If you didn’t know it had really happened, you would swear it was an iconic closing to a classic movie script. What is being referred to is how the Weston vs. Simsboro baseball game ended.
For the record, Weston beat Simsboro 5-4 on Tuesday in the District 1B opener for both schools. The victory improved the Wolves’ season record to 10-5 on the year, while dropping Simsboro to 11-3 overall.
But that is just a small smidgeon of why this game will be remembered for a long time by the Wolves and their faithful fans.
It was with a stroke of genius that Weston head coach Joey Kemp scheduled this game. What better way to play your very first game on the field named for legendary WHS baseball coach Mike Staples than to go against the top-ranked team in the state? After all the state titles that Staples led Weston to, it was truly appropriate to honor the best by playing the best.
Well, that should read the team that WAS the best. That designation now belongs to the Wolves, who climbed to the top of the Class B power ratings with the victory, while Simsboro dropped to #3 in the poll.
What will really bring a smile to Wolves Nation for a long time to come is how the game was played and especially the “movie like” ending.
Simsboro drew first blood only to see Weston tie the game in the bottom of the first without getting a hit as leadoff man Drew Browning drew (no pun intended) a walk. Jase Borders then “took one for the team,” leading to Ty Henderson hitting a grounder to the mound. The Simsboro pitcher alertly snagged the ball and threw to second to force Borders, but the relay throw to first got away, allowing Browning to score.
Simsboro proved their mettle in the top of the third by stroking two doubles and two singles to open up a 4-1 lead. Weston started pecking away at the lead in the bottom of the third when Henderson doubled to left that scored Borders, who had walked.
The score stayed that way until the bottom of the sixth when Liam Weaver hit a two-out double, and Dawson Griffin followed with an RBI single, setting the stage for the final act.
Down by one in the bottom of the 7th inning, one pitch led to one run when Easton Borders smashed the first pitch he saw over the fence in left field. Two pitches later, the game was over as Browning, the one who started the game off, ended it with a “walk-off” home run to give Weston the thrilling victory.
Three pitches. Two runs. And one very satisfying ending to the first game played on the field that honors one of the best coaches and gentlemen ever in Jackson Parish.
For a clip of the game-winning home run, click here.
Area Scores from March 4-10
Thursday, March 5:
Ruston 11 Weston 0
Friday, March 6
Hamburg, AR 7 Quitman 6
Tuesday, March 10
Weston 5 Simsboro 4 (District 1B)
Quitman 15 PCA 0 (District 1B
Upcoming Games
Wednesday, March 11
JHHS vs Wossman (5:00 pm)
Thursday, March 12
Quitman at North DeSoto (6:00 pm)
Weston vs Hicks at Stanley Tourney (3:15 pm)
Friday, March 13
JHHS at Lakeview (5:00 pm)
Quitman va Winnfield (6:00 pm)
Weston vs Lacassine at Stanley Tourney (3:15 PM)