By SHELIA MADER
Published: April 19, 2008

The Marianna High School baseball team ended their regular season with a 5-4 win over the visiting Graceville Tigers.

In honor of their final regular season game at Bulldog Field, first-year MHS coach Andy Shelton had his nine seniors take the field for the starting lineup.

Tyler Wilson anchored down center field with Brandon Gardner at his familiar shortstop position.

Lance Bailey returned to shortstop and Jon Sims returned to his days of old behind the plate.

Taking the mound was Rhyne Elliott, with Brandon Booth at third, and Jeremy Barber at first. Dakota Partin took care of left field and Kyle Edwards found his home in right field.

Justin Miles led off for Graceville with a single.

Following a ground out to second, Cody Gainer doubled home Miles.

A single by Drew Crutchfield was followed by a single by Ivey Chase that scored another run.

Josh Taylor took the mound for the Graceville Tigers.

Tyler Wilson took one for the team and moved to third on Gardner’s double.

Bailey doubled home one and Sims sacrificed another run home before the inning ended.

Nick Dietrich was the only Tiger base runner in the top of the second inning.

Marianna was retired in order in their half of the frame.

In the third inning, Crutchfield singled with two outs but a ground out to third ended the inning with no runs crossing the plate.

The Bulldogs plated two runs in the third. A singled by Elliott got things started, with Wilson following with a single.

Wilson was out on a fielder’s choice by Gardner but Bailey sacrificed Elliott home. Gardener scored the second run of the inning.

Graceville countered with two runs in the top of the fourth to tie the game at four.

A walk to Julius Carver was followed with a one out single to Aaron Taylor.

A walk to Josh Taylor loaded the bases.

A fielder’s choice by Miles scored one and a single by Stephen Burdeshaw scored another.

Marianna was three up, three down in the fourth.

Marianna retired the side in the fifth and sixth innings.

Edwards singled in the fifth for Marianna followed by a single by but the Bulldogs could not plate a run.

In the sixth inning, Sims had a one-out single but two outs followed to end the inning with Sims stranded at second.

Colby Johnson, on in relief of Jeremy Barber worked out of a bases loaded jam in the seventh inning.

With one out, Burdeshaw singled, and Lee Steverson took one for the team.

A walk loaded the bases with one but Johnson retired the next batter and a fly out to first got the final batter out.

With one out in the bottom of the seventh inning, Troy Clemmons singled and moved to second on a ground ball by Johnson.

A singled by Wilson plated Clemmons to win the game.

Marianna will host district games starting Tuesday when Chipley takes on Bonifay.

The winner of that game will play Marianna on Thursday for the district championship.