Bernie BB makes 'routine plays' in rout of Advance

BERNIE – The Bernie High School varsity baseball program hasn’t had a losing season in over 15 spring seasons (perhaps even longer, but that is as far back as MSHSAA publishes records), so making a mistake against it will prove costly.

Advance learned that on Monday, as it committed four errors, and stuck out 15 times in a 10-3 loss at Bernie High School.

“You have to minimize mistakes,” Hornet coach Neil Johnson said, “and capitalize when somebody else doesn’t. Bernie always capitalizes.”

The Mules improved to 6-2 on the season by connecting for 10 hits and committing just one miscue.

Bernie led 1-0 entering the third inning before adding a combined eight runs in the third and fourth innings on five hits, a dropped third strike, a pair of walks, a couple of hit-by-pitches, and consecutive Advance errors.

“We just grinded one out today,” veteran Bernie coach Marcus Massey said following the win. “Our pitchers threw well again.”

Sophomore Leightin Hicks threw three innings in the start and allowed just one hit, no earned runs, two walks, and six strikeouts.

One of two Bernie seniors, Jayden Robinette worked the middle two innings and gave up a three-run home run to Advance sophomore Jameson Hamlin. However, aside from that big Hornet hit, Robinette limited Advance to just two hits, no walks, and struck out five batters.

Sophomore Brayden Vaughn sealed the win by throwing two innings, giving up one hit, no runs, no walks, and striking out four.

“We threw strikes,” Massey continued. “We didn’t hurt ourselves and we made the routine plays.

“When you don’t hurt yourself, and you make the routine plays, you always have a good chance of winning.”

Junior Cody Massey paced the Mule offense with a couple of hits, two runs scored, and two RBI while Vaughn (two hits, three runs, one RBI), and freshman Cane Hobgood (two hits, one RBI, one walk) were also productive in the win.

Robinette had a hit and an RBI while Hicks (two runs, two walks), junior Taylor Stanfield (one hit, one RBI), junior Cade Arnold (one hit, two runs), junior Blake Nash (one hit, one walk), and freshman Josiah Copeland (two RBI) also produced offensively.

Robinette had a double while Massey connected for a three-bagger.

Vaughn tallied three stolen bases, as did Hicks while junior Cayden Hunt (two stolen bases), Hobgood, Massey, Copeland, and Robinette also ran the bases well.

Hornet freshman Drew Welch led his young teammates (the Hornets don’t have a senior on the roster and played just one junior) with a couple of hits from his lead-off spot. He also had a run scored and two walks while sophomore Caleb Henson (one hit, one run), Hamlin (one hit, one run, three RBI), and junior Colbey Roper (one hit) also contributed.

Henson had a pair of stolen bases while Welch added one.

Henson started the game and worked 3 1/3 innings. He allowed five hits, two earned runs, walked three, and struck out four.

Freshman Cole Curtis closed the final 2 2/3 innings and gave up five hits, just one earned run, walked one, and struck out two.

Advance (2-4) will visit Risco (4-3) today at 4:30 p.m.

Bernie will host Bell City (4-1) today at 4:30 p.m.