How a team ends one season often times is a precursor to how they will perform the next. The Jonesboro-Hodge High School baseball team certainly hopes that will be case next spring. 

It was a tough year for the Tigers. Competing with only one senior on the roster, JHHS won only 4 of the 20 games played. The youthful squad also had to endure a coaching change midway through the season. Despite the adversity, JHHS showed tremendous resilience and finished the season strong, winning two of their last four games, including a season ending 6-5 victory over Homer.  

“The effort that was shown from the boys was nothing less than remarkable,” said JHHS head coach Kris Cash. “Finishing the season on a high is something that we are all proud of. The way they fought through the adversity is a skill that is not only needed in baseball but also very important in the next steps of life.”

Perhaps the way the final game played out was the strongest testament that could be attributed to the character and determination of the team. Coming into their final at bat, the Tigers trailed 3-2 but despite not getting a hit managed to tie the game as Marquis Baker got hit by a pitch, stole second and third and scored on an error by the catcher. 

Homer then looked poised to ruin the day in the bottom of the 7th when they had runners on second and third base but winning pitcher, Pierce Ulloa struck out the next batter to end the threat.

Bolstered by the positive results of the inning before, JHHS opened the 8th with Dakota Knox, Trey Trosclair and Logan Smith all hitting singles. Walks to Ulloa, Baker and Landon Boston gave the Tigers a 6-3 lead.

Homer came back though to load the bases setting the stage for a single being hit. One, then another, crossed home plate with the runner on first sprinting home but a perfect strike from Boston in the outfield to catcher Baker cut the runner down at the plate and preserved the victory.