NMCC wins season-opener 7-1 over Poplar Bluff

NEW MADRID, Mo. — The New Madrid County Central opened its season with a win over SEMO Conference rival Poplar Bluff.

The Eagles (1-0) were powered by the bats of Ayden McCanless, Brady Swims and Slade Courtois in the 7-1 victory over the Mules (1-2), while Clay Cope earned the win on the mound.

“We know we have a lot of baseball in front of us but it was a great way to start the season,” said NMCC coach Joseph McClarty. “[McCanless] and [Swims] both had some big hits in the middle of the lineup and [Courtois] gave us a boost.

Ayden McCanless takes a swing during NMCC's 7-1 win over Twin Rivers in a quarterfinal of the MSHSAA Class 3 District 1 Tournament at Malden High School on Saturday, May 14. (Dennis Marshall/Standard-Democrat)

“Our pitchers competed today,” he continued. “[Cope] was phenomenal and [Swims] came in and closed it out. They both pounded the zone and defensively we were great behind them.”

McCanless got the Eagles on the scoreboard in the third inning with a single to score Cope, who was walked to lead off the inning.

Swims increased the score to 2-0 on the next at-bat with a line drive to left field that scored McCanless.

Later in the inning, Courtois had a two-run double that brought Swims and Carson Pfeffer home and extended the lead to 4-0. Cope scored another run on an error and Brandon Waters scored on a single by Swims in the fourth inning.

Poplar Bluff’s lone run came in the fifth inning off a single from David Durbin.

Cope scored NMCC’s final run on a ground out in the sixth inning.

“We had some new faces out there and they all stepped up and played a heck of a game,” McClarty said. “The coaching staff was extremely proud of the guys today. Hopefully, we get this weather to calm down and we can get in some more games.”

Cope pitched 5.0 innings and didn’t allow any earned run on four hits with seven strikeouts and two walked batters.

Swims finished the game, throwing 2.0 innings with two strikeouts and two walks and no hits.

Dylan Bratcher took the loss for the Mules. He pitched 3.0, surrendering four runs on four hits with four strikeouts and five walks.

NMCC is scheduled to play at Charleston (1-0) on Tuesday, March 28, while Poplar Bluff will play Cape Central (2-0) at 11 a.m. and Vianney (5-0) on Saturday, March 25, weather permitting.

__NMCC 7, POPLAR BLUFF 1__

PB 000 010 0 — 1 4 1

NMCC 004 201 0 — 7 6 1

W—Clay Cope. L—Dylan Bratcher. 2B—Poplar Bluff: Dylan Hall, Kayson King; NMCC: Slade Courtois.