Manila plated an amazing 55 runs while posting three victories last week in high school baseball action. The unbeaten Lions opened the week by hammering Nettleton 19-9 Tuesday at Lion Field. Manila crushed Osceola 17-0 Thursday at home before finishing the week by outslugging Armorel 19-11 Friday at Tiger Field.
Manila pounded out 15 hits in their victory over the Raiders Tuesday. Layne Sims had a big day at the plate, rapping three singles while blasting a double to collect four hits and four RBI while scoring three runs. Ethan Navarro singled, doubled, drove in four runs and scored twice, Michael Jorgensen had a single, stroked a double, drove in a pair and crossed home plate three times. Brady Clark laced a pair of singles, drove in a run and scored four while Brock Birmingham banged out a pair of hits, drove in a run and scored on three occasions. Anthony Perez had a pair of singles, an RBI and scored once, Joel Burrow singled in a pair of runs and scored one while Anthony Lopez and Michael Parker both had RBIs and scored a run apiece.
Jorgensen worked three innings to earn the win. He gave up five runs, one earned, on four hits. Navarro pitched the final two innings, giving up four runs and four hits.
Nettleton’s Christion Cleary gave the Raiders their big blow of the day, hammering a three-run homer.
The Lions scored 11 runs in the first inning and tacked on six more in the second in their 17-0 whitewash over the Seminoles Thursday at Osceola. Manila had just four hits but got help from Osceola, who issued eight walks and committed five errors. Lopez earned the win, pitching three innings of no-hit, no-run ball while striking out six batters.
Hunter Vuletich blasted a two-run triple for the Lions. Clark belted a two-run double and scored a run, Carter Walker cracked a two-run single and scored once while Lopez helped himself with a two-run single while scoring a pair of runs. Sims drove in two runs and crossed the plate once, Jorgensen had an RBI and scored twice while Burrow and Parker both had RBIs and scored one run apiece. Birmingham and Navarro crossed the plate twice each while Perez, Kason Grissom, Ty Wagner and Coby Hollis all scored one run each.
Manila completed their three-game sweep by hammering out a 19-11 victory Friday at Armorel. The Lions scored seven runs in the first inning, but the Tigers cut the lead in half with three runs of their own in the bottom of the frame. Manila came right back, putting up eight more runs in the top of the second to go ahead 15-3. Armorel got a run in the third, three in the fourth and four more in the sixth to close the gap to 16-11, but the Lions picked up three runs in the top of the seventh to put the game out of reach. Manila out-hit the Tigers 11-7. Both teams committed eight errors.
Navarro earned the victory, pitching three 1/3 innings, giving up seven runs, one earned. Navarro allowed four hits, fanned four and walked three. The save went to Jorgensen, who pitched three and 2/3 innings, allowing four runs, three earned. Jorgensen gave up three hits, struck out eight and walked two.
Sims slammed a homerun and drove in four runs to lead the Lion offense. The junior also scored three times. Navarro and Burrow both singled, doubled, drove in two runs and scored two runs each. Clark had a single, cracked a double, drove in one run and scored four times. Birmingham smashed a two-run triple and scored twice while Jorgensen had a run scoring double and crossed home three times. Perez banged out a two-run single, Lopez singled and scored twice while Parker also scored a run.
Manila begins a busy week with four home games, beginning Monday against Rivercrest. The Lions host Brookland Tuesday, entertain Piggott Thursday and complete the week Friday against Armorel at Lion Field.