The J.Z. George baseball team was able to get in two games this past weekend at the Winona High School Tournament to start its 2019 season.
The Jaguars didn't fare well as they went 0-2 against the host team and Ethel High School. J.Z. George was outscored 31-1 in the two contests.
In the first game against Winona, the Tigers broke open a tight game after the first inning with a 16-run second frame. The Jaguars scored their only run in the first inning.
Kendrick Head scored the run on an RBI by Athan Shute. Jacob Johnson had a single for the Jags' lone hit. He also stole two bases.
The Jaguars' defense committed 13 errors, something head coach Will Rodgers said has to be fixed.
"I believe the first-game jitters got to some of our kids. Hopefully, we can move past our performance in these first two games and keep improving," said Rodgers, whose squad dropped a 13-0 decision to Ethel in the second game.
Against Winona, Head started on the mound, going one-plus inning, allowing seven runs on four hits, walking five and fanning two. Lance Mullen relieved Head in the second inning, giving up 11 runs on six hits, walking five and striking out one.
Against Ethel, the Jaguars surrendered four runs each in the first and second frames and five in the third. J.Z. George was held hitless and made seven errors on defense. Shute was the only base runner as he got on with a walk.
Shute (0-1) took the loss as he went two innings, allowing eight runs on three hits, walking five and fanning two. Johnson and Michael Bankston worked the third inning. Johnson gave up all five runs on two hits and three walks.
The Jaguars have had four games postponed since the start of the season. Two games this week - at West Bolivar Monday and at Yazoo County Tuesday - were called off because of wet fields and cold conditions.
J.Z. George is slated to visit Charleston High School Friday.
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