Published: April 30, 2008 01:44 pm         

Ethel’s run comes to end

ETHEL — One of the most successful baseball seasons in the history of Ethel High School came to a disappointing close on Friday night.

The Tigers, who finished the season with an impressive 19-13 record, dropped two straight games to St. Aloysius of Vicksburg in the second round of the MHSAA Class 1A Playoffs.

The Flashes on Thursday night’s opener in Ethel by the score of 12-1, then the second of the best-of-three series 5-2 on Friday in Vicksburg.

In Friday’s second game, Ethel took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, only to have homestanding St. Al score twice in the third inning and three times in the fifth. Ethel also added a single run in the fifth. The Flashes out-hit the Tigers 7-6 in the game. Tyler McKinley was charged with the loss on the mound for Ethel.

On Thursday night, St. Al used some clutch hitting to take an early 3-0 lead on the Tigers.

Aaron Blaine was strong early on the mound Striking out two batters in each of the first two innings and three in the third. The Flashes finally got their bats going strong in the fourth inning, plating six runs.

Despite losing the game 12-1, the Tigers had their chances to stay in the game.

A two-out double by Bobby Brewer gave Ethel its first real scoring opportunity in the second inning. After issuing a walk, St. Al starter Ryno Martinez recorded a strikeout to end the inning.

Then in the third, Blaine and Cye Mckinney led off the inning with singles. After a strikeout, Matt Morgan walked to load the bases. Another strikeout, brought Glace Rone to the plate, who walked to leave the bases loaded and drive in Ethel’s only run of the game. Martinez then struck out the next batter to end the threat.

Ethel went down in order in the fourth inning, but loaded the bases to open the fifth thanks to a single to right by McKinney and walks by McKinley and Morgan. But the next three batters struck out, ending Ethel’s last major threat of the game.

Ethel had five hits in the game, with McKinney picking up three of them.

St. Al banged out 13 hits in the game with Blake Haygood and Martinez picking up three singles each. Judson Gatling added a double and single for the winners.