MCC Walks Away With Win Over SE Iowa

From School Reports

The Meridian Community College Eagles snapped its three-game losing streak in dramatic fashion Tuesday afternoon at Scaggs Field. Freshman Ben Gann connected on a one-out double in the bottom of the tenth inning to propel the Eagles to a 6-5 win over Southeastern Iowa. MCC improved its overall record for the 2013 season to 10-11 with the win over the Blackhawks and the two teams will meet again Wednesday afternoon at Scaggs Field beginning at 2 p.m.

MCC started the game by scoring two runs to take a very early 2-0 lead after one complete inning. Johnathan Youngblood started the inning off by reaching on an infield single and later scored on a double by Paul Angel to give MCC the 1-0 lead. The offense continued for MCC moments later as Charles Morton gave the Eagles a 2-0 lead by chasing Angel home on a single up the middle.

Southeastern Iowa (9-9) would bounce right back with four runs in the top of the second inning to take a 4-2 lead over MCC. Jose Cruz started the inning off by reaching on a single and later scored on a double by Alejandro Quijada to cut the MCC lead down to just one run at 2-1. The Blackhawks tied the game on an infield error by the Eagles and Colby Brecht gave Southeastern Iowa the lead with an RBI double to make the score 3-2. Hector Viera extended the lead for the Blackhawks on an RBI single to give Southeastern Iowa to a two-run lead at 4-2.

MCC slowly started to chip away at the Southeastern Iowa lead with one run in the bottom of the third to draw the Eagles closer at 4-3. Kevin Hall collected the RBI for MCC on a bases loaded groundout that chased home Luke Stanley from third base to bring the Eagles to within one run.

The Eagles would eventually tie the game in the bottom of the fourth inning on a sharp single to left field by Youngblood that scored former Meridian High star Dallas Hannah from second base to make the score 4-4. Southeastern Iowa answered the MCC rally in the fourth inning with a run of its own in the top of the fifth inning to recapture the lead at 5-4. Cruz reached on an error in the outfield by the Eagles and eventually scored on a double by Lazaro Romero to give the Blackhawks the one-run lead.

MCC would bounce right back to tie the game at 5-5 with a run in the bottom portion of the fifth inning. Morton led the inning off with a double and crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly to right field by Mac Seibert.

The two teams turned the game over to its respected bullpens and pitching took over the game until MCC struck for the go-ahead run in the bottom of the tenth inning. Seibert led the tenth inning off by reaching on an infield single and advanced to second base on a picture perfect sacrifice bunt by Hannah to put the winning run in scoring position for MCC. The Eagles went to the bench and brought in Levi Runyan to run for Seibert at second base and Gann came to the plate to deliver the game-winning hit. Gann drove a 1-1 pitch deep in gap in right-center field that chased Runyan home from second base to give MCC the dramatic 6-5 victory over the Blackhawks.

Both teams finished the game with 10 hits apiece and MCC had three hitters with multiple hits in the contest. Youngblood, Morton, and Seibert each finished with two hits apiece in the home victory. Tanner Vandevere, Luke Stanley, and Paul Angel each finished the game with one hit apiece.

Tanner Giesel led the Blackhawks with two base hits and one RBI, while Romero added two hits and an RBI.

Blake Barrow (2-2) picked up the pitching win out of the bullpen by working the tenth inning and collecting one strikeout. Andrew Crook shined out of the bullpen in the game for MCC by working four scoreless innings in relief of starting pitcher Brandon Smith.

Dustin Carlson (0-1) took the loss out of the bullpen for the Blackhawks and worked 2 1/3 innings.

MCC Lady Eagles Set For Region 23 Tournament

From School Reports

The Meridian Community College Lady Eagles are preparing for the next chapter of its 2012-2013 season and looking for a repeat of a magical postseason run from a year ago. The Lady Eagles have qualified for the field of the 2013 Region 23 Tournament which will be played at A.E. Wood Coliseum on the campus of Mississippi College. MCC captured the 2012 Region 23 Championship last season and are hoping for the same result this season, but the road will be much more difficult for the Lady Eagles in 2013.

