BASEBALL ROUNDUP: Morrow pacing county teams in early stages of season By Luke Strickland

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JONESBORO — The 2017 high school baseball season heated up last week with the majority of the teams in the county playing at least three games. The Morrow Mustangs have won the most games in the early going with three victories.

Drew Titans (2-2)

The Titans snapped a two-game losing streak last week with a 7-5 victory over Riverdale. Junior Khari Caver and senior De’Andre Mitchell each recorded two hits, with the former driving in two runs. Caver also picked up the win, striking out 12 hitters while allowing three earned runs in 6.2 innings of work. Drew is off until next week when they begin Region 4-AAAAAA play against Mundy’s Mill.

Forest Park Panthers (2-1)

The Panthers didn’t win a game last season but have already tasted victory twice in 2017. Forest Park beat Douglass 8-3 and North Clayton 13-11 last week after dropping the season opener against Morrow. The Panthers have two more non-region games this week against Towers and Douglass.

Jonesboro Cardinals (0-1)

The Cardinals dropped their first game of the season last week in an 8-1 loss to Eagle’s Landing. Freshman Seth Leonard scored Jonesboro’s lone run while junior Justin Marshall reached base twice. Senior Emperor Williams picked up the loss, but struck out four batters and allowed just one earned run in three innings of work. The Cardinals will play two non-region games this week against Henry County and Washington.

Lovejoy Wildcats (0-1)

The Wildcats were beaten 26-3 by Whitfield Academy in their lone game of the season. Seth Tyus led the offense with 2 RBIs in the contest. Lovejoy is off until March 10 against MLK in Region 4-AAAAAA play.

Morrow Mustangs (3-4)

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After two losses earlier in the week, the Mustangs ended last week with an 18-3 win over Washington High School. Four Mustangs — Akeem Newton, Zion Giles, Darion Bennett and Jared Hines recorded two hits and 2 RBIs. Hines added four runs scored and four stolen bases. Giles picked up the win on the mound with eight strikeouts, allowing no hits and three earned runs in four innings of work. The Mustangs will begin Region 3-AAAAA play this week.

Mount Zion Bulldogs (0-6)

The Bulldogs dropped four games last week to fall to 0-6 on the season, surrendering 10 or more runs in three of those losses. Mount Zion will play two more non-region games before beginning Region 4-AAAAAA play next week against MLK.

Mundy’s Mill Tigers (2-2)

After a 1-2 start to the season, Mundy’s Mill got back on track with a 10-3 victory over Woodland last week. Junior Amari Taylor led the offense with three hits, while junior David Crawford and senior Jamarcus Bennett added two hits each. Senior Dermus Strozier picked up the win, striking out six while allowing one earned run in three innings of work. Junior Fasion Carrington also struck out six in four innings of relief.

North Clayton Eagles (0-2)

The Eagles fell to Forest Park last week in their second game of the season. The week ahead brings a non-region contest against Our Lady of Mercy before Region 4-AAAA play begins next week against Salem.

Riverdale Raiders (2-2)

The Raiders bounced back from a loss last Friday to Drew with a sweep of Mount Zion in a double-header on Saturday. Riverdale outscored Mount Zion 19-8 over the two-game series. The Raiders will begin Region 3-AAAAA play this week beginning with two games against Griffin.

Schedule for Week of Feb. 27

Tuesday

Starr’s Mill at Morrow, 5:55 p.m.

Griffin at Riverdale, 5:55 p.m.

Wednesday

Forest Park at Towers, 4:30 p.m.

Thursday

Morrow at Starr’s Mill, 5:55 p.m.

Riverdale at Griffin, 5:55 p.m.

Friday

Washington at Jonesboro, 5:30 p.m.

Douglass at Forest Park, 5:30 p.m.

Mount Zion at Henry County, 5:55 p.m.

Griffin at Riverdale, 5:55 p.m.

Saturday

Woodland at Mundy’s Mill, 12 p.m