Adams helps lift Hornets into final

Staff photo by Mike Buhler Holcomb's Chad Adams (right) is congratulated by teammates after hitting a two-run homer against North Pemiscot during Tuesday's Class 1, District 1 semifinal contest at Cooter. [Click to enlarge]

COOTER, Mo. -- Chad Adams made a pair of costly mistakes Tuesday, but he atoned for each one in a big way.

Adams followed up a first-inning error with a game-tying two-run homer, then atoned for a fifth-inning miscue with three innings of scoreless relief to help the Holcomb Hornets to a 6-3 win over the North Pemiscot Mustangs in the semifinals of the Class 1, District 1 Tournament here Tuesday.

"That right there is the epitome of a leader," Holcomb coach Ben Nelson said of Adams. "He made a big error in the first inning and he admitted it cost us two runs. Then he hit a two-run homer. ... He made mistakes but he came back and got the win. He never gives up."

Staff photo by Mike Buhler North Pemiscot's Michael Gilboe delivers a pitch against Holcomb during Tuesday's Class 1, District 1 semifinal. [Click to enlarge]

The Hornets (10-11) are scheduled to play top-seeded Cooter in the championship game today at 4:30 p.m. Cooter advanced to the finals with a 7-3 win over Delta C7 Tuesday.

Trailing 3-2 in the bottom of the sixth inning, Holcomb tied the game at 3-3 when Shane McElwrath singled in Adams, then with two out and the bases loaded, Jeremy Nevill got his lone hit of the day -- a three-run double down the right-field line to give his team a 6-3 lead.

"We were playing good. We were hitting good," said Nevill, who struck out in his first two trips to the plate. "I struggled my first two at-bats and I knew we needed it. I just got up there and waited on one."

It was a back-and-forth game up until then, however.

The Mustangs took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Brandon Quillin scored on an Adams error. Two batters later, Jay Butler singled in Anthony Sample -- who had reached on the error -- to make it 2-0.

However, Adams responded quickly in the bottom of the first, sending a pitch over the left-field fence with Jordan Osborn on base to quickly tie the game at 2-2.

North Pem retook the lead in the top of the fifth inning when Derrick Miller doubled home Augustine Rivera, setting up the finish for the Hornets.

Miller was 2-for-3 to pace the Mustangs, while Osborn was 3-for-4 for Holcomb.

The Hornets will now face Cooter for the district title for the third time in four years.

"It shows we're peaking at the right time," Nelson said. "We're coming together at the right time. All that matters right now is who's playing well right now."

Cooter 7, Delta C7 3
The top-seeded Wildcats (20-2) snapped a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fifth inning with a six-run, six-hit outburst to make their fourth straight trip to the District 1 title game.

Aaron McCaig tossed three innings of relief to pick up the win.

Cooter picked up 12 hits with Jonathan Boone leading the way with three hits.

Class 3, District 1
Dexter 8, Kennett 1
At Cape Girardeau, the top-seeded Bearcats scored all eight of their runs in the first four innings and held the Tribe (13-11) to just two hits to advance to today's championship game.

It was Dexter's third victory of the season over the Indians, and avenged a semifinal loss to Kennett in last spring's district tournament.

Playing in his final high school game, Shane Branum had both of the Tribe's hits.

Class 2, District 1
Championship
Portageville 5, South Pem 2
At Campbell, Mikey Johnson held top-seeded South Pemiscot to four hits and no earned runs as Portageville won its first-ever district title.

Jacob Estes hit a three-run homer in the top of the first inning to give Portageville a 3-0 lead as Johnson allowed four hits and five walks while striking out six to earn the complete-game victory.

Portageville (11-8) will play at either Charleston or Scott City in next week's sectional contest.