Cobras march on in 2A playoffs
WHAT A TEAM! – Wesson won the regular season 6-2A title last week and beat Philadlephia in two games to advance in the South 2A playoffs on Saturday and Tuesday. Members of the team are, front row from left, Gage Wilson, Hunter Hood, Caleb Broome, Jonathan Grace, Kyle Cross, Chelsey Hood, Matt Smith, Gib Britt, John Stevens. Standing from left are Alan Stegall, Langston Berry, Coach Ron Kessler, Kody Chrestman, Matt P. Smith, Tyson Wesley, Chris Fink, Rebecca Barker, Coach Hugh Knight, Ann She
BY BRADLEY CROW
The Wesson Cobras (16-7) put the finishing touches on a 1st round playoff sweep by disposing of the Philadelphia Tornadoes 9-0 on Monday afternoon in front of a packed house of Cobra faithful and punch their ticket to a second round matchup with Clarkdale.
Coach Hugh Knight’s top-seeded and Division 6-2A champion Cobras won game one in Philadelphia Saturday afternoon 4-3 before coming home and blanking the fourth-seeded Tornadoes of division 5-2A in the deciding game two contest.
Wesson 9, Philadelphia 0
Monday afternoon saw freshman right hander Caleb Broome control the plate and the Philadelphia offense by allowing only two hits and issuing only one walk on the afternoon. Broome fanned eight in the win.
The offense was led by freshman infielder Kyle Cross who accounted for 3 of the Cobras eight hits. Cross nailed a double and two singles in the contest. Catcher Matt S. Smith drilled a two-run home run to put the icing on the cake in the 5th inning while also blasting a double down the left field line in route to driving in 4 runs on the day. Third baseman Brandon Allen banged a double and a single while Jonathan Grace singled.
“You gotta be proud of these guys,” explained Knight, “We have had some guys come around here the last couple of weeks to go with the guys who have been producing all year. The boys are just doing a good job, especially at the bottom of the order.”
Knight went on to praise his two pitchers in the series. “Caleb did a great job today controlling the game today and Jonathan has been a leader all year for us. They both pitched well.”
Wesson 4, Philadelphia 3
The Cobras traveled to Philadelphia and walked away with a 4-3 victory Saturday afternoon in a game that was not impressive but nonetheless effective.
Grace (8-3) had 7 strikeouts and walked one while allowing 4 hits in the contest. The Cobras did just enough to hang on and win on the road, doing what club’s must do late in the season to survive.
The Cobras recorded only 5 hits with second baseman Matt P. Smith doubling to lead the way. Designated hitter Cody Chrestman, Broome, Allen, and Matt S. Smith singled in the contest.
The Cobras host Clarkdale Thursday evening at 6:00 and then travel to Clarkdale Friday evening for a contest there. Clarkdale is located just outside of Meridian on US Highway 45. Should a game three be needed, it will be in Wesson Saturday at 6:00 p.m. in Wesson.