MCC will open the tournament Thursday night against Copiah-Lincoln Community College at 6 p.m. The Lady Eagles will enter the field as the number seven seed, while the Lady Wolves will enter the Region 23 Tournament as the top seeded team. Co-Lin clinched the top spot in the field of the tournament by capturing the MACJC State Championship last week by defeating Northeast Mississippi Community College by a final score of 64-46. The MACJC State Tournament was played last week on the campus of Pearl River Community College.

MCC (20-10) finished runner-up for the 2012-2013 Miss-Lou Conference Championship by dropping a heartbreaker on the road Saturday at Baton Rouge Community College by a final score of 96-89 in overtime. The Lady Eagles had solid scoring efforts in the final regular season game of the season from Ashtin McNichols (22 points) and Gelese Lampton (21 points).

Lampton has paced the Lady Eagles in the scoring department all season by averaging close to 20 points per contest and the Hattiesburg, MS native also closed the regular season by draining over 100 three-point baskets. Lampton has already signed a basketball scholarship to continue her playing career at Prairie View A&M.

McNichols, a former Newton High standout, will look to continue her solid play over the past 10 games. McNichols has primarily seen most of her minutes off the bench during the 2012-2013 season, but the sophomore has drawn several starts down the stretch of the season. McNichols leads the team in free throw percentage and will look to give MCC a veteran presence in the tournament.

Reyada Stinner, a former Meridian High product, will look to help pace the Lady Eagles in the tournament as well. Stinner leads MCC in assists and was a key factor in the postseason run last season for the Lady Eagles by draining two key three-point baskets in the championship game against Itawamaba in 2012.

Co-Lin (23-3) will enter the 2013 Region 23 Tournament having won 13 straight games and the Lady Wolves are currently ranked among the top 30 teams in the country according to the latest NJCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Poll. MCC eliminated the Lady Wolves in the semi-final round of the 2012 Region 23 Tournament at Mississippi College.

Vintrice Briggs leads Co-Lin by averaging 12 points per game, while Chanta Poole is averaging 11 points per game.

Northeast Mississippi Community College will face Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, while Jones County Junior College will tangle with Baton Rouge Community College at 2:30 p.m. Itawamba Community College takes on Northwest Mississippi Community College at 8 p.m. in the final game of the opening day of the 2013 Region 23 Women’s Tournament.

The JCJC/BRCC winner will meet the Northeast/MGCCC winner at 6 p.m. on Friday, while the Itawamba/Northwest winner plays the Co-Lin/MCC winner at 8 p.m.

The women’s championship game is set for 6 p.m. on March 9.


Region 23 Tournament

At Mississippi College

A.E. Wood Coliseum

WOMEN

Thursday’s games

Northeast vs. Mississippi Gulf Coast, 12:30 p.m.

Jones County vs. Baton Rouge Community College (La.), 2:30 p.m.

Co-Lin Community College vs. Meridian Community College, 6 p.m.

Itawamba vs. Northwest, 8 p.m.

Friday’s games

JCJC/BRCC winner vs. Northeast/MGCCC winner, 6 p.m.

Itawamba/Northwest winner vs. Co-Lin/MCC winner, 8 p.m.

Saturday’s game

Championship, 6 p.m.

MCC Baseball Splits Home Set With Wabash Valley

From School Reports

The Meridian Community College Eagles returned to Scaggs Field Sunday afternoon for a cold afternoon of baseball against Wabash Valley and came away with a split against the Warriors (16-8, 1-4). MCC moved its overall record to 9-9 after a split earlier in the week against Jones County Junior College (0-2, 3-2).

The Eagles will return to the field Wednesday afternoon for a road doubleheader against East Central Community College. The twin bill against the Warriors is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.

MCC 16

Wabash Valley 8

The Eagles were able to outscore the Warriors in the opening game of the Sunday doubleheader to secure an eight-run victory. MCC finished the game with 18 hits, while Wabash Valley ended the game with 13 hits.

