A solo home run by Cody Deitz in the bottom of the seventh ignited a three-run rally and a 6-5 Panola victory over Baton Rouge Community College here Sunday.

The Ponies also won the seven-inning opener, 4-0, waiting until the fifth to take command of a fine pitcher's duel. Kevin Humphrey, Branden Powell and Cory Williams shared mound duties in the nightcap and nothing was settled when Baton Rouge went on top 5-3.

With runners at second and third, Williams was called from the bullpen and sandwiched a shallow fly ball between bookend strikeouts to keep the Ponies clinging to slim hopes. Step back, ye of little faith. So what if the bottom half of the batting order is zero for the tournament (0 for 10 to be precise), is due up. Where's Pony pride?

Well, Dietz kept the faith. After a full count, boom, Cody goes yard and suddenly their excitement in the liniment section of the stalls. Next Jared Wondra walks and it is time to make a change. When play resumes, Kofi Osie-Aning gets an intentional free pass and so does disgruntled super star, Taylor Davis, if he will sit still for it. He does and the sacks are loaded for pinch hitter Dan Slater, who works a 3-1 count and gets a wild pitch ball four to end the game. Cody Jones, three for three, leads Panola in hits and is tops with two RBIs, too.
 

The second game has more action, and is just as exciting. Ponies score in the first on singles by Wondra and Dustin McCandless, a hit batsman and a sacrifice by Slater. In the fifth, a walk, a fielding error and a three-base throwing error are all Martin needs to sew up the decision. Panola improved to 17-13 for the season, its best winning percentage so far at .567.