STARKVILLE — Debbie Carlisle knew some information her husband would have love to have known Saturday afternoon.
Sitting in the stands on a beautiful Saturday afternoon at Carlisle Field, Debbie predicted the Starkville High baseball team was going to turn a double play to escape a bases-loaded jam in the sixth inning.
Two pitches later, the Yellow Jackets got that double play ball. About 15 minutes later, Starkville was moving on to the second round of the Mississippi High School Activities Association’s North State Class 5A playoffs.
“Someone in the stands said we need a strikeout here,” Starkville coach Danny Carlisle said. “My wife said no, we need a pitcher-to-catcher-to first baseman double play ball. Sure enough, we got it. I guess that is why we have made such a great team all of these years.”
Starkville scored seven times in the home half of the sixth to take a 13-3 victory against Center Hill. The victory allowed the Yellow Jackets to take the first-round best-of-three series, 2-1.
Starkville (21-7) will play New Hope (22-7) in the North State semifinal round. That best-of-three series is set for 7 p.m. Friday at New Hope, 3 p.m. Saturday at Starkville, and 7 p.m. Monday (if needed) at New Hope.
“New Hope is one of the premier programs in the state,” Carlisle said. “They have stood the test of time and always been there in the end. I told the kids to relish this opportunity. There are only four teams left in the four teams left in the south. A lot of teams will not be playing next weekend and we will be.
“You need to be excited about that. You need to be challenged by that. I think it is going to be a great series.”
The Yellow Jackets got a little more than they bargained for in the opening round of the playoffs. After Starkville won 5-1 Thursday night, Center Hill forced the series deciding game with a 4-2 win Friday night.
“I thought our attitude was a whole lot better today,” Carlisle said. “We were focused with more of a business-like approach. We came out ready to play hard and ready to have fun. I just don’t think our attitude was right last night. We had the talent to close out the series but didn’t have the right mind-set.
“Today, we played extremely well. It all started with Daniel Murphree on the mound. He really set the tone for us on the mound.”
Murphree pitched a complete-game six-hitter and only needed 80 pitches. Carlisle admits pitching depth is important in the postseason when you are asked to win three-game series.
“Nathan (Pugh) pitched well Friday night,” Carlisle said. “At the same time, he was not as sharp as he has been. We had too many walks. We had a misplay in on a popup which led to some runs. Nathan pitched well enough to win but we didn’t play the perfect kind of game you need to have in the playoffs. We told Daniel before the game we were counting on him.”
Starkville got a much-needed lift when outfielder Murico Clark slapped a two-run home run. Clark had three of the Yellow Jackets’ 16 hits. The round-tripper expanded a 4-3 lead.
“The home run changed the whole game around,” Carlisle said. “It was some much-needed breathing room. All of a sudden, we felt a little less pressure. I thought it was a hit which really excited our entire dugout. Then the next inning, we get the double play ball, so we followed a big offensive play with a big defensive play.”
Starkville broke open the game with seven scores to bring the run-rule into effect in the home half of the sixth.
Murphree aided his cause with three hits, including a double. Max Bartlett also had three hits.
The early finish was most likely appreciated by the Starkville players who were headed to the prom later Saturday.
“There are so many distractions the last month of the season,” Carlisle said. “Every coach in America worries about prom night. You have statewide testing. You have graduation. You have senior parties thrown by the parents. There is so much going on that it is human nature to lose a step.
“For us to be able to play the way we did today was really great. Everybody got to move on and look forward to hopefully a safe and enjoyable prom night.”
On Monday, it will be back to work. Carlisle, who is retiring at season’s end, knows the challenge will be supreme if the Yellow Jackets are to continue playing.
“(Coach) Lee (Boyd) has done such a tremendous job out there,” Carlisle said. “They really haven’t missed a beat out there. You are talking one of the traditional powers playing on their home field in the postseason, which is a normal routine for them.
“Hopefully, our kids can relax, focus and play hard. This is tremendous opportunity. You need to be excited but you need to be calm and confident. You work all year to get to this point. There should be a lot of tickets sold next weekend.”
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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