Choctaws hold off Trojan rally to secure district sweep






Jason Peevyhouse

Editor, JP Productions Sports

Dyer County (8-5) picked up its second win of the week on Tuesday night, closing out the opening District 13-3A home-and-home series against Dyersburg with a 3-1 victory in Newbern.


A night after getting held to just one hit during the opening game of the home-and-home set, the Trojans were able to break their scoreless inning streak in the district quickly on Tuesday night. Evan Thompson led off by reaching on an error but the next two batters were retired by Choctaw pitcher Landon Willis and the Dyer County defense. But, Will Leonard came through for the Trojans with two outs, sending a 2-1 pitch to left for an RBI single to put Dyersburg on top 1-0 after a half inning.

Dyer County was able to answer in the bottom of the first inning. Jack Smith drew a leadoff walk then advanced to second and third on back-to-back groundouts. With two out in the frame, Koleman Pride came through for the Choctaws with a single to center to score Smith and tie the game at 1-1 after one inning.

Willis shut down the Trojans in the top of the second, striking out two of the three batters he faced in the frame.

In the bottom of the inning, Dyer County looked to take the plead after Everett Kuykendall reached on a leadoff error. The Trojans looked poised to get out of the inning with a line out and Kuykendall was thrown out stealing second. But, Gavin Lynn and Easton Ozment drew back-to-back walks with two outs then Jack Smith singled in a run to put Dyer County on top. David Headtke followed with an RBI single to give the Choctaws a 3-1 lead after two innings.


Both pitchers began to settle in as Willis worked a 1-2-3 inning for the second straight frame while Dyersburg's JP Noblin got out of a jam after allowing singles to Jake Gentry and Landon Daniels by getting a grounder to short to end the frame still down two.

The two got through most of the next two frames with minimal damage with Ryan Wesson coming in with two out in the bottom of the fifth to get the final out and keep Dyersburg trailing 3-1 after five frames.

Wesson work around a one-out double by Smith in the bottom of the sixth as well an error which allowed Headtke to reach base before getting a grounder back to himself to get out of the sixth trailing by two.

The Trojans looked to rally in the top of the seventh as Leonard drew a leadoff walk then Noblin reached on an error to put the trying run on with no one out. Aiden Chandler advanced both runners with a sacrifice but a flyout gave the Trojans two out in the top of seventh. Jayce Ellerbrook worked a two-out walk which took seven pitches and finished Choctaw hurler Willis’ night with the bases loaded and two out. Ozment came in to relieve him, striking out the next batter to end the game and seal the win for the Choctaws.

Smith led the way for the Choctaws at the plate with a single and a double with an RBI while Headtke added a pair of singles and an RBI. Leonard’s first-inning RBI single was the lone hit on the day for the Trojans.

Willis picked up the win, allowing one run on one hit in 6.2 innings of work with 11 strikeouts. Ozment picked up the save in the one-batter appearance with one strikeout.

Noblin allowed just six hits through 4.2 innings with only three runs given up with two strikeouts in the loss.

Dyer County returns to action on Friday when the Choctaws travel to Graves County at 6:30 p.m. Meanwhile, the Trojans will be back in action on Friday at 6:30 p.m. when Dyersburg hosts North Side.


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