COLLINSVILLE — Coming into the series West Lauderdale had the slight advantage pitching and Sumrall had a slight advantage hitting.
Behind Hunter Eldridge and the late pitching of Mason Willis, the Knights got past Sumrall 4-2 at Jerry Boatner Field in the decisive Game 3 of the second round of the MHSAA Class 4A Baseball Playoffs.
“We had our opportunities, especially early in the game. Get guys on base and just couldn’t bring them in. That’s been our story in the series,” Sumrall coach Larry Knight said. “I told the guys we put ourselves in this situation, but if there is one guy I can handle losing to its Jerry Boatner, and I hope he gets one more.”
West Lauderdale (25-3) will take on Vancleave in the third round beginning on Thursday.
“Hunter just sucked it up and gave us a good effort all around tonight,” said West Lauderdale coach Jerry Boatner. “He didn’t have his best stuff pitching, but he came through with a big hit.”
Eldridge (1-0), a Jones County Junior College signee, got the win on the mound for West Lauderdale tossing four innings, gave up three hits, two earned runs, walked three and struck out three. At the plate he went 2-for-3 with a two-run double in the bottom of the first that gave the Knights a 2-1 lead and also singled.
Eldridge battled a back injury all of last year, and this year, a shoulder injury has prevented him from pitching most of the year.
“I have been struggling just to get on the mound and this was just my second time to start pitching. Hitting has been fine,” Eldridge said. “I feel great now just I didn’t have it tonight, but I’m going to struggle in first couple of times but as we get deeper in the playoffs, I’ll get better.”
The Knights scored three runs in the bottom of the first highlighted by the Eldridge two-run double and also an RBI-double to center by Turbo McKee.
The Knights would add their last run in the bottom of the second on a single by Brett Mason.
Freshmen Mason Willis got the save in relief for West Lauderdale pitching the last three innings only gave up two hits and struck out four.
“This is an overall good team win. I’m so proud of the guys for letting me coach at least two more games,” Boatner said. “I hate it for Larry Knight. He’s one of my good friends and just does everything right, and I wish them nothing but the best.”
Sumrall (23-9) would get their two runs in the first and second inning on an RBI single by Mason Story and an RBI groundout by Zane Berry. The story of the series for the Bobcats was leaving men on base, as they left five runners on base Monday.
Hunter Barrett (2-3) took the loss on the mound for Sumrall lasting only one and a third of an inning.
