(UPDATED) Stolen pickup call turns deadly
    A Jones County woman was killed late Sunday morning when an apparent domestic dispute ended in a crash on Big Creek-Soso Road.

   Tonya West, 31, was pronounced dead at the scene. She had a Seminary address but lived in Jones County, officials said.
    Before the crash, a man who was identified as Stephen Hancock called 911 to report that his 1999 Ford F150 four-wheel-drive pickup had been stolen. He was reportedly in the back of the pickup as he talked with dispatchers and when the truck crashed. He was transported by EmServ to South Central Regional Hospital with undisclosed injuries, but rescuers said he was able to walk to the ambulance.
    It took volunteer firefighters more than an hour to remove the body from the pickup, which folded at the cab around a utility pole and large tree.
    Jones County Sheriff’s Department accident reconstructionists Jarod Lindsay and J.D. Carter were there to try to determine how the accident happened, Investigator Don Scott said, adding that speed appeared to be a factor.
    The pickup left the road in a curve about one mile from Highway 29 and tumbled approximately 100 yards before hitting a large tree and utility pole. The pole and tree snapped and large parts of both were imbedded in the pickup.
    “It was a horrific accident,” Scott said.
    Scott said that Dixie Electric Power Association employees “did an outstanding job” of getting downed power lines cleared from the roadway so rescuers and investigators could do their jobs.
    About 280 Dixie Electric customers were reportedly without power.
    Volunteer firefighters from Soso, Hebron, Calhoun and Pleasant Ridge were on the scene as were Jones County Fire Coordinator Dan McKenna, Public Information Officer Lance Chancellor, District Attorney’s Office Investigator Wayne Black, deputy coroner Ernest Holloway and several JCSO units.

Rig goes off I-59 to Chantilly, driver OK
    An 18-wheeler that swerved to avoid a merging car went off an Interstate 59 overpass and onto Chantilly Street below, but no one was seriously injured in the accident, which happened at about 7 p.m. on Saturday.
    David Dickens, 35, of Purvis was southbound in his Kenworth with a load of pork products when a white car that was merging onto the interstate pulled in front of him in the left lane, he said.
    “She cut right in front of me ... I hit the brakes and I tried to stay on the wall, but it just went down,” Dickens said.
    He was not injured and, fortunately, no vehicles were on the street below, he said.
    “I kicked the passenger door open, got out and checked myself for blood,” he said, adding that he bumped his head, but “I’m OK.”
    Dickens was driving for RWT Trucking of Collins, and he had almost made it home after driving back from North Carolina.
    Part of the concrete guardrails were broken off and one lane of I-59 was closed while several large wreckers were working to haul away the twisted trailer and heavily damaged rig.
    Laurel police and fire personnel as well as Jones County Emergency Management Agency Director Don McKinnon and Mississippi Department of Transportation employees were working the scene.
    The woman who was driving the car was taken to the hospital with what was believed to be minor injuries after being hit by the rig. She was also reportedly going to be cited for driving with no license.

Toddler’s death deemed suspicious
    A 2-year-old girl who was airlifted to a Jackson hospital with injuries on Wednesday has died, according to a press release from the Jones County Sheriff’s Department.
    Victoria Viner was pronounced dead at University Medical Center at 6:30 a.m. Maj. Don Scott and the JCSD’s Investigative Department are working to determine the cause of her death. They did classify her injuries as “suspicious.”
    More information will be provided when it becomes available.
    “Our prayers and condolences are with the family of this precious child,” Hodge said.
  

Firefighter on call seriously injured at county’s ‘most dangerous intersection’

