Tiger JV goes 9-2 on year

Troup's junior varsity boys baseball team ended its year Saturday with a win in the JV district tournament.

The 18-2 victor y over West Rusk (a second game against Elysian Fields was rained out) gave the team a 9-2 overall record and a perfect 6-0 district mark for the year.

"All players seemed to improve on the season," said coach Adam Thomas. "Hopefully experience and success will pay off next year when the varsity loses all but four players to graduation."

The JV Tigers began the year with a preseason loss to Carlisle, 3-1.

Next, they finished third in the West Rusk tournament with a first round win over Tatum, 10-0; loss to Carlisle, 6-4; win over Overton, 13-1; and win over the host team, 10-2, to finish third.

Six district victories followed, culminating with a 10- 3 win over Arp on March 25.

Austin Clairborne pitched and was 1-for-2 at the plate.

Taylor Beaty and Michael Ritchie both went 1-for-3. Casey Rinehart and Austin Duren scored two runs each.

On the defensive side, the Tigers found the perfect way to end the regular season: with a triple play (third to first to second).

After that game, Troup ripped West Rusk 18-2 in its final game in the JV district tournament.

Trey Roberson earned the win, pitching in the rain. Rinehart was 2-for-2, Beaty 1- for-2 with a double and several other Tigers singled (Chris Malone, Ethan Huckaby, Jacob Moody, Ritchie, Oliver Jenson and Clairborne).