New Hope was sitting pretty with a 7-0 lead going into the fourth inning against Ridgeland on Saturday night in game three of the Dizzy Dean High School World Series.
But Ridgeland rallied with 16 runs the next two innings to beat New Hope 16-10.
Ridgeland scored 12 runs in the fifth inning, highlighted by three home runs.
“They got a few base hits and a few errors and we just didn”t have the pitching to compete today,” said New Hope coach Chris Ball. “We had a few arms, but they had already thrown an inning or two.”
Ridgeland pounded out 11 of its 12 hits in the fourth and fifth innings. Catcher Hunter Lohman led the way by going 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs.
Ridgeland designated hitter Ben Boykin was 2-for-4 with a home run, double and one RBI, while third baseman Rickey Kennedy was also 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs.
Tate Ratliff was the winning pitcher in relief for Ridgeland, tossing four innings and allowing one run on two hits, while walking two and striking out none.
Ridgeland starter Hunter Twitty lasted only two innings, serving up six runs on nine hits, while fanning one and walking one.
New Hope had 10 hits, led by shortstop Brent Younger, who went 2-for-2 with one RBI. Left fielder Davis Lee was 2-for-4 with two singles for the Trojans.
New Hope tried to make something happen in the bottom of the seventh inning by plating two runs, but ran out of outs with the bases loaded to end the game.
“That”s their character,” Ball said. “They are never going to give up. They are always going to battle to the end. They played well they just had one inning in all of our losses this weekend where there would be a team get a bunch of hits or we would make bunch of errors or walked a few guys. That”s a killer.”
Mitch Elkin was the losing pitcher for New Hope, surrendering five earned runs in four innings. He allowed six hits while striking out three and walking one.
The loss eliminated New Hope with a 1-3 record in the tournament.
n Holmes County (Bonifay, Fla.) 13, New Hope 10: Another big inning plagued New Hope in its first game of the day.
Holmes County erupted for an 11-run top of the second inning and held on to beat New Hope in game two at Trojan Field to avenge its 10-7 loss to Ridgeland earlierin the day.
Holmes County pounded out 16 hits, including 11 in the big inning. Shortstop Kodi Russ paved the way by going 3-for-5 with a double and two singles and drove in four runs.
Holmes County third baseman Ethan Ross was 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs, while designated hitter Will Thompson and right fielder Chase Arnold were both 3-for-4 with three singles with Arnold driving in one. Left fielder Cole Long was 2-for-4 with a pair of singles and first baseman Cody Harrison doubled.
Holmes County southpaw Travis Scorza earned the victory on the mound. He went 3 2/3 innings, allowing three earned runs on four hits, while walking six and striking out two.
New Hope had seven hits, led by Lee, who went 2-for-4 with a pair of singles.
Designated hitter Dusty Grimes and shortstop Phillip Tice both doubled for New Hope.
Peyton Lee suffered the loss for New Hope, lasting only 1 2/3 innings and surrendering seven earned runs on 10 hits, while fanning one and walking none.
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