    Last year, in a survey conducted by The ReView, local firefighters and law enforcement officials voted overwhelmingly that the most dangerous intersection in Jones County is at Highway 84 East and Magnolia Road. Now, one of their own has been a victim of the dangerous crossroads.
    An unidentified 19-year-old Powers volunteer firefighter, who is in his first week with the department, was crossing the highway in his GMC pickup on his way to a fire call when he was struck by an eastbound Lincoln Continental that was driven by an unidentified adult man. The force of the collision caused the teen to be ejected from his truck. He landed on the pavement and his pickup knocked over a stop sign that fell on top of him. The Lincoln left the roadway and went down an embankment before crashing into a deep ditch.
    Firefighters from Powers, M&M and Glade were responding to a woods fire off Township Road in Myrick when the crash occurred. Rescue units from Powers, Glade, Sandersville and Myrick were sent to the crash and one lane of Highway 84 East was closed for more than two hours while rescue, recovery and accident investigation took place. Mississippi Highway Patrol Trooper Lance Taylor, the Jones County Sheriff’s Department, EmServ, Jones County Fire Coordinator Dan McKenna and the Mississippi Department of Transportation responded. Since a volunteer firefighter responding to a fire was involved in the crash, McKenna requested that an Accident Investigation Board be assembled. Fire Council President and Ovett Fire Chief Gordon Pitts, Southwest Jones Fire Chief Kenny Keith and Calhoun Deputy Chief Lee Garick all responded to the scene and began gathering information to be used to determine the factors that led to the accident and make recommendations for the Jones County Fire Council to consider.
     “We are awaiting findings from the Mississippi Highway Patrol and Jones County Fire Council Accident Investigation Board so that we can learn from this accident and take steps if necessary to address any findings where we can improve upon the delivery of service to our community,” Powers Fire Chief Brent Broadway said. “We are prayerful that both accident victims will make a full and speedy recovery.”
    Pitts added, “The Accident Investigation Board will conduct an extensive review of all aspects of this accident taking the findings from the Mississippi Highway Patrol, victim and witness statements and photographic evidence from the scene.  It is our goal to provide an accurate, timely and factual account of the accident and how we can help our volunteer fire departments prevent such events in the future.”
    MHP will be the lead investigating agency on the accident.  Both drivers were transported by EMServ to South Central Regional Medical Center for treatment of undisclosed injuries which were not believed to be life-threatening.

Sheriff urges motorists to watch out for school buses
    The first day of school is slated for Monday in Jones County and Sheriff Alex Hodge urges motorist to pay close attention to the many children who will be traveling on a school bus this year.
    It’s almost impossible to mention school bus safety without thinking about 5-year-old Nathan Key, a North Jones Elementary student who was killed last December after being struck by a driver as he exited the school bus, Hodge said.
     “My hope is that the tragedy that occurred to Nathan will be on the minds of motorist as they travel throughout school zone areas,” he said. “They should pay close attention to children, particularly during early morning and evening hours when they are getting on and off school buses.
     “The bottom line is that motorist are going to have to simply practice patience as bus drivers make frequent stops loading and unloading children.”
     When asked to offer school bus safety tips that may be helpful, Hodge suggested the following:
• Children should wait for the bus to come to a complete stop before approaching the bus;
• Watch closely for cars before crossing the road;
• Before children exit the school bus, they should wait until it comes to a complete stop and always exit in front of the bus;
• Children should always use the cross walk and pay close attention to crossing guards who are there to assist them with getting safely across the street.
    “The safety of our children is very important and it should not be taken for granted,” Hodge said. “We can not allow our impatience to cause injury or harm to any child. I am hopeful that all children will have a safe and productive school year!”

Night Out Against Crime in city, county tonight

    The Jones County Sheriff’s Department is giving neighborhood crime and drugs “a going away party” in its first Night Out Against Crime event at the Jones County Junior College football stadium tonight (Tuesday) from 6-9 p.m.
    The first 500 kids in grades K-12 will get a book bag. There will also be free food, school supplies, a child ID, a K-9 demonstration and activities and games for everyone, Sheriff Alex Hodge said.
    There will also be music by Center Tree Gospel Group, JCJC Touch of Gold Dance Team and Revolution from Dance Arts Studio.
    For more information, call JCSD public relations director Shuanita Weathersby or Rena Register of the Jones County Baptist Association at (601) 649-8114.
    The Laurel Police Department will host its annual Night Out Against Crime event at Mason Park, 5-9 p.m.

