Cards second in district

The Potts Camp baseball team nailed down second place in the district last week with a sweep of Calhoun City.

The Cardinals, runner-up in Region 2-2A, advance to a best-of-three series versus Belmont, number three from Region 1-2A, in the opening round of the Class 2A state playoffs. That series begins Thursday.

Potts Camp blanked Calhoun City 7-0 at home on Monday of last week.

The Cards scored one run in the bottom of the first with Darius McNeil, Peyton Aldridge and Jamie Muse getting hits.

It stayed 1-0 until the fifth. The Cards added a pair of runs in that inning and then secured the victory with a four-run sixth.

McNeil and Aldridge sparked the offense ­ each connecting for two doubles and a single. Muse added a double and a single and Caleb Holmes two singles. Ian Clifton also had a hit.

Aldridge pitched the complete game shutout. He struck out 12 of the 30 batters he faced.

The same two teams met Tuesday of last week at Calhoun City, and the contest was much tighter, with Potts Camp pulling out the crucial 5-3 win.

The Cards had to battle from behind. They fell behind 2-0 in the fifth.

Muse led off the sixth with a single and Marquavious Faulkner walked. Both later scored to tie the game. Austin Culver had a big double from the plate.

Potts Camp then grabbed a 5-2 lead over the Wildcats in the top of the seventh. Aldridge, Holmes and Muse all scored after their hits.

Calhoun City tried to rally but could only muster one more run.

Culver pitched five innings and got the win. He was relieved by Holmes for the sixth and seventh. Culver struck out nine and Holmes fanned three.

Top hitters for the Cards in the win were Culver with two singles and a double, Holmes with a double and a single, Muse with two singles, and Aldridge, Brayden Clifton and Drew Hogan with a single each.

Potts Camp also picked up a district win last week over Leflore County by forfeit.

The Cardinals (13-8 overall and 8-2 in the district) closed the regular season on Monday and Tuesday of this week with games against Hickory Flat and West Memphis Christian School, respectively.

They open the playoffs Thursday at 6:30 p.m. At Belmont.