Choctaws win District 13-3A after Hornets force Game 2

 





Jason Peevyhouse

Editor, JP Productions Sports

Though it took two games to get their hands on it, the Choctaws raised the District 13-3A Championship hardware for the second straight season, defeating South Gibson 6-3 in the second district title game of the night on Tuesday.

Like they had done in the first game, Dyer County took the lead early in Game 2. Jack Smith led off the game with a single then scored on an RBI base hit from Talon Messer to give the Choctaws a 1-0 lead after the top of the first.

South Gibson was able to put together a threat in the bottom of the inning as two walks and an Isley single loaded the bases with two outs. But, a Bradberry fly out ended the Hornet threat with Dyer County still up a run.

Outside of a Smith leadoff single for the Choctaws in the top of the third neither team was able to scratch across a hit until the top of the fourth. After scoring a baker’s dozen in Game 1 including a ten-run frame, South Gibson didn’t get on the board in the second game of the night until back-to-back singles from Alford and Bradberry led to a Moore reaching on an error to score a run and tie the game. Later in the frame, a Beasley sacrifice fly plated a run to put the Hornets on top 2-1 after four innings.

The Choctaws got one of those runs back in the top of the fifth as Everett Kuykendall singled. David Headtke followed with an RBI single to tie the game at 2-2 after four and a half innings.

The Choctaws pulled ahead in the top of the sixth with some help from some Hornet miscues. With one out, Jake Gentry reached on an error then Koleman Pride drew a walk. On a pickoff move attempting to catch Gentry at second, the ball sailed into centerfield allowing Gentry to score and Pride to advance to second. Weston Sims then added an RBI single to put Dyer County on top 4-2 heading into the bottom of the sixth.

Dyer County’s defense and Easton Ozment worked around a two-out walk to get out of the sixth.

For the third time in the game, Smith led off an inning with a single then Messer followed with a one-out single. Two batters later, Gentry doubled in two runs to give Dyer County a 6-2 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh.


South Gibson had some fight left, getting a leadoff triple from Baker and Nesbett aboard via an error. Cade Allen grounded into a fielder’s choice which scored a run before Isley singled to put two on with one out. But, the next batter hit into a 6-4-3 double play to end the game and seal the District 13-3A Championship for the Choctaws.

Ozment went the distance for Dyer County, holding the Hornets to three runs on five hits with five strikeouts in the seven-inning complete game.


Smith had a trio of singles to lead the way for the Choctaws while Messer and Kuykendall each had a pair of singles.

Game 1: South Gibson 13, Dyer County 3

Dyer County took the lead early but South Gibson answered with 13 straight runs to take what turned out to be the opening game.

Smith led off with a single then Headtke reached on an error. Messer followed with a two-run single to put Dyer County on the board. Nick Epperson singled then Gentry hit into a fielder’s choice but scored a run in the process to give Dyer County a 3-0 lead after one inning.

The Choctaws were cruising until the top of the third inning when Beasley reached on an error with two outs. Baker doubled in a run to cut the Dyer County lead to 3-1 after two and a half frames.

Though Allen walked to lead off the top of the fourth, Dyer County got two quick outs and looked to get out of the inning. But, an error in the outfield led to one run then Moore singled in a run to tie the game at 3-3 heading into the bottom of the fourth.

After the Choctaws were retired in order for the third straight inning, South Gibson erupted with ten runs on seven hits to take a commanding 13-3 lead into the bottom of the fifth.

Ozment singled to lead off the inning and became the first Choctaw to reach base since the three-run first inning but the next batter grounded into a double play. After a Smith single, a flyout ended the game via mercy rule, forcing a second district championship game.

Smith had a pair of singles to account for two of the Choctaws’ five hits in the loss.

Dyer County will now host the Region 7-3A Tournament beginning on Friday in Newbern. The Choctaws will face Fayette-Ware, who was defeated 9-0 by Bolivar in the District 14-3A Championship Game, in the first round on Friday. Time to be announced.

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