Dustin Dickerson pitched five complete innings of no-hit baseball. Added with the relief efforts by Garrett McLaurin in the sixth and seventh and 10 scattered hits by its offense, West Jones defeated Wayne County 7-1 in Region 5-5A action late Tuesday night in Soso.
“Dickerson threw the ball well,” said West Jones head baseball coach Trey Sutton. “He struggled a little bit the last time out, but we expect him to respond and he did. He filled the zone up and did what he does.”
For video highlights and the full postgame interview with Trey Sutton, click on the following link: https://youtu.be/r67Nn_U90sg
Dickerson’s no-hitter through five complete innings was spoiled by a lead-off single in the sixth off the bat of Wayne County’s No. 1 hole hitter Jalen Ayers. McLaurin relieved the Southern Miss signee three batters later following a run scored and two War Eagles’ on base with one out. After giving up an infield single to load the bases, McLaurin settled in and delivered back-to-back strikeouts to end the threat.
“McLaurin has been our go-to guy [in relief situations],” said Sutton. “He’s made a lot of appearances and hits spots with runners on. And that’s what he did tonight for us.”
In five and a third innings pitched, Dickerson fanned 10 War Eagle batters and gave up two hits – both in the sixth – while allowing just one run. McLaurin pitched the final one and two-thirds to close out the contest, allowing no runs on one hit and two strikeouts.
Tanner Wells started the game on the mound for Wayne County. He lasted five complete innings, giving up six earned runs on eight West Jones hits.
Sam Hill blew the game open in the fourth inning with a base-clearing three-run double to give West Jones a 4-0 lead. Walker Thompson drove in the first run of the contest on an RBI triple in third, scoring a run represented by Adam Bassett who led off the stanza with a single up the middle. Thompson led the Mustangs offensively with three hits and two runs batted in. Bassett had the only other multiple hit night with two – both leadoff singles up the middle.
“I was pleased with the way we swung the bats,” Sutton said. “We were able to barrel some balls up. Sam Hill had a big hit for us that separated things a little. So overall I was very pleased.”
West Jones improves to 13-2 overall and 3-0 in Region 5-5A. Wayne County falls to 5-4 on the season and 0-3 in region play.
The two teams meet Friday night again at Wayne County. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.