Celebrating a tough 1st year

    Benjamin Staples is about to turn 1 year old, and he can't crawl. He has trouble holding his head up. He already wears glasses.
    But Benjamin is advanced.
    Born with myotonic dystrophy, he wasn't expected to live after birth. His muscles were dysfunctional. His lungs couldn't pump air, and he was put on a ventilator.
    “When he was born, he moved nothing,” said Janet Staples, Benjamin's grandmother. “He couldn't even grip your finger.”
    Myotonic dystrophy, a type of muscular dystrophy, is a difficult diagnosis because of the multitude and range of symptoms. At first, doctors couldn't even diagnose Benjamin. It took a meeting between a doctor and Benjamin's mother, Jessica Light, to detect his condition.
    “Myotonic dystrophy is a hereditary disease and Jessica has it,” Staples said. “She did not know that she had it until Benjamin was born. The doctor said 'if I can have five minutes with the mother I can diagnose Benjamin.’”
    A quick handshake confirmed that Light also suffered from the adult onset of myotonic dystrophy. The fact that Light couldn't release her fingers from the grip without pulling them off led to the doctor's diagnosis.
    “That's how they diagnosis myotonic dystrophy, because it's a tightness,” Staples explained. “And the myotonic dystrophy emblem is a handshake because that is how they diagnose it.”
    Fortunately for Light, no symptoms of the condition have popped up in her life yet. She is able to focus all of her attention on her son with the help of “Gran Jan.”
    Not only has Staples jumped in full force to help her grandson conquer myotonic dystrophy, she is also going the extra mile and helping anyone with disabilities. She has started a special needs support group in Laurel that meets each month with Benjamin being the youngest member. Not only do they offer support to family with special needs children, they host field trips, parties and activities for those kids.
    But even though she always seems to be hard at work promoting muscular dystrophy awareness or simply helping others, Staples main priority is her grandson.
    The way her face brightens when talking about Benjamin makes it quite clear that Jessica is not the only “light” in her life. At Staples' house, a system of “stations” is set up for Benjamin that work as at-home physical therapy. This was set up by Southern Miss' physical therapy program, which works with Benjamin along with the Wellness Center.
    Overall, Benjamin's therapy is going great.
    Looking over his baby blue glasses is the face of a smiling baby who is hard at work to gain muscle strength. Muscles that we take for granted everyday such as our eyes and neck are hard at work. But Benjamin never gives up.
    And as Benjamin's 1st birthday comes today (Friday), his mother and grandmother refuse to give up searching for a cure. A big birthday party for Benjamin will be at the Laurel Little Theater on Saturday. Center Tree will be performing the benefit concert. Everyone is invited to attend and the proceeds are going toward finding a cure for myotonic muscular dystrophy. 

Laurel man accused of sexual assault, molestation of two girls

    A Laurel man has been charged with sexual assault and molestation of two minor girls and is in jail on $200,000 cash bond, Sheriff Alex Hodge reported.
    Carl Eugene Staten Jr., 26, of 77 Church Dr. was charged with two counts of sexual battery and two counts of child molestation or touching a child for lustful purposes on the same two girls. The victims are now 14 and 16, Hodge said.
    “It is always difficult to work cases involving children who have been allegedly violated or hurt in any manner,” Lt. Don Sumrall said.
    Sexual battery carries up to 30 years and $10,000 in fines and a molestation charge carries a minimum of two years and a maximum of 15 years in prison and $1,000-5,000 in fines.
    Staten was arrested and placed in custody at the Jones County Adult Detention Center, where he will remain until his court date.

Ellisville man arrested for animal cruelty

    Marcus Johnson, 55, was arrested July 1 for animal cruelty toward multiple dogs at his residence on Harrison Street in Ellisville.
    Two adult German Shepherds “in poor condition” were locked in a pen with no food or water, said Investigator Christy Carona of the Ellisville Police Department.
    One dog had lacerations on both ears, both dogs were covered in ticks and a pit bull puppy was found dead in the same pen, she said. Four to five small dogs were locked in a storage building behind the house with no food or water. The dogs were taken to the city pound. 
    Officers arrested Johnson after responding to an animal negligence call from a concerned citizen. Johnson was charged with animal cruelty. He was released on Wednesday on $930 bond.  

Teens make special Fourth for nursing home residents
     Two young local women celebrated the Fourth of July in a special way.
     Emily Higginbotham and Jaycee Padgett developed hand-made cards for each resident at ComfortCare Nursing Center.
    “We made 128 cards using 25 different patterns,” Higginbotham said. “We love doing arts and crafts, and we were looking for a project that would benefit others.”
    After making the cards, they signed each one, then arrived at ComfortCare on Wednesday afternoon and gave a card to each resident.
    “It is always nice when individuals and groups in the community do things for our residents,”  said Ladd Hatten, South Central Director of Long Term Care. “The cards were a nice surprise and they each enjoyed getting one.”

Summer sports camps listed

    There are several local sports camps over the next few weeks. They are listed below:

SOCCER
    There will be two soccer camps at JCJC.
• July 12-15 - The Soccer Day Camp will be from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. each day. The camp is for boys and girls ages 8-14. Registration will take place in the Thoms PE Building. Registration fee is $135 per player with a $60 deposit due before June 25.
• July 25-28 - The Soccer Ankle Kickers Camp will take place from 5:30-7 p.m. each day. The camp is for boys and girls ages 5-8. Registration will take place in the Thoms PE Building. Cost is $75 per player with a $20 deposit due before July 13.
    For more information on both camps, contact Oleg Baleyev at (601) 477-4147, (228) 806-4375 or oleg.baleyev@jcjc.edu.

