Jaguars hold off Chiefs to take Game 1 of series

By Paul Keane

The Wayne County News

In a heated and intense game that had its unique moment, Wayne Academy

slipped past Magnolia Heights, 2-1, in Game 1 of a best-of-three

second-round baseball playoff series.

W.A. moved to 21-12 on the year while the Chiefs fell to 29-5-1.

Game 2 is scheduled for Friday at 5 p.m. in Senatobia. Game 3, if

needed, will be played shortly after the first contest.

The games will be broadcast live at www.thewaynecountynews.com and on

the newspapers Facebook page. It can also be found on Roku, Amazon Fire,

Apple TV and Android TV.

If Tuesday night's game is any indication, the series should be close

and exciting.

Fans got plenty of excitement in the first inning alone. That's when

the Chiefs broke a bat while connecting on a foul ball then W.A.'s

Walker Hall shattered the cover of a light towering over the first base

line with a foul ball.

The shattered glass fell onto the field and caused a delay as coaches

swept up and raked up the shards.

The Chiefs actually took an early lead in the top of the first. Cole

Prosek drew a leadoff walk, then Quincy Pratt was hit by a pitch. Will

Howell hit into a double play before Harlin Hovater doubled to score

Prosek.

In the bottom of the second, the Jaguars ended up scoring all the runs

they would need.

Colton Stringer led things off with a single, then Davin Lowery took a

full-count pitch and deposited it over the left-centerfield fence for a

two-run home run. The shot gave the Jaguars a 2-1 lead and the home team

was able to make it stand up behind the pitching of Ian Smith.

Smith scattered six hits across six innings, using 89 pitches to earn

the win. He gave up two walks and struck out one while allowing the

single run in the top of the first. That inning was his hardest one of

the game as he tossed 26 pitches in that frame alone.

Walker Hall earned the save, retiring the side in order in the top of

the seventh. The final out came when Prosek hit a towering foul ball

behind the plate and W.A. catcher Caden Lowery caught but fell

backwards. The ball bounced out of his glove but he was able to haul it

in to end the contest.

Prosek was pitching a gem as well, striking out eight in six innings on

the mound. He gave up no walks and allowed six hits while tossing 94

pitches.

He was especially impressive in the bottom of the fourth. That's when

Colton Stringer led off with a single, then Davin Lowery singled before

Jackson White reached on an infield single to load the bases with no

outs.

The sophomore then calmly struck out the next three batters he faced to

end the threat.

Smith was backed up by some great defensive plays. In the top of the

third, Drake Frasier sprinted into foul territory and ended up diving to

make the catch for the second out of the inning.

In the fourth, White ran down a deep fly ball to center field to rob

Preston Sowell of extra bases. Then came the defensive gem by Caden

Lowery to end the game.

For the night, Davin Lowery and Stringer both went 2-for-3 while White

was 1-for-3 and Caden Lowery went 1-for-3.