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BOONEVILLE – The Tupelo 49ers are back on top of the Mississippi American Senior Legion baseball world.
After falling in the finals of the state tournament last season, the Niners beat Brandon 5-3 in the final on Sunday at The Plex on the campus of Northeast Mississippi Community College to win their second title in three years.
Tupelo (20-4-1) now advances to the Mid-South Regional Tournament in Cherryville, North Carolina. Games start on Wednesday, Aug. 5.
“This team's great. They're awesome,” coach Russell Bunch said. “We lost that one last year, obviously, but these guys, they had a little memory of that, and we wanted to make sure we got it done this year.
“And I can't be more proud of how the guys played and how they were all weekend.”
The Niners struck first on a moonshot off the bat of Brayden Edmiston in the top of the first. Jacob Matthews and Braedynn Lackie each drove in a run in the next frame, then Jonas Coleman lined one down the left field line in the third to make it 4-0.
In the bottom of the fourth, Maddox Culpepper got the Black Sox on the board with a sacrifice fly. Wyatt McDaniels helped Tupelo counter in the next frame with a home run.
“We’ve been swinging the bat well all weekend,” Bunch said. “And when we're hitting like that with the pitching we've got, we're going to be tough for anybody.”
Brandon (15-5-1) had a chance to get back in it in the bottom of the fifth, with two runners on and two outs down four. Chase Ainsworth gave one a ride to right field, but McDaniels was able to track it down, twist around a bit and haul in the third out.
The Black Sox found life in the bottom of the seventh. They brought home two runs and put the tying runs on base with one out for Ainsworth. He made good contact on a deep fly ball to right, but McDaniels was right there again.
Culpepper then flew out to McDaniels again, this time for the third and final out.
“I was just trying to do whatever it took to help the team win,” McDaniels said. “Whatever little way I could affect the game.”
Cooper Goff was named the tournament's MVP. He batted 7 for 12, drove in six runs, hit two doubles and two home runs in three games.
Extra Bases
Big Inning: Edmison’s home run came on the 11th pitch of the game. The Niners did not trail from that point on.
Big Stat: Tupelo won all three of its games at the tournament by a combined score of 33-9.
Coach Speak: “It's always a tough regional. We’ve got a lot of good teams that are going to be there, but I like our guys, and I think we compete with anybody. And the plan is to go up there and get it done at the regional, too.” – Bunch
Continue reading...
After falling in the finals of the state tournament last season, the Niners beat Brandon 5-3 in the final on Sunday at The Plex on the campus of Northeast Mississippi Community College to win their second title in three years.
Tupelo (20-4-1) now advances to the Mid-South Regional Tournament in Cherryville, North Carolina. Games start on Wednesday, Aug. 5.
“This team's great. They're awesome,” coach Russell Bunch said. “We lost that one last year, obviously, but these guys, they had a little memory of that, and we wanted to make sure we got it done this year.
“And I can't be more proud of how the guys played and how they were all weekend.”
The Niners struck first on a moonshot off the bat of Brayden Edmiston in the top of the first. Jacob Matthews and Braedynn Lackie each drove in a run in the next frame, then Jonas Coleman lined one down the left field line in the third to make it 4-0.
In the bottom of the fourth, Maddox Culpepper got the Black Sox on the board with a sacrifice fly. Wyatt McDaniels helped Tupelo counter in the next frame with a home run.
“We’ve been swinging the bat well all weekend,” Bunch said. “And when we're hitting like that with the pitching we've got, we're going to be tough for anybody.”
Brandon (15-5-1) had a chance to get back in it in the bottom of the fifth, with two runners on and two outs down four. Chase Ainsworth gave one a ride to right field, but McDaniels was able to track it down, twist around a bit and haul in the third out.
The Black Sox found life in the bottom of the seventh. They brought home two runs and put the tying runs on base with one out for Ainsworth. He made good contact on a deep fly ball to right, but McDaniels was right there again.
Culpepper then flew out to McDaniels again, this time for the third and final out.
“I was just trying to do whatever it took to help the team win,” McDaniels said. “Whatever little way I could affect the game.”
Cooper Goff was named the tournament's MVP. He batted 7 for 12, drove in six runs, hit two doubles and two home runs in three games.
Extra Bases
Big Inning: Edmison’s home run came on the 11th pitch of the game. The Niners did not trail from that point on.
Big Stat: Tupelo won all three of its games at the tournament by a combined score of 33-9.
Coach Speak: “It's always a tough regional. We’ve got a lot of good teams that are going to be there, but I like our guys, and I think we compete with anybody. And the plan is to go up there and get it done at the regional, too.” – Bunch
Continue reading...
