Stringer put up several runs early and then pounded in the fifth inning against East Marion at home to take an 11-1 victory Friday night in the opening round of the MHSAA 1A South State playoffs.
The Red Devils scored once in the first, once in the third, and once in the fourth, before plating plating six runs in the fifth to put the game out of reach for the Eagles. East Marion plated its lone run in the top of the sixth, but Stringer countered with two runs in the bottom of the inning to end the contest early.
It took the Red Devils several innings to get heated up offensively, but once Stringer found the zone, the offense came to life.
“Their guy, [East Marion], give him a lot of credit; he competed and threw a lot of strikes and made it tough on us early on, but our guy, Andrew Nix, he always throws strikes for us and gave us a shot,” said Stringer head coach Wade Weathers. “We were hitting a lot of fly balls early on into this wind blowing straight in, and our guys finally figured out it wasn’t going to work tonight, and we started playing a little small ball. We were able to lay down some bunts and some pretty timely hits, and were able to bust it open in the fifth”
The teams battled in uncommonly cool and windy playoff conditions Friday night.
“It’s not playoff weather; we adjusted, and hopefully we won’t have any more cold game like this. I’m just proud of the way our guys adjusted and bought into the game plan and executed the game plan,” Weathers said.
Nix had a hit and two RBIs in the game for the Devils. Cayleb Dyess and Hunter Burkeen both finished with two hits and two RBIs in the victory. Jackson Parker produced a hit and two RBIs, and Gunner James finished with three hits and an RBI.
Nix earned the win on the mound for the Red Devils. He fanned nine and walked one, while giving up only four hits and one run.
Looking back on the pool of larger schools Stringer has played and competed well against this season, Weathers feels his team is prepared to compete in the playoffs.
“That [playing larger schools] has definitely prepared us for the teams we are about to play,” he said. “Not many 1A schools play a tougher schedule than we play. Our kids love it, and they understand sometimes you take lumps. But, we compete with people.”
Stringer will travel to East Marion Saturday for game two of the opening round, and will be at home for game three Monday night if a loss occurs in game two. The winner of the series will take on Ethel or East Lowndes in the second round.
(Article by Heath Walley)