FOOTBALL
• JCJC will host a Seven-on-Seven Camp from 8:30 a.m. until on July 22 at Bobcat Stadium/Sim Cooley Field. For more information, contact Eddie Pierce at (601) 477-4091 or eddie.pierce@jcjc.edu
 

UPDATE: ’Stangs’ season ends in South State
LONG BEACH — West Jones’ baseball season came to an end at Long Beach in the Class 5A South State championship series on Saturday night.
    The Bearcats (21-11) bunted their way on the board early and left-hander Timmy Maloney kept the Mustangs’ bats at bay, tossing a two-hit shutout in the 5-0 victory. Senior starter Chris Caves (8-1) took his first loss of the season.
    Long Beach will advance to the state championship series against Ridgeland while the Mustangs finish their season at 24-8.
    The Bearcats took advantage of seven errors and rallied for eight runs in the seventh inning to win Thursday night’s opener 12-4. After the leadoff batter walked in the second inning, Long Beach tried to create more Mustang miscues by bunting the next three batters. One reached base when no one was covering first and the third executed a suicide squeeze to give the home team a 1-0 lead.
    “They made a couple of errors in the first game when we bunted and we wanted to put pressure on them in this game,” Long Beach coach Mark Ross said.
    In the third, Maloney helped himself with an RBI single — after a walk and an error set the table — and another run scored on a wild pitch to make it 3-0.
    In the sixth, Cameron Powell added a run-scoring single after an error and a hit batsman put runners on base ahead of him. The home team scored one more on a bad throw to go up 5-0.
    Maloney, who struck out 11, sat the Mustangs down 1,2,3 in the final inning. It’s the first state championship trip for Ross and his Bearcats in his 20 years there.
    “A lot of people counted us out early,” he said, “and our players got a little hacked off about it. We’ve beat some good teams. West Jones has a heck of a team.”
    After the game, coach Joey Ward and his coaches met with all of the players in right field. Afterward there was a special meeting with the seniors that had more hugs and tears than words.
    “It’s always tough (saying goodbye),” Ward said. “This game is not about wins and losses; it’s about developing relationships with kids, and we’ve developed some tight relationships ... you hate to lose that.
    “These seven (seniors) are the backbone of their school and their community, and they’re all going to be successful. That’s what’s important.”

’Stangs’ backed against the wall again in South State
    One look at the linescore told the story of how West Jones lost the opening game of its South State series with Long Beach. The Mustangs had more errors (7) than hits (6) or runs (4) as they literally dropped Game 1 of the series, 12-4, on Thursday night.
    The teams were tied 4-4 going into the seventh inning, but Long Beach (20-11) took advantage of five errors, three walks and two wild pitches in the final inning to stun the Mustangs (24-7).
    The Bearcats return home Friday for Game 2 with their ace on the mound and a trip to the Class 5A state championship series on the line. Left-hander Timmy Maloney is 10-2 with 119 strikeouts and only 10 walks in 77-2/3 innings.
    “It doesn’t matter who’s on the mound,” WJ coach Joey Ward said. “That’s not what’s been beating us.”
    Long Beach coach Mark Ross agreed. He said he feels good going into Game 2 with a 1-0 lead and Maloney ready to go, “but your ace only throws,” he added. Other players have to catch, throw and hit.
    “You have to make the other team make plays, and we didn’t do that early,” Ross said.
    Vito Perna pitched into the seventh for WJ, but he was pulled after the Bearcats loaded the bases on an error and two walks, then scored two runs on another error. Left-hander Chase Stewart and Chase Ward pitched in relief.
    The Mustangs appeared to be in the driver’s seat early. Ben Stevens (2-for-4) smacked a two-run homer in the first inning and Matt Farrar drew a walk and eventually scored on a wild pitch to give the Mustangs a 3-0 lead in the second.    
    The Bearcats answered with a two-out, four-run rally in the third. After scoring on a passed ball, they drew a pair of two-out walks to set up Garrett Larosa’s two-run single that tied it at 3-3. They went ahead 4-3 on another wild pitch before West got out of the inning.
   WJ’s Jordan Koechner (2-for-4) tied it again in the bottom of the inning when he ripped a solo shot to right-center and the scored stayed at 4-4 until the last inning.
    It’s a familiar spot for the Mustangs — they started their first two playoff series by losing Game 1, then bouncing back to win Games 2 and 3.
    “It’s frustrating,” Ward said. “This isn’t the kind of baseball that got us to this round. They’re not out there trying to make mistakes ...
    “We’ve just got to put this behind us and come back and win Game 2 and force Game 3 back here at our place.”