Andrew Crook (2-0) picked up the pitching win in relief for the Eagles by working 4 2/3 innings and collecting six strikeouts.

Kevin Hall led MCC at the plate with a pair of hits, including a two-run home run which paced a seven-run fifth inning for the Eagles. Johnathan Youngblood added three singles in the game, while former Meridian High standout Luke Stanley added a pair of hits and two RBI’s. Ben Gann and Tanner Vandevere each had three hits in the game, while Mike Williams added two hits and one hit included triple in the opening game for the Eagles.

Tim Barry led Wabash Valley at the plate with three hits and four RBI’s in the opening game of the doubleheader, while Cole Gleason added a pair of base hits for the Warriors.

Wabash Valley 4

MCC 1

Wabash Valley got a solid pitching performance from Matt Pletzke to secure the split over Meridian. Pletzke allowed one run, three hits, while striking out eight in the complete game effort.

Ole Miss signee Mitchell Babb (2-1) took the pitching loss on the mound for the Eagles after working four innings and allowing four runs (two earned), to go along with five strikeouts.

Charles Morton led the Eagles in the second game with an RBI single in the first inning, while Paul Angel and Ben Gann accounted for the other two hits in the game for the Eagles.

Colton Gleason led Wabash Valley at the plate in the second game of the twin bill with two hits and a run scored.

MCC Baseball Splits Set With Kaskaskia

From School Reports

The Meridian Community College Eagles closed out the 2013 Rush Invitational Tournament at Scaggs Field by earning a doubleheader split (4-7, 2-1) with Kaskaskia. The games with the Devils Sunday afternoon marked the only two games of the tournament celebrating 75 years at Meridian Community College. The doubleheader that was scheduled to be played with Hinds Community College Saturday afternoon was cancelled to poor conditions at Scaggs Field.

MCC (7-7) will return to action Tuesday afternoon on the road in a doubleheader against Jones County Junior College. The twin bill with the Bobcats is set to begin at 2 p.m.

Kaskaskia 7

MCC 4

The Devils opened the doubleheader by taking a three-run victory over MCC. Both teams finished the opening game of the doubleheader with 10 hits apiece. Paul Angel led the way for MCC with three hits, while Charles Morton added a pair of base hits for the Eagles. Johnathan Youngblood added an RBI double in the loss, while Kevin Hall and Garrett Larosa each added RBI base hit.

Brandon Smith (1-2) took the pitching loss on the mound for by tossing 5 2/3 innings and allowing five earned runs, to go along with a pair of strikeouts.

Jarrod Perry led the effort for Kaskaskia with a pair of hits and two RBI’s, while Kyle Emig added two hits off the bench for the Devils.

MCC 2

Kaskaskia 1

The Eagles were able to walk away with a victory in the bottom of the ninth inning of the second game to earn the split with Kaskaskia. Kevin Hall drove in the winning run on an infield single that eventually scored a run from second base.

Both teams finished the game with seven hits apiece and Hall led the Eagles with two hits in the victory. Youngblood added two hits, while Tanner Vandevere had an RBI single in the win.

Andrew Crook (1-0) secured the pitching win out of the bullpen by working two scoreless innings in relief of Mitchell Babb. The Ole Miss signee pitched seven strong innings and allowed no earned runs and notched nine strikeouts.

MCC Tennis Sweeps Faulkner State

From School Reports

The Meridian Community College tennis team returned to the court Wednesday afternoon and secured an impressive sweep of visiting Faulkner State Community College at the Northeast Tennis Center.

The Meridian Community College men defeated Faulkner State 6-3. At number one doubles, Kevin Millet/Joshua Marx, MCC; fell to Faulkner's Bynum/Bylery in a tiebreak 9-8. The number two doubles team of Ducky Troutman/Cody Gallenbeck, MCC; won easily 8-4, while the number three team of Reed Wade/Harrison Warren pulled out a victory 9-7. At number one singles, Marx fell to Bynum 7-6, 2-6, 7-10. Troutman defeated Byerly 6-4, 6-2, Millet defeated Bryant 6-0, 6-0, Gallenbeck defeated Thomas 6-0, 7-5, Mohammed Wahaidi lost to Faulkner's Jerony MCIndor 6-4,6-4, while Warren defeated Munn 6-2, 6-0.

