Kosy falls in Dizzy Dean World Series finals

Sports

July 1, 2009

By Austin Bishop

Kosciusko dropped a 6-1 decision to Ridgeland on Monday night at New Hope High School in the finals of the 2008 Dizzy Dean High School World Series.

The Whippets won five of their six preliminary games — including an impressive 16-6 win over Holmes County (Fla.) in the semifinals — to reach the championship game.

Kosciusko head coach Jonathan Jones was not only pleased with how well his team performed in the tournament, but also with how much his young players had grown over the summer.

"I think we played real well," Jones said. "We got a lot of kids some experience. At one time or the other we had at least six (rising) sophomores playing."

Patrick Stewart, Cole McBride, Ty Dean, Tyrell Harmon and Chris Cockrell were named to the all-tournament team for their efforts in the event that was played throughout the Golden Triangle.

Stewart, a left-hander who recently transferred to Kosciusko from the Jackson area, gave the Whippets some solid work on the mound. Jones also said Coy Sorenson and Kenny Barron had strong performances in the championship game and that Ethan Porter came up big to help Kosy reach the finals.

"We lost a good group of seniors, but we have some good young kids coming along," he said. "This whole thing has been a good experience for them."

After Holmes County took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, the Whippets batted around in the first inning to go up 5-1.

"We preach all the time when somebody punches you, you punch back," Jones said.

Kosciusko had nine hits in the game, including a double, single and three RBIs off the bat of McBride. Steve Hanson had two hits for the winners, while Dean, Ryan Lawrence and Cockrell all doubled.

Stewart picked up the win on the mound against Holmes County by going 5.1 innings and striking out eight.