West walks over Wayne to earn South State bid
    West Jones scored six runs over the final three innings to beat archrival Wayne County 11-7 on Monday night and advance to the Class 5A South State championship series.
    The Mustangs (24-6) will host Long Beach (19-11) in the opener of the best-of-3 series on Thursday at 7 p.m. Game 2 will be at Long Beach on Friday and Game 3, if necessary, will be Saturday at West Jones. The winner of that series will face Hernando or Ridgeland for the state championship in a best-of-3 series starting May 25 at Trustmark Park in Pearl.
    With a raucous crowd of more than 800, Monday night’s series finale had a championship atmosphere — and the jitters that come with it.
    The Mustangs had four errors and were outhit 10-8, but overcame it by taking advantage of nine walks (two intentional) and one hit batsman. Starter Chris Caves (8-0) combined with left-hander Chase Stewart to strike out 11 and walk four and Vito Perna got the final out to earn the save.
    After WC starter Stanley Farrar hit a solo home run in the first inning, the Mustangs came back and took a 2-1 lead when Casey Wells hit a two-out RBI single to center and Perna, who had walked, scored on a high throw to third.
    The Mustangs then committed three of their errors on three successive plays to give the War Eagles (16-12) a 5-2 lead in the second inning.
    In the third, West Jones tied it when Jordan Koechner and Tyler Roney came through with back-to-back RBI singles after Zane Walley was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. The Mustangs had loaded the bases without getting a hit after Derek Bynum drew a leadoff walk, Ben Stevens reached on an error and Perna was intentionally walked.
    Caves got out of a jam in the fourth after the first two batters singled. Perna made a nice running play from third on a dribbler to end the threat, then Stevens put the Mustangs ahead 6-5 with an RBI groundout in the home half of the inning.
    After the first two WC batters reached base in the fifth, Stewart took the mound and got two huge strikeouts to get out of the inning unscathed. He whiffed Mississippi State signee Demarcus Henderson with the bases loaded to end the inning.
    That momentum carried over to the plate in the sixth. Matthew Farrar and Bynum delivered RBI singles off Henderson, who had replaced reliever Davontae Linear after he gave up a leadoff walk to Wells. Henderson then walked Koechner to set the table for Farrar and Bynum.
    In the sixth, right fielder Trey Winpigler made an inning-ending diving catch on the line, then came through with a two-out, two-run double to the wall in left field to give the Mustangs an 11-5 lead. The big hit came after courtesy runner Jonathan Welch scored on a wild pitch.
    In the seventh, the War Eagles loaded the bases with two outs after an infield single, an error and Stewart’s only walk of the night. Perna came in to face Henderson, who won the battle of big guns with a two-run double to center field. Perna coaxed a grounder to second for the final out.
    The Mustangs tipped their hats to the crowd after the big victory, but coach Joey Ward tempered the celebration.
    “This is not a championship,” he said. “This is not our final goal ... it’s a stepping stone to our final goal.”
    The Mustangs came back from 0-1 series deficits to win each of their playoff series.
    “These kids are resilient,” Ward said. “They fought and found a way to win, and that says a lot about their character.”

UPDATE: Mustangs force Game 3

      Vito Perna hit a three-run homer in the seventh inning and got the save as West Jones won at Wayne County, 10-5, on Saturday to force a Game 3 back in Soso on Monday at 7 p.m. The winner will advance to the South State championship series.

       “It’s going to be wild,” WJ coach Joey Ward. “It’s going to be the closest thing to a football atmosphere that we can get in baseball. It’s going to be an absolute zoo.”

       Chase Stewart won the battle of lefty starters, allowing only six hits through the sixth inning, when Perna took over. The War Eagles (16-12) were trailing 6-3 in the sixth when they took advantage of two of the Mustangs’ five errors to pull within a run. But the Mustangs (23-6) erupted for four runs in the seventh, then held on to force the deciding game with their biggest rival.

   Stanley Farrar took the loss as he and reliever David Kennedy combined to give up 11 hits, eight walks and three hit batsmen.

