King Fisherman wins title in rout
Published 12:00 am Saturday, June 30, 2001
King Fisherman took advantage of 10 walks, eight errors and six wild pitches to defeat Sports Center 17-6 Friday evening in the T.M. Jennings Senior League championship game at the North Natchez Park baseball field.
Not even off-and-on light rain could stop King Fisherman in its quest for not only the title, but an undefeated season – 11-0.
For King Fisherman coach Edward Brown, it was his 10th straight championship as a coach in the Senior League.
&uot;First of all, I like to thank God for this,&uot; he said. &uot;I had a good group of kids.&uot;
Winning pitcher Leon Stewart had a solid performance on the mound – six runs (four earned) on six hits, eight strikeouts, five walks in six innings – and at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a home run and four runs batted in.
&uot;It felt good pitching today,&uot; he said. &uot;I started off rough.&uot;
Stewart allowed all six runs and six hits in the first three innings, including Anthony Green’s two-run shot to centerfield on a two-out, 3-2 pitch.
However, Sports Center starting pitcher Jeremiah Green did not get off to good start on the mound, walking five of the first six batters he faced in allowing six runs – two on free passes – in the bottom of the first.
He allowed 16 runs on nine hits and nine walks and struck out one in four-plus innings.
After Anthony Green’s home run cut King Fisherman’s lead to 10-6, Stewart answered with a three-run shot that just cleared the fence in right field.
&uot;After I gave up that home run, I had to step up and let them know I could do it, too,&uot; said Stewart, who then said he was surprised that his home run got over the fence.
&uot;I thought it was at least a double, but it kept floating on over,&uot; he said.
King Fisherman’s bats got going after the first inning as it tallied eight hits in the next three innings.
&uot;We started off slow with our hitting, but I knew they would get going,&uot; Brown said.