Thirty runs in eight innings over a three-day period, including two grand slams. That is what Ethel baseball has accomplished.The Tigers defeated Pelahatchie 16-1 last Saturday, then came back two days later with a 14-0 victory over Noxapater. Coach Chris Schuster agreed with the baseball axiom that hitting is contagious.“We’re right where we need to be,” he said. “We just need to keep getting better; to limit the strikeouts.”Cyrus Rone drove in six runs against Pelahatchie with a double and a grand slam. Hayden Graves had two doubles and a single, drove in two runs and scored two.Kameron McCuller worked the first three innings, allowing two hits and no earned runs, with six strikeouts. Wes Bishop followed up, striking out the side in the fourth.Alex Schuster had the grand slam against Noxapater, along with a single, five RBIs, and two runs scored. Gabe Cain and Braxton Rone had doubles and J.B. McBride went two for three and scored three times.Reeves Threadgill allowed three hits and fanned eight in pitching the four-inning whitewash. “He was in command the whole way,” said Coach Schuster.In an earlier game, Neshoba Central, a 5A school, broke a 2-2 tie with four runs in the fourth in defeating the Tigers 6-3. Coach Schuster attributed the loss to walks. Ethel surrendered seven.Alex Schuster had a homer and a single, with two RBIs. Ethel used five pitchers who gave up five hits and struck out seven.Ethel has rematches scheduled with Noxapater Thursday, weather permitting, and Neshoba Central Friday.The victory over Noxapater improved the Tigers' Region 5-1A record to 2-0, tied with Nanih Waiya. The two teams will meet twice next week, Tuesday at Nanih Waiya and Friday at Ethel.“That’s the big week. That’s going to see who wins it or loses it. I promise,” Coach Schuster said. The top four teams from the five-team region will advance to the MHSAA 1A playoffs beginning Apr. 29.
