Mississippi drought persists for local baseball teams

SOUTHAVEN, Miss. — Baseball teams from the MAAA Conference are now a combined 0-9 through two days at the Southaven Tournament, and only one of those losses has been decided by fewer than five runs.

Farmington will conclude the road trip today with games against Horn Lake and Lake Caromorant. Central will meet Olive Branch at 12:30 p.m. and Fredericktown will challenge Horn Lake at 10 a.m.

Southaven 2, Farmington 1

Sophomore hurler Zach Hibbits allowed just three hits over five strong innings, but Farmington could not convert two late scoring chances in a narrow 2-1 loss to Southaven.

The scoring transpired exculsively during the third inning, and the Knights (2-4) briefly surged ahead on back-to-back doubles from freshmen Connor Davault and Logan Bradley.

Southaven (18-3) answered quickly with a solo home run by Jack Lartigue, and pitcher Tyler Brant scored the decisive run on a passed ball after being hit by a Hibbits pitch.

Hibbits collected two strikeouts and walked five in the hard-luck loss. The Knights were dealt more adversity in the sixth when reliever Andy Summers was struck in the knee by a line drive and did not return.

Farmington had two runners picked off during the action, and squandered a lead-off bunt single by Mike Standfuss in the fifth inning. Nick Baker opened the seventh with a single and reached third base with one out, but was also eventually stranded.

Brant struck out 11 Farmington batters and scattered five hits for the complete-game victory. Eric Wilson paced the Chargers at the plate by going 2-for-2 plus a walk.

Hernando 14, Farmington 3

The struggling Farmington offense again managed just five hits during the second game played on Friday, and Hernando rode an explosive, five-run opening frame to a 14-3 rout in five innings.

John Walkey ripped a two-run double and Justin Watts followed with a two-run single to give the Tigers a quick 4-0 lead. Watts finished a perfect 3-for-3 with four runs scored, as Hernando scored multiple times in every inning.

Nick Baker and Connor Davault each delivered RBI singles after Zach Hibbits doubled with one out in the Farmington fifth. Michael Standfuss and Pete Grindel also singled for the Knights, and Bryan Krause scored a run.

Knights starter Ethan Bullard allowed his first five opposing hitters to reach safely, and allowed six earned runs over two innings in the loss.

Hernando pitcher Zack Burk struck out seven and yielded just three hits over 4 1/3 innings for the win. Cody Widdell added a pair of RBI hits for the Tigers, who collected 14 hits overall.

Hernando 14, Central 0

Central only mustered two hits during its second game on Friday, and was blanked for the second time in three games as Hernando rattled the young Rebel pitchers in a 14-0 blowout.

Hernando (14-7) erupted for seven runs in the first inning against Central starter Garrett Manion. A two-run double by Justin Watts and a two-run triple from Tony Hawks highlighted the rally.

Watts finished 3-for-3 overall and belted a solo home run to begin the fourth inning. Cody Kampf went 2-for-2 with three runs scored, and winning pitcher Jeremy Chambers worked three scoreless frames for the Tigers.

Tanner Skaggs doubled in the third and Josh Hampton singled in the fifth for the only Central hits.

Central (5-4) began the day with a 7-2 loss at Horn Lake, and will complete its weekend slate today against Olive Branch.