Ponies, Northeast split doubleheader
The Panola Watchman
By TED LEACH
4/11/07

MT. PLEASANT - Panola collected 26 hits and scored 20 runs here Saturday, but the Ponies wasted an 8-4 lead in the 10th inning of the nightcap and could only escape with a split in a conference doubleheader here Saturday.

Northeast did its best offensive work in the late innings of both games, but was nudged 12-9 in the opener before winning 9-8 in 10 innings before stopping for the day. It was a key victory for the Eagles, who are becoming an endangered species in the hunt for post-season playoff berths.

Kory Cleveland came on in the final inning of the opener to retire Angel Vargas on an infield fly with two on and two out to preserve a 12-9 win for Clayton McMillan to begin the day.

McMillian worked the first three innings on 39 pitches. In the fourth, however, he needed 45 as the Eagles closed to within two, 7-5.

Kory Williams eased along in first relief until Eagles Travis, Josh Krummel, Daniel Qualls, Kenny Price and Kevin Schlegal hit consecutive singles to bring the tying run to the plate. Cleveland notched him to end the melee.
Panola had a 7-0 lead in the first two innings. Cody Deitz and Taylor Davis had two-run doubles in that span to spark the offense.

In the fourth, a grand slam by Price capped a five-run Eagle rally. Two of those markers were the results of walks.
For Panola, Jared Wondra was four for five and scored twice; Victor Luque (3-5, 2 RBIs, 2 runs); Cody Deitz (2-3, a double and 2 RBIs); Taylor Davis (1-4, a double and 2 RBIs).

In the nine-inning outing, Panola scored a run in each of the seventh and eighth innings. In the ninth, Deitz singled and was in scoring position before Eagle reliever Stephen Scott struck out Dustin McCandless and Randall Papa on nine pitches to force the extra inning.

Rickey Gardner singled and Panola, playing for one run, had Wondra sacrifice. An error and three consecutive hits later, including a two-run double by Rob Thomas, gave the Ponies an 8-4 edge, but northeast rallied for five and the fire was never extinguished.

The Eagles were on notice that anyone was subject to pitch in relief before the twin bill began, and six of them did before Chris Smith found a closer, first-game catcher Kyle Cheesebrough.