By SHELIA MADER
Published: April 29, 2008

The Marianna High School baseball team extended their winning season last night with a 6-5 win over the Northview Chiefs before loyal fans at Bulldog Field.

The win advances the Bulldogs to the Regional Semifinals.

Marianna moved to 19-7 on the season with the win over the 12-13 Chiefs.

MHS coach Andy Shelton went with veteran leftie Kyle Edwards to start the game.

Behind the plate was Colby Johnson with Jon Sims at first and Dustin Larkin at second. Lance Bailey covered short with Brandon Gardner taking care of third.
Left field was taken care of by Rhyne Elliott with Tyler Wilson anchoring down center and Troy Clemmons in right.

Edwards wasted no time in striking out the first batter before a ground out to short got the number two batter.

Jeff Price beat out a throw from second to reach first safely but moments later, Edwards picked him off on a throw to first.

Two walks in the second inning for Northview resulted in no runs. Marianna threatened in the second with a two-out double by Lance Bailey but a ground out to third ended the inning with no runs crossing the plate.

Marianna exploded for six runs in the bottom half of the third.

Edwards led-off with a walk but was out on a fielder’s choice by Elliott. Wilson reached on an error at third to put runners on the corners. Gardner took one for the team to load the bases but a fielder’s choice by Adam Bigale got Elliott on a tag from the pitcher.

Sims came through with a huge two-out single for the first two runs of the game.

Clemmons picked up an RBI when he took advantage of an error at third and Johnson did the same.

Northview picked up one run on two hits and one error in the top of the fourth.

Wilson singled in the top of the fourth and once again, Gardner was hit by a pitch but three straight outs left them stranded on the bases. With two outs and runners on the corners in the fifth inning, Jeremy Barber came on in relief of Edwards.

Northview plated three runs in the sixth inning, all with two outs.  A single and a walk put runners on the corners. A misplayed ball to left field scored two. A dropped fly ball scored another before a fly out to third ended the inning. In their final at bat, the Chiefs rally fell short. With two outs, a walk followed a single.

Shelton brought in southpaw Troy Clemmons to close out the game.

Clemmons gave up one single scoring one run before retiring the final batter on three straight strikes.

Marianna was held scoreless for the final innings of the game. Marianna will travel to Pensacola on Friday to take on Pensacola Catholic.

A win advances the Bulldogs to the regional finals. First pitch is slated for 7 p.m.