Rascals take two from North Delta to stay undefeated

Tallahatchie remains undefeated on the season after picking up a pair of wins Monday night against the North Delta Dealers.

Rascals 3 Dealers 2

After being suspended from Friday night, the Rascals picked up the win in extra innings, defeating the Dealers 3-2.

Going to 12 innings, the game resumed with Tallahatchie at bat on Monday night after they held the Dealers in the top of the inning. Chris Lucius walked to start off the Rascals, with a single by Ben Wallis placing runners on the corners, and a basehit by Corbin Moore gave the Rascals the win.

North Delta struck first in the game and maintained the lead throughout, as the Dealers scored one despite no hits.

Kylie Ming started off the inning, as he was hit by a pitch. Rascals starter Brad Luna walked Brent Brownlee, and after two wild pitches, the two runners advanced, and Ming scored, giving North Delta the 1-0 lead. The Dealers loaded the bases after Joel Rich walked, but back-to-back fly outs to center field got the Rascals out of the inning.

The Dealers held the lead throughout the game, but with the top of the Rascals order in the ninth, Brancy Cummins and walked Drew Dillard had a hit to center, which advanced Cummins to third with no outs.

With runners on the corners for M.J. McWhorter, the Rascals got a huge single and throwing error that scores 2Cummins and advances Dillard to third.

Runner’s obstruction by McWhorter gave the Rascals their first out, keeping Dillard on third, although it was thought he scored at first, then David Williams popped out to right for the second out. Colby Maxwell was Tallahatchie’s last hope, and an error by Joseph Blair to third scored Dillard, sending the game into extra innings.

Both teams had a chance to end the game, as runners were on first and second with two outs. A stolen base to third placed runners on the corners, but the Dealers could not capitalize, as Kyle Emison struck out.

In the 11th, the Rascals would load the bases, as Moore had a leadoff hit for Tallahatchie. An error  advanced Moore and placed Drew Dillard on first with McWhorter at bat. McWhorter was intentionally walked with David Williams up at bat. Williams would strike out to end the inning.

Rascals 6 Dealers 3

Jon Andy Scott picked up his second win of the season, as the Rascals downed North Delta 6-3.

Tallahatchie took the 1-0 lead after John Stephens started the third with a single. A double by Brancy Cummins scored Stephens, giving the Rascals the early advantage.

North Delta responded in the top of the fourth, scoring 2 to take the lead. Joel Rich and David Horton led off the frame with back-to-back singles, then the Dealers posted two outs.

Just when the Rascals thought they would get out of the inning, Oxford native Montez Phillips hit an RBI single with two strikes, scoring Rich. A single by Hunter Burke of Myrtle brought in Horton, making it 2-1 in favor of North Delta.

In the bottom of the fourth, Colby Maxwell led off for the Rascals as he was hit by a pitch. An error by Jeffrey Vance advanced Maxwell to second, and  a single by Ben Wallis knotted the game at two with only one out. Chris Lucius was hit by a pitch, placing runners on first and second, and an error at third base by the Dealers scored Tallahatchie's third run. A single by Stephens gave the Rascals the 4-2 lead. The Dealers would later turn a double play to get out of the inning.

Tallahatchie added on insurance runs in the fifth, as a two-out single by Lucius scored Maxwell and Jimel Judon, who both reached earlier on singles.

North Delta started the sixth with back-to-back singles, with Ethan Bright scoring to make it 6-3.  Rascals relief pitcher Jason Howell would walk Burke, placing runners on first and second, but the Rascals would get out of the inning with two straight outs.

Scott picked up the win, giving up two runs off eight, while Howell had the save, pitching two innings, giving up on run off two hits with a walk.

"Jon did a good job tonight," Rascals head coach Chris Basil said. "He didn't have his velocity, but I really felt like he pitched tonight more than he did the other night. I was very proud of him changing speeds with both his fast ball and breaking ball. I just felt like he did a tremendous job tonight."

Vance pitched the complete game for the Dealers, giving up six runs off nine hits.

Wallis and Stephens led Tallahatchie's offense, each going 2-for-3. Cummins added a double in the winning effort.

For North Delta, Rich went 2-for-4, while Patrick Strack was 2-for-3 and Joseph Blair contributed with a double.

Now 4-0, the Rascals will next play Thursday night versus the Golden Triangle Jets. Tallahatchie will play as the away team Friday night in a double header versus the Dealers. Game one is slated for a 6 p.m. start.