The men are now 2-1 in match play for the 2013 season.

Meridian's women came away with a 7-2 victory on the day against Faulkner State. Ivanna Echezuria/Katy Adams won at number one doubles 8-5; at number two doubles Madison Gillette/Mallory Davis won 8-5 and the three doubles Tara-Beth Hall/Molly Moon won 8-5. In singles actions Echezuria defeated Elizabeth Schmidt 60-6-2; Mallory David defeated Mackenzie Tobin 6-0-7-5; Katy Adams fell to Faulkner's Deonne Powell 6-4, 7-5; at four singles Tara-Beth Hall defeated Tyneshia Neukurtc 6-3, 6-1, at five singles, Meridian High product defeated Savannah Ekelund 6-0, 6-3; and at six singles Molly Moon fell to Meredith Bwinn 6-0, 6-4. Stephanie Grayson lost a number seven match to Danielle Clark 6-0, 6-2.

The women are now 2-1 on the young season as well.

Weather permitting, MCC will travel to Jackson on Friday for a dual match with Belhaven.

MCC Tennis Adds Another Player For 2014

From School Reports

The Meridian Community College tennis team recently added a player to its freshman signing class for the 2014 season. Caroline Terry, a dual-sport athlete from Canton Academy, signed a national letter of intent to continue her education and tennis career with the Lady Eagles. At Canton Academy, Terry is a jack-of-all-trades playing basketball, tennis, track and cross country for her high school team. Terry has played tennis for Canton Academy since the seventh grade where she has amassed a winning record as a singles player. Terry has won the Most Valuable Player Award as a sophomore and a junior. Terry excels in basketball as well. Terry has been named the team's Most Valuable Offensive Player for two years and Most Valuable Player as a junior as well as getting Honorable Mention All-District Honors. Terry was also a member of the cross country team that won the 2012 State Championship. Her athletic abilities led her to the nomination from her school as Wendy's Heisman Representative.

Terry has not only excelled on the athletic arena but has also shown leadership not only for the team but for her school as well. Terry is a Student Body Association officer and the Canton Academy Chapel Director.

"She is a diamond in the rough,” said MCC tennis coach Wanda McPhail. “She has been involved in so much in support of her high school. It will be interesting to see just how good of a tennis player she will become when she focuses solely on tennis. Caroline is well-coached having worked with her high school coach and tennis professionals Scott Pennington, Brooks Buffington, Yvette Cook, and tennis coach Jackie Millet in Junior Team Tennis."

McPhail stated further, "Caroline is the kind of young lady we want on our team. She has a tremendous desire to do well, is academically motivated to excel, has great athletic ability, and is a person of moral integrity. Her family has supported in her high school successes, and I look forward to their continued support as she plays for Meridian."

Caroline joins the program at Meridian Community College that won the 2012 Region 23 Championship and made an appearance in the National Tournament.

MCC Baseball Splits Set With Alabama Southern

From School Reports

The Meridian Community College Eagles returned to Scaggs Field Tuesday afternoon to continue its 14-game home stand against Alabama Southern Community College. The Eagles split the doubleheader (4-1, 2-6) with Alabama Southern on the baseball diamond to move its overall record for the 2013 season to 6-6.

MCC will return to action this weekend to host the annual Rush Invitational Tournament at Scaggs Field. The tournament this year will also celebrate 75 years of Meridian Community College. MCC will play Hinds Community College and Kaskaskia Community College this weekend in the two-day event. The Eagles will play Hinds Saturday afternoon in a doubleheader at 2 p.m. and tangle with Kaskaskia Sunday in a twin bill at 2 p.m.

