SP Tigers blank Columbus to earn playoff spot
Published 12:00 am Monday, April 11, 2016
By Brad Greer
The South Panola Tigers picked up a key district win Friday night with a 10-0 victory in five innings over Columbus and in the process earned a post-season berth in the North 6A State playoffs, set to begin in two weeks.
Kyle Weaver blasted two home runs and drove in five runs while Turner Rotenberry spun a four-hit shut out as South Panola improved to 2-4 in district play and 9-12 overall. The Tigers won 11-3 at Columbus Tuesday night.
South Panola will take on District 4 runner-up Clinton in the best-of-three series April 22-23.
The Tigers wasted little time getting on the board against the Falcons as they plated three runs in the first and second innings then four in the fourth. Cole Rotenberry, Jacob Fennel, Noah Willis and Brayden Locke all garnered singles while Weaver also produced a triple in the victory. Turner Rotenberry fanned six and issued one walk in the complete game victory.
South Panola returned to the diamond Saturday, hosting Lafayette County and Olive Branch in the annual Wes Smythe Classic. The Tigers played short-handed both games due to illness and fell hard 12-5 to Lafayette County and 22-1 to Olive Branch.
The Commodores took advantage of four Tiger errors in the first two innings to grab a 5-0 lead. South Panola scratched across two runs in the bottom of the second as Blaine Ware and Braydyn Lee led off with walks and later scored on singles by Turner Rotenberry and Noah Willis.
Lafayette County extended its margin to 12-2 with four runs in the fourth and three in the fifth before South Panola added their final runs with three in the bottom of the fifth.
Weaver, Fennel and Nathan Herron started the rally with singles before Ware slapped a two-run single through the right side. Cole Rotenberry also scored on an error off the bat of Tripp Still.
South Panola registered nine hits in the game as Willis contributed with two singles. Lee and Still also garnered singles.
Anderson Wilder got the starting nod and gave up seven runs (three earned) on five hits while walking three and striking out two in 3.2 innings. Chris Brown pitched 1/3 of an inning while Ryan McCurdy finished the game with a solid three innings of relief, surrendering one hit and fanning four batters.
South Panola hosts Tupelo today at 4 and 6 p.m. as part of Senior Night.