After beginning the 2017 season 3-11 the West Marion Trojans reeled off 15 wins in 17 games to reach the South State championship series. But this time the Trojans are wasting no time kicking off 2018 with a bang.
Over a seven-day span, the Trojans (5-1) outscored the opposition 40-3 in five games and put up some pretty absurd numbers on the mound. Starting five different pitchers, who all went at least six innings, the West Marion pitching staff combined to throw 36 innings, allowing just 16 hits and no earned runs while striking out 53 batters.
“We got some pretty good guys that have learned how to pitch, fill the strike zone up, throw three pitches for strikes and we play a little defense behind them,” head coach Derrick Jerkins said. “We have four really good pitchers. That’s really the backbone of our team. If we continue to score a few runs, we’re going to win a lot of games.”
To kick off the mind-numbing stretch Shelby Terrell tossed seven scoreless innings, allowing six hits and struck out 15 in a 7-0 home win over Pass Christian Feb. 27. The Trojans had five batters with two hits each — Terrell, Clay Blocker, Trace McNabb, Josh Boone and Brett Jenkins — with Terrell, Blocker and Jenkins each stroking a pair of doubles.
West Marion then traveled to Pass Christian Feb. 1 in a rematch and it was Randy Ramos’s turn to toss a gem, leading to a 3-1 victory. The senior transfer tossed seven innings of two-hit ball, allowing one unearned run and striking out nine. Dalton Raynes and Jayden Duncan both drove in a run, while Terrell, Jenkins and Boone each had a hit.
The following night the Trojans made the short trek across Marion County to take on the defending MAIS AAA state champion Columbia Academy Cougars and found themselves in a pitching duel. Despite struggling to consistently find the strike zone and walking eight, McNabb managed to hold the Cougars to just one unearned run on one hit over seven innings while striking out 11.
However, CA’s Chance Forbes held the Trojans to just one run — on a solo home run by Jenkins — through seven innings as well, sending the game to extra innings where the Trojans patience at the plate took over. West Marion took three walks and Ramos came through with a two-run single to put four runs on the board in the eighth inning to give the Trojans a 5-1 lead. Duncan nailed home the win, striking out the side to pick up the save.
On Saturday West Marion traveled to Brooklyn where Jenkins followed up with a dazzling performance on the bump of his own, tossing a two-hit complete game shutout with no walks and six strikeouts in a 9-0 win over Forrest County AHS.
Jenkins also delivered at the plate with 3 RBI on two singles, while Blocker and McNabb each had 2 RBI, but it was West Marion’s legs that propelled the offense. After stealing three bases in each of their previous three games, the Trojans stole nine off the Aggies with Ramos and Blocker stealing three apiece.
It was Duncan’s turn on the never ending merry go round Monday at Perry Central as the freshman righty threw six innings with nine strikeouts, allowing one unearned run on three hits and one walk, but it was the Trojans offense that was the story. Heading into the game, Jerkins was hoping to see the Trojans cash in more with runners on base.
“I feel like we’re playing OK, but we can still get a lot better. We’re leaving a lot of runners on base,” he said. “Through our first six games we’ve left 80 guys on base already. We’re getting the hits and scoring a few runs, but we’re leaving a lot of guys out there.”
The Trojans didn’t disappoint their head coach as West Marion bashed 15 hits in the 16-1 win with Duncan leading the way with a perfect 4-for-4 showing and an RBI. Blocker drove in four runs with two sacrifice flies and a single, Ramos drove in two runs on three hits, Boone drove in three and Jenkins added 2 RBI. McNabb stole four bags on the base paths as well.
The Trojans played at Poplarville Tuesday night, but results were unavailable at press time. They will host Parklane Academy Friday night at 7 before a home doubleheader Saturday against Perry Central and Salem at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., respectively.
Pictured Above: West Marion's Shelby Terrell throws a pitch last season. | File Photo by Mark Rogers
