The Winona High School baseball team moved into the second round of the MHSAA North 3A playoffs with a first-round sweep of Rosa Fort High School in a pair of games last Friday in Tunica.
The Tigers (9-13 overall) defeated the Lions 19-8 and 15-0 in the two games, only allowing a combined five hits.
In the first contest, Gavin Vance (3-5) got the win on the mound as he went five innings, allowing all eight runs on (all earned) on four hits, walking four and striking out 10. At the plate, Vance drove in five runs with a single and double, scoring two runs.
Hammond Austin, Darion Crawford and Alston Crouch had three RBIs each. Austin had two singles and scored three times, also drawing three walks. Crawford had a triple and scored once, and Crouch had a home run and scored two runs.
Jaylon Oliver had a single, two RBIs and scored two runs, and Kentrell Crawford had a double and triple one RBI and scored four runs. He also walked twice and stole two bases.
Jordan Richardson had two singles, one RBI and scored once, and Miles Bailey had a double and scored a run.
Winona plated one run in the first, 13 in the third, three in the fourth and two in the fifth. Rosa Fort scored three runs in the second and five in the fourth.
The Tigers kept applying the pressure in the second game as they scored six runs in the first, one in the second and eight in the third. They outhit Rosa Fort 6-1 and took advantage of five walks, four hit by pitches and were aided by four defensive errors by the Lions.
Wyatt Boone (2-4) went all three innings, allowing one hit, walking two and fanning four. He also had two RBIs with a single, one walk and scored one run.
Bailey had a home run and a single, driving in three runs and scoring twice. D. Crawford and Oliver had a single, RBI and scored a run each, and Vance had a double, RBI and scored three times. K. Crawford scored three runs, and Austin crossed home plate twice.
Winona played at Senatobia High School last Monday to end the regular season, dropping a 13-2 decision. Senatobia plated five runs in the third, six in the fourth and two in the fifth. Winona scored one run each in the first and second innings.
Vance went three innings to taking the loss on the hill. He allowed five earned runs on four hits, walking three and fanning four. Boone worked 1 1/3 innings, giving up eight runs on six hits, walking three and striking out one.
Boone had two singles, and Vance, Richardson and Bailey had a base hit each. Oliver had an RBI, and K. Crawford and D. Crawford scored a run each.
Winona will play Kossuth High School in the second round starting at 6 p.m. Thursday with the first game in the best 2-of-3 series. Game 2 will be played at 6 p.m. Friday. If there is a Game 3, it will be played at 2 p.m. Saturday in Kossuth.
