Tee Payne found a flair for the dramatic Friday night.
Payne launched a grand slam in the home half of the seventh inning lifting New Hope High past Starkville 4-0 in the opening game of a best-of-three series in the second round of the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 5A playoffs.
The Trojans now lead the series 1-0 and can punch their ticket for the north state finals when the squads meet again at 3 p.m. Saturday at Starkville. If needed, a third game in the series would be played at New Hope at 7 Monday night.
The much-anticipated pitcher’s duel between Nick Brooks and Landon Boyd lived up to the hype.
Boyd pitched a two-hit shut out for New Hope (23-7).
In the New Hope seventh inning, Peyton Lee drew a leadoff walk. Austin Oglesby was then hit by a pitch. A sacrifice bunt advanced both runners. After a strikeout, Taylor Stafford was intentionally walked to load the bases. Payne then a hit a 3-2 pitch out for the game-winner.
“I was just looking for something, anything to get the guy home from third,” Payne said. “A walk, a soft hit. To hit a grand slam is really wild. I saw a pitch to my liking and just tried to put a good swing on it.”
Nick Brooks also went the distance for Starkville (21-8). Brooks allowed four hits.
“It was one of those things,” Starkville coach Danny Carlisle said. “You hate to see either team lose that game. The pitching was tremendous on both sides all night.”
Brooks struck out seven and only allowed two runners into scoring position prior to the seventh inning.
On the other side of the ledger, Boyd was slightly better. Despite walking six, Boyd allowed only two hits and struck out 11. This solid outing came on the heels of a sluggish start in an opening-round win over Lake Cormorant.
“I thought Landon really competed out there tonight,” New Hope coach Lee Boyd said. “There was no margin for error. He worked around some walks but got the key outs when we had to have them most.”
Stafford, Payne and Boyd had a hit apiece for New Hope.
Victor Johnson and Harper Day had the lone hits for Starkville. Day led the off the fifth inning with a single but the Yellow Jackets’ best scoring threat died with Day being stranded at third base.
“This was the best atmosphere I have ever played in,” Payne said. “Now, we have to go on the road and take care of business. This series is a long way from over.”
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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