The Newton County baseball team split a pair of key Division 5-4A contests last week, putting them on the verge of elimination from the playoffs for a second straight season.
Newton County opened the week with a 14-12 win over Mendenhall on Tuesday but then dropped a 7-5 decision to the Tigers on Thursday. The Cougars finished out the week with a 2-0 loss to Kosciusko on Saturday.
Newton County moves to 10-14 on the season and 3-5 in Division 5-4A play, one game behind both Mendenhall and Northeast Lauderdale who are both 4-4 in the division. The Cougars still have an outside shot at the playoffs but face defending state champion West Lauderdale, traveling to Collinsville on Tuesday and hosting the Knights on Friday. The Cougars will travel to Madison St. Joseph on Saturday for a 1 p.m. contest.
County 14, Mendenhall 12
In an old-fashioned slugfest, the Cougars blasted four home runs as they took a two-run win in a must-win game from Mendenhall on Tuesday night.
It wasn’t easy as Newton County trailed 7-3 after the first inning. But the Cougars scored five runs in the third to take an 8-7 lead. After Mendenhall tied the game at 9-9 in the fourth, both teams scored three runs in the fifth inning to make the score 12-12 going into the seventh. The Cougars scored two runs there and took the two-run win.
The Cougars had 15 hits on the day as Kamon Shelwood led the way, going 3-for-3 with a solo home run, a grand slam, three home runs and four RBIs. Gavin Bailey was 2-for-2 with a home run, two runs scored and two RBIs while Cole Shimfessel was 3-for-4 with a double home run and three RBIs.
Eli Harrison was 3-for-5 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Rod Evans and Hayden West both scored twice in the game.
Hayden West got the start but didn’t get an out as he gave up seven runs on six hits and one walk with two home runs. Harber Reese came in relief and pitched four innings and gave up five runs and nine hits while striking out two. Hayze West pitched the final three innings and picked up the win as he gave up two hits.
Mendenhall 7, County 5
Mendenhall built a big lead in the middle innings and withstood a late charge by the Cougars to hold on and take a two-run win on Thursday.
After going scoreless the first two innings, Mendenhall scored two in the third and fourth innings and three in the fifth to lead 7-0. Newton County scored one in the fifth and four in the bottom of the seventh to take the win.
Newton County had just three hits in the contest but took advantage of six walks and five errors by Mendenhall. Eli Harrison was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and one run scored. Gavin Bailey had County’s other hit and drove in a run while Rod Evans also scored twice.
Hayze West got the start on the mound and pitched 4 1/3 innings, giving up seven runs on five hits and five walks while striking out four.
Kosciusko 2, Newton County 0
The Whippets scored two runs in the second inning and used seven pitchers to combine on a shutout of the Cougars on Saturday.
Kosciusko scored both of its runs in the second inning.
County scattered five hits as Rod Evans, Eli Harrison, Hayze West, Kamon Shelwood and Garrett Mills each had singles.
Hayden West pitched the first four innings, giving up two runs on four hits while striking out three. Justin Davis pitched three shutout innings and gave up just two hits while striking out four.
