Columbia, Tenn. – Richy Harrelson can check off another milestone on his already impressive list of accomplishments during what has become an impressive career in the sport of baseball.
Harrelson captured his inaugural victory as Northeast Mississippi Community College's head coach in a 4-2 triumph over Columbia State (Tenn.) Community College on Friday, February 12 at Dave Hall Field.
"It's pretty special," said Harrelson. "I looked up and coach (Jon Andy) Scott handed me the game ball and the guys were all hugging my neck. It's not about me, but it really meant a lot. I'll never forget this night."
The Tigers' pitching staff was outstanding in the nightcap. The combination of Joseph Caver and Ryan Wesson held the Chargers, who are receiving votes in the preseason National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division I rankings, to zero free passes between hit batsmen or walks all evening.
Caver garnered the start and conceded just one earned run in 3.1 innings of work. Wesson relieved him and was credited with his initial win at Northeast after finishing the final 3.2 frames.
The Baldwyn High School graduate faced one batter over the minimum during his time on the hill. Wesson (1-0) allowed only one hit and struck out four Columbia State batters.
"The coaches told me the whole time I had to stay down in the zone and fill it up," Wesson said. "That's huge because now whenever I get on the mound I can come back to this game right here and know how I'm supposed to pitch."
The Tigers actually fell behind 2-0 after two innings, but got out of a pair of jams after Andrew Lambert caught a runner stealing to end the first and when Caver whiffed two men in a row one frame later. The Chargers stranded three runners in scoring position in that stretch.
Northeast (1-3) took a lead that it would not relinquish in the third. Bailey Walker got the Tigers on the scoreboard with an opposite field sacrifice fly that easily plated Lambert.
Josh Stillman extended his outstanding start to the campaign with a double down the right field line that brought A.J. Rye, who reached on an error while attempting a sacrifice bunt, home standing.
Northeast then caught a break when Cole Camp's seemingly routine groundball became unplayable for the shortstop after it took a high hop off the infield lip where the grass meets the dirt. The RBI single pushed the Tigers ahead by a score of 3-2.
Columbia State never fully recovered and did not place but two runners on base in its last five turns at bat. Wesson retired nine consecutive Chargers (3-1) to secure the win for Northeast.
The Tigers added an insurance run with two outs in the seventh. John David Poss smashed a line drive to centerfield for his first collegiate hit that let the stealthy Rye cross home plate.
"I'm really proud of their effort," said Harrelson. "You can't ask any more than what we asked out of them to bounce back. It just shows that if you go out and execute, you can play with anybody."
Columbia State never trailed in the opening game on the way to claiming a 10-4 decision against Northeast. The Chargers built a 6-0 after four innings with the help of RBI hits from Austin Reynolds and Kaleb Swayze.
Garrison Howell scored the initial run of the contest for the Tigers in the fifth on a wild pitch. Northeast cut its deficit to 6-4 one frame later when Reid Carter advanced home due to an error and on a two RBI single by Ryan Watts.
But Columbia State accounted for its final margin in the bottom of the seventh with four runs, including run scoring singles from the trio of Taylor McKinney, Roman Novarese and Spencer Wise.
Walter Rook was outstanding during that matchup in what was his inaugural appearance with the Tigers. He tossed three innings out of the bullpen and did not give up an earned run with two strikeouts.
Stillman extended his streak of safely reaching base to four games with a pair of walks in the first contest and then two hits in the triumph. He has seven base knocks in 13 at bats so far during his freshman season.
"It's always good to start off well," Stillman said, "because then I know throughout the games I'm where I need to be to help my team. I've just got to stay humble and keep doing what I'm doing."
Northeast returns to the diamond on Thursday, February 18 to host Jackson State (Tenn.) Community College. First pitch for the twinbill is scheduled for noon at Harold T. White Field.