    Stewart only gave up one walk and Perna hit one batter. Both of those free passes came in the sixth inning.

    WJ leadoff man Derek Bynum went 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles and a pair of RBIs while Ben Stevens went 2-for-5 with an RBI. Zane Walley went 2-for-4 and drove in a run, Jordan Koechner doubled and Matthew Farrar had a run-scoring double. Perna was hitless until his final at-bat, when he delivered the big blow. WC coach Chad Davis intentionally walked him twice and he grounded out to third twice.

    “We took a chance,” Davis said. “We gambled and it paid off twice, but not that last time.”

    Davis said he wasn’t sure who would be pitching in the series finale. Mississippi State signee Demarcus Henderson threw more than 100 pitches in relief to get the victory in Game 1. Davis did have a prediction on what the atmosphere will be like when the rivals square off in such a big game.
      “It’s going to be absolutely crazy,” he said.

    Ward said he wasn’t sure who was going to pitch for the Mustangs.

     “We have some options,” he said. “We’re going to have to come out swinging.”

Late rally pushes War Eagles past West Jones in Game 1
    Wayne County rallied for six runs in the sixth inning to take a 9-6 win in the first game of their second-round Class 5A playoff series.
    Game 2 of the best-of-3 series is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday at Wayne County and Game 3, if needed, will be at West Jones at 7 p.m.
    The Mustangs appeared to be in control going into the War Eagles’ big inning. Jordan Koechner hit a three-run homer off hard-throwing Mississippi State signee Demarcus Henderson after Vito Perna and Zane Walley were intentionally walked ahead of him to give the Mustangs a 6-3 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. Then in the top of the fifth, WJ starter Vito Pena got two huge strikeouts and a groundout to get out of a bases-loaded, no-outs jam.
    But things began to unravel in the sixth. Perna walked the first two batters and was pulled and relieved by Chase Ward. After a misplayed bunt loaded the bases, Devontae Linear delivered an RBI single and Stanley Farrar hit an RBI double to make it 6-5. Then Henderson was intentionally walked and Bracy Clark slapped a two-run double down the left-field line to put the visitors ahead, 7-6. Two more runs run scored on a fielder’s choice and Nate Cran bloop double to right field.
    The Mustangs had their chances to come back in the last two innings. They got two runners on with one out in the sixth and seventh, but each time, Henderson got two strikeouts to get out of the jam.  He struck out 12 in the last five innings in relief of starter David Kennedy.
    The Mustangs (22-7) now face the same situation they did against St. Martin in their first-round series, when they had to come back from an 0-1 deficit to win the series.
    “We’ve got to be able to win two,” WJ coach Joey Ward said. “We’re going to have our hands full. We can lay down or we can come out swinging.”
    The Mustangs outhit the War Eagles 12-9 but both teams had 12 strikeouts and six walks.
    Koechner went 3-for-4 with a homer and double, Ben Stevens went 3-for-5, Derek Bynum went 2-for-4 with a double, and Casey Wells and Tyler Roney both doubled.

UPDATE: West advances to second-round series vs. Wayne

    Vito Perna pitched a three-hit shutout and struck out 11 to send St. Martin home with a 4-0 loss in the deciding Game 3 of their Class 5A first-round playoff series on Monday night. The Mustangs (22-5) will now face old nemesis Wayne County in the second round, which starts Friday at 7 p.m. at West Jones. The rivals met twice early in the season, with West winning the first one 5-2 and losing the next one, 10-0.

