‘Canes End Playoff Run

The Region 4AA Champion Monticello Hurricanes suffered two heartbreaking losses to Harlem in the first round of the state playoffs Friday to end the varsity baseball season.

In the first game of the doubleheader at Hurricane Field, the score stayed tied at zero until late in the game when Harlem posted two runs. The Hurricanes couldn’t recover, losing the first battle 2-0.

In the second game, Harlem jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead. In the fifth inning, the Hurricanes finally came to life and tied it up 5-5.

After a bases clearing, 2-out, triple by Walt McMichael, and senior Michael Wyatt at the plate, McMichael tied the game up on a straight steal. With the pitcher in the full wind-up McMichael slid into home as the pitch crossed the plate with the opposing team and the fans not really knowing what had just happened.

Unfortunately, the Hurricanes were not able to get the bats going again and Harlem scored two more runs in the sixth inning. No more runs were scored in the seventh, leaving the Hurricanes with an emotional 7-5 loss.

“We played two good games,” Coach Jenkins said. “We just didn’t hit when we needed to. I was proud of the way they battled and didn’t quit, but against a good team like that, you have to take advantage of opportunities when they are presented.”

The coach continued by recognizing seniors Wyatt, McMichael, Tyler Mote, Tony Shumate and Quinton Standifer. “For our seniors, I hated to see it end, but their four years of hard work and dedication is much appreciated and definitely set a great example for the underclassmen.”