2018, but Wright said Ethel might be the team to beat this year. Nanih Waiya reached the third round of the playoffs last year. Ethel lost a three-game series to state runner-up Stringer in the second round,
GC Eagles splits two games in Meridian jamboree
By Laurence Hilliard
Choctaw Plaindealer
The Grace Christian baseball team opened the season by splitting two games at a jamboree hosted by Meridian Home School. The Eagles lost to Meridian Home School 7-6 and defeated Golden Triangle.11-1.
“It was the first opportunity to actually get on a baseball field. All things considered, they did well” said coach Charlie Agnew, who noted that preseason practice was limited by the weather. “A lot of things were evident for having limited practices in the gym. A number of careless mistakes. A number of errors. Early season stuff which are compounded by the fact that we have not been able to work on those things.”
Grace Christian used four pitchers and Agnew was pleased with the performances.
Against Meridian Home School, Grayson Skelton and Wes Agnew each had a single and a double. Agnew drove in two runs and Skelton scored three times.
Russell Chappell and Gideon White shared the pitching. Chappell had five strikeouts and four walks in three innings, White fanned two and walked three in two innings.
White struck out five while allowing one hit and one walk in two innings in the victory over Golden Triangle. Agnew pitched two hitless innings with five strikeouts and one walk.
Isaac Miler and Miles Brownlee each had two hits and an RBI.
Grace Christian has a road game Thursday with Laurel Home School and the home opener Friday against Winona Christian.
FCA softball set to host Louisville
By Laurence Hilliard
Choctaw Plaindealer
A French Camp softball doubleheader with Louisville scheduled for last Saturday was postponed due to weather and rescheduled for Friday at French Camp.
The Lady Panthers' delayed season opener was Tuesday against Sebastopol, weather permitting.
The Panthers will be relying on pitchers Brianna Grice and Aubrey Burrell to keep them in their ballgames this year as they prepare to compete in Region 5-1A along with West Lowndes, Nanih Waiya, Noxapater, and Ethel.