MCC 4

Alabama Southern 1

Former Quitman standout Jace Belcher secured his first pitching of the season to lead MCC to the three-run victory in the opening game of the doubleheader. Belcher pitched six innings and allowed one run, while collecting five strikeouts.

Alabama Southern took a 1-0 lead in the top of the sixth inning on an RBI double by Austin Hiklin, but the Eagles answered in a big way in the bottom of the sixth inning. Paul Angel connected on a solo home run to begin the bottom portion of the sixth inning, which was his second home run of the season to tie the game at 1-1. Charles Morton followed with a double to left field and later came around to score on an RBI single by Garrett Larosa to give MCC a 2-1 lead.

Mac Seibert followed with a two-run home run to give MCC a 4-1 lead heading into the seventh inning.

Belcher returned to mound and faced one batter in the top of the seventh inning, and handed the ball to the MCC bullpen. Blake Barrow was able to close the game out for his first save of the season and the victory.

Kevin Hall and Paul Angel had a pair of base hits in the victory, while Tanner Vandevere added a base hit.


Alabama Southern 6

MCC 2

The visiting Eagles were able to bounce back and take a four-run win over MCC to salvage a road split. MCC only managed four hits in the contest, while Alabama Southern finished the game with eight hits.

Larosa had an RBI double in the loss, while Johnathan Youngblood added an RBI groundout in the final inning of the game.

Former Lamar standout Whitt Haggard (0-1) suffered the pitching loss out of the bullpen for the Eagles.

MCC Baseball Splits Sunday Doubleheader

From School Reports

The Meridian Community College Eagles returned to the field Sunday trying to rebound with a pair of victories during its current 14-game home stand.

The Eagles opened the day with a solid 7-0 victory over Coahoma Community College and dropped the nightcap to Pearl River Community College by a final score of 9-5.

MCC moved its overall record for the 2013 season to 5-5 and will return to Scaggs Field Tuesday afternoon in a doubleheader against Alabama Southern Community College. The first pitch of the twin bill against the visiting Eagles is at 2 p.m.

MCC 7

Coahoma 0

Sophomore Brandon Smith pitched his first complete game of the season to lead MCC to the game one victory over the Tigers. Smith scattered seven hits over his seven innings of work, and collected eight strikeouts in the pitching victory.

MCC ended the game with eight total hits and were led at the plate by freshman Paul Angel with a pair of hits which included his first collegiate home run. Johnathan Youngblood scored a pair of runs in the victory, while Charles Morton added an RBI base hit.

Pearl River 9

MCC 5

The Eagles couldn’t complete the sweep as Pearl River took a four-run victory in the final game of the day. The Wildcats also collected a victory over Coahoma earlier in the day by a final score of 14-1.

Angel and Morton led the way at the plate for the MCC with two hits apiece, while Youngblood added a two-run single.

The MCC pitching staff struggled in the second game of the day by allowing 10 total walks and four runners to be hit by pitch. Kellon Hibbard (1-2) took the loss out of the bullpen for the Eagles.

MCC Golf Finishes Sixth At Faulkner State Invitational

From School Reports

The Meridian Community College golf team finished its first tournament of the 2013 spring season by placing sixth at the Faulkner State Invitational at Rock Creek Golf Course in Fairhope, AL.

The Eagles posted one of their best tournament scores of the year (314-311, 625), but couldn’t climb the leaderboard on second day of the tournament after finishing a cold opening day in fourth place.

Brevard community College won the 36 hole event by scoring a two round total of 603, followed by Wallace State CC at 606. Central Alabama CC, Darton CC and host Faulkner State finished third, fourth, and fifth respectively.

Spring Hill College finished seventh with Mississippi Gulf Coast and Mobile College rounding out the field.

TJ Morgan led the Eagles by shooting 77, 75. Dallas Shepard shot a consistent 78, 78 while Chase Taylor finished with 78, 79. Rounding out the Eagle scores were Nathan Kirkland at 81, 79 and Austin Sparks with 83, 81.

The Eagles return to action March 14-16 at Goosepond Colony Golf Course in Scottsboro, AL.