West forces Game 3 with extra-inning win
ST. MARTIN — West Jones rallied from a two-run deficit to force extra innings, then scored three times in the eighth inning to beat St. Martin, 7-4, on Saturday and stay alive in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs.
    The deciding Game 3 is scheduled for Monday at 7 p.m. at West Jones.
    The bottom of the batting order came through all day for the Mustangs (21-5) as St. Martin (15-12) pitchers shut down the heart of their power-packed lineup. Tyler Roney, Matt Farrar and Trey Winpigler — who bat seventh, eighth and ninth, respectively — had seven of the Mustangs’ 11 hits and reached base on 10 of their 12 plate appearances. They were the three who started — and finished — the comeback.
    Roney (3-for-4) led off the eighth with a single and Farrar (2-for-4) and Winpigler (2-for-4, two RBIs) reached base on back-to-back bunts and bad throws. Roney scored the go-ahead run after Winpigler bunted and the pitcher’s toss to third went into left field. Leadoff man Derek Bynum followed with a sacrifice fly to center and Ben Stevens (3-for-5, two RBIs) lined an RBI single to left field to give the Mustangs a three-run lead.
    Bynum, who led off the game with a home run on an 0-2 count, ended it with a diving snag in center field. It was one of several big West Jones defensive plays on a day when wind estimated at 25 mph was a factor. Winpigler saved two runs with a running catch in shallow right field with two on and two out the fifth inning and the score tied 4-4. In the sixth, Farrar gunned down a runner at third from behind the plate, then relief pitcher Chase Stewart picked off a runner at first and got an inning-ending strikeout with runners at first and second.
    Starter Chris Caves and Stewart allowed only five hits but walked seven and hit two batters.
    Back-to-back walks and Mustang miscues gave the Yellowjackets their first three runs. The first one came in on a bad throw to third and the second scored on a two-out popup to shallow center that got caught in the wind. Catcher Mark Fast, who is 6-for-7 for the series, then hit a single up the middle to give the home team a 3-1 lead.
    In the fourth inning, West battled back. Winpigler smacked a two-run single to tie it and Stevens singled in the go-ahead run to make it 4-3.
    The Yellowjackets answered in the bottom of the inning when Devin Bailey homered. But Bynum made a diving play in center with a runner on to keep it tied at 4-4, which is how it stayed until the eighth.
    St. Martin sophomore starter Tyler Quave pitched until the eighth inning, when he was relieved by Sam Bicket, then Matt Linger. They held West Jones batters Nos. 3-6 —  Vito Perna, Zane Walley, Casey Wells and Jordan Koechner — to a combined 0-for-16.
    In a season that has been highlighted by 10-run wins, power pitching and long balls, WJ coach Joey Ward was proud to see his guys win by manufacturing runs and taking advantage of their opponent’s mistakes.
    “We need to be able to do those kinds of things in close games,” he said. “The bottom of the order did a good job, especially putting the top of the order in position to produce some runs.”
    Ward said he wasn’t surprised that his players battled back to force Game 3.
    “West Jones kids are resilient,” he said. “I believe in all of these guys, and they are accountable to each other, the school and the community.”
    The winner of the first-round series will face the Wayne County-Vancleave winner May 7, 8 and 10.

West drops wild playoff opener, faces must-win game at St. Martin
    In a game that was highlighted by four lead changes, 24 hits and valiant comebacks — and marred by 13 walks, eight pitching changes and a couple of costly miscues —  St. Martin stunned West Jones, 12-10, in the Game 1 of the first round of the Class 5A state playoffs.
    It was the first loss since spring break for the Mustangs (21-5), who had won 14 in a row but were coming off a nine-day layoff since winning their region championship. The Yellowjackets improved to 15-11. Game 2 of the best-of-3 series will be in Ocean Springs on Saturday at noon. The Mustangs have to win to keep their season alive.
    Coach Joey Ward said the Mustangs were in the same position two years ago against Poplarville and they pulled it out.
    “The goal is the same — we still have to beat them twice,” he said. “It’s the same situation. We’re backed against the wall and we have to come out swinging. I think this group will come out swinging.”
    Swinging wasn’t a problem for either team on this night. Each team cranked out 12 hits, with batters from the top of the lineup to the bottom contributing.
    “Looking at that score, you’d think it was a men’s slow-pitch softball game,” said Yellowjackets’ coach Greg Williams, whose team’s last game was a 1-0 loss to Long Beach. “We don’t usually hit the ball like that.”
    Hitting the ball wasn’t a problem for either team. Hitting the strike zone was.
    West Jones starter Vito Perna had control problems and he was pulled in the third inning after walking the bases loaded. He took his frustrations out at the plate, though, going 4-for-5 with solo homers in the first and fourth innings that went deep into the pines behind the left-field fence and a two-run single that tied the game at 9-9 in the fifth.
    The Yellowjackets took a 5-1 lead in the second inning, but the Mustangs bounced back in the bottom of the inning to take a 6-5 lead. The big inning was highlighted by doubles by Jordan Koechner and Matthew Farrar and RBI singles by Trey Winpigler and Ben Stevens, and a deep sacrifice fly by Derek Bynum.
    St. Martin struck again in the fourth to go up 7-6, then took a 9-7 lead in the fifth.
    But the Mustangs rallied again in the bottom of the inning. Farrar lead off with a walk, Winpigler doubled and Stevens walked to load the bases for Perna. He delivered a two-run single to center, then Zane Walley drove in the go-head run on a fielder’s choice. The score stayed at 10-9 until the seventh, when the Yellowjackets took advantage of a hit batsmen, two errant throws on pickoff attempts and three straight hits to go up 12-10. Sophomore Jacob Swiney, who had four RBIs on the night, delivered the big blow with a two-run single.
    The top of the order was up in the bottom of the seventh, but the Mustangs couldn’t muster another comeback. After a strikeout to start the inning, Perna reached base on a dropped pop fly and Walley ripped a shot up the line that nearly knocked over the first baseman, but he managed to gather up the ball and step on the bag for the second out. Casey Wells hit a high chopper to short for the final out.
    Perna, Chase Ward, Chase Stewart and Chris Caves combined for six strikeouts, seven walks and two hit batsmen. Six St. Martin pitchers struck out four, walked six and hit one batter. Each team committed two errors.
    “It just looked like high school playoff baseball,” Ward said “We didn’t pitch well, but I’m proud of how we battled.
There’s a lot on the line, but we have to learn to control our emotions, and calm down.”
   

Dump truck downs lines on Highway 84
    A dump truck snapped or damaged at least four utility poles and caused a power outage for about an hour along Highway 84 West on Thursday morning.
    The bed of the truck, which had just dumped a load of dirt, didn’t lower before the driver went under the lower power lines to pull back on the highway. The raised bed snagged the lines and pulled the poles over just east of Life Church.
    Power was knocked out for Dixie Electric customers from Mulligan Road, but crews had power restored in less than hour. They were still on the scene replacing poles just before noon.
    The driver of the Walters Construction dump truck was told to stay in the cab of the truck, for his safety, until electric crews arrived. No injuries were reported.

JCJC’s Gardner picked NJCAA Player of the Week

    Jones County Junior College sophomore centerfielder Tyler Gardner has been named the NJCAA National Division II Player of the Week, for the week of April 12-18.

    Gardner, a West Jones High School product, had a torrid week at the plate, posting a .785 batting average, as helped the Bobcats go 4-0 and post South Division sweeps over Pearl River and Co-Lin.

    Against Pearl River on April 13, Gardner went 4-for-6 with two home runs, four RBIs, two runs scored and a walk, as JCJC swept the Wildcats, 4-1 and 10-3.

    Gardner had a big day on April 17 vs. Co-Lin. He was 5-for-8 on the day with two home runs, a triple, three runs scored and eight RBIs. All of the RBIs came in JCJC’s 19-8 win in game two when he hit a grand slam home run and a three-run shot.  The Bobcats won the opener, 4-2.

    Gardner, who has signed with perennial Division II power Delta State University, was batting .415 with nine home runs, 46 RBIs and a .796 slugging percentage heading into Wednesday’s games at Northeast Mississippi.

    The Bobcats, who are 31-9 overall and are tied for first place in the MACJC South Division, will travel to Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College for an important league doubleheader at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

            "The first 20 to 25 minutes we were in search mode with no fire operation," McKenna said. "The fire started in the back of the house and got into the attic. We had a hard time penetrating the attic."

    With all units in District 4 responding to the fire, volunteers from Sandersville VFD in District 3 were sent to Powers' fire department to remain on stand by in case another call went out. 

    Dixie Electric Power Association was immediately dispatched as flames coming through the roof were threatening high-voltage wires overhead. Jones County Sheriff's Department assisted with traffic control.  EmServ ambulance service was also on scene, but no injuries were reported.  Comcast Cable Company arrived on scene to repair lines that had been burned, which cut off service to a large number of cable TV customers.

    McKenna notified the Red Cross of the family's loss and Jones County Medical Supply was notified to replace Walker's oxygen supplies, which were destroyed. 

    "We were able to salvage some of Mrs. Walker's personal treasures, including a small pistol her husband had given her for protection just before he past away," McKenna said.

    By 3 p.m. the volunteer firefighters had cleared the scene and were able to return to their homes to resume celebrating Christmas with their families.

    It was the 18th fire in Jones County since Thanksgiving week. The 17th occurred the night before, Christmas Eve, when Southwest VFD and Boggy VFD responded to a fully involved mobile home fire at 208 Eddie Smith Rd. near the Forrest County line. Units from North Forrest County VFD were on scene when they arrived and it was later determined that the house was 300 yards inside Jones County. The fire is under investigation by the Jones County Sheriff's Department.

— By Linda Cranford/The ReView