By Angie Ledbetter
The North Delta Green Wave team earned a spot in the playoffs after Friday’s baseball action at the district 1A tournament at Delta Academy.

In the first game, the Wave were defeated by Tunica 3-2 and had to play a second game. In the second game, the Green Wave beat Delta 4-1 with Seth Barnett’s first career home run to advance play on Monday against Tunica for first place in the district.

The score was not available at press time.

In the top of the first inning, J.T. Dalrymple got on base with a single but was tagged later trying to steal second.

It was a pitching dual until bottom of the fifth when Tunica drove in three runs.

In the top of seventh, the Green Wave threatened a come back with a walk by Dalrymple. With Jim Tom Copeland striking out, Dalrymple stole second. Next at bat Bateman Greenlee singled. Tunica got the second out by striking out Seth Barnett. Michael Magee hit a two RBI single, driving home Dalrymple and Greenlee for the only two runs of the game for the Wave.

Coach David Hardy said it was a close ball game.

“They got all three of their runs in one inning,” Hardy said. “Jim Tom really did a good job pitching for us and we were proud of the effort that he had.”

Hardy praised the defense behind Copeland’s pitching.

Tunica hit a three-run homer for its only runs of the game.

“That’s just the breaks of the game sometimes,” he said. “Nothing against Jim Tom, I think he threw 94 pitches and that’s just the way baseball is. Tunica’s pitcher was on his game and I think he struck out eight or nine of our batters. When he’s at his best, he’s probably the best that we’ve seen.”

In the game with Delta, Greenlee was on the hill for the Wave. The first three batters for Delta all hit fly balls. The Wave also came up empty in first inning.

Greenlee was hit by a pitch in bottom of the second. Magee flew out to centerfield for first out. Barnett stepped to the plate and hit a two run homer.

Green Wave Copeland singled to start the bottom of fourth. With Greenlee at the plate, Copeland stole his way to third. Michael Magee doubled pushing Copeland across home plate putting the Wave up 3-0. Britt Lawrence singled driving Magee home, giving the Wave a 4-0 advantage.

The shortstop for Delta singled and later stole his way to second in the top of the fifth. The right fielder hit a sacrifice fly  to Garrott, advancing the base runner to third. 

Delta’s first baseman hit a single RBI driving home the shortstop from third for Delta’s only score of the game.

Hardy told the team after the Delta game that they did not have to worry about any wild card playing. They were in second place and in position for first but did not want them to settle for that.

“I told them that it was a positive thing for them to carry into the playoffs. They have a chance to play for a district championship now. We’ve played Tunica two good ball games and I think with a positive attitude and going into the game with the attitude of winning a championship would be good. We have to take it one game at a time and win the first game to be able to play a second one.”

Last year the Green Wave went in as second.  First place team play second place teams out of the district. The first game is home, which is a “plus to me,”  Hardy said

“After a tough loss, it was probably good that we had to wait before we played another game. We had time to regroup and put our heads together for the Delta game.  We beat a good Delta team that we’ve played three times and it has worked out that we came out on top each of those times. It’s tough to beat anybody three times in a year especially somebody that has quality pitching and is coached well.”

Hardy talked about Seth Barnett’s home run helping the team win.

“It ended up 4-1 and that was a two run home run so that definitely helped us win by giving confidence to our pitcher by giving us a lead,” Hardy said. “That was his first one of the year and I think his only one of his high school career and in an important ball game. I was happy for him and happy for us. It gave the team a boost